Massive $10m cattle farm at centre of horror mass shooting

The family gunned down on their expansive North Queensland cattle farm had only purchased the property last year, it can be revealed.

One of the properties at the centre of Thursday’s shocking mass shooting has been revealed as a $10m cattle station larger than North Stradbroke Island.

The Courier-Mail has learnt that the property, which was jointly owned by Maree and Mervyn Schwarz and Ms Schwarz’ son, Graham Tighe, was purchased in May 2021 for $10,000,000.

It is understood that the family had relocated to Bogie from the Clermont region.

The Shannonvale Rd property is 29856.40Ha, which is slightly larger than North Stradbroke Island.

The $10m property at the centre of Thursday’s mass shooting.

Police have revealed that they have a person that they believe to have been the shooter in custody.

Five people were assisting with police inquiries on Thursday night to try to determine what had occurred at the rural property, although two are understood to have been wind farm contractors that became caught up in the tragedy’s aftermath.

The other three have been taken into custody.

The $10m property at the centre of Thursday’s mass shooting.

“What we do know is that all parties are neighbours, some conversation has occurred between the parties and resulted in a meeting up at the parties’ boundary line earlier that morning when the incident occurred,” Mackay Detective Inspector Tom Armitt said.

No charges have been laid and an emergency declaration was revoked at 10.06pm on Thursday.

It is understood that police expect to talk with the lone survivor - Ross Tighe, Ms Schwarz’s son - again on Friday morning.

The $10m property at the centre of Thursday’s mass shooting.

Mr Tighe was shot in the stomach and managed to flee the scene in a vehicle before contacting emergency services. It is understood that phone reception in the area is poor.

His mother, Maree Schwarz, her husband Mervyn Schwarz and Ross’ brother, Graham Tighe, were killed.

Ross Tighe was flown by helicopter to the Mackay Base Hospital in a critical condition.

Maree and Merv Schwarz.

A Bogie resident said yesterday that the incident was linked to a property dispute between the owners of two properties in the area. He said it was not the first dispute between those involved.

Bogie is a small mining town in the Whitsundays near Collinsville.

The $10m property at the centre of Thursday’s mass shooting.

It has a population of just over 200 people, according to the latest census data.

Cr Mike Brunker, the local member for the Whitsunday Regional Council said that the community was “dumbfounded” that such a horrific event could occur in their area.

“It sounds like something you’d see in America,” he said.

The $10m property at the centre of Thursday’s mass shooting.

He said that the community in the immediate area “would be over the moon” to know that the person police believe to be responsible is now in custody.

“I’m sure the people in the Bogie community would have an idea (of who the shooter is).”

“There are only really two neighbours up there, so at the end of the day police will handle that.”

Cr Brunker said that the Schwarz family had moved from the Clermont area within the past 12 months.

The $10m property at the centre of Thursday’s mass shooting.