End of an era as Yarram Park holds final bull sale

The Baillieu family’s final chapter in Herefords ended today, with a modest sale result closing the door for the once heavy-hitting stud.

The final curtain fell softly for the once-proud and influential Yarram Park Hereford stud at Willaura today.

The last sale for the stud produced a modest result as 42 bulls sold under the hammer from 58 offered.

The average price was $8690 and the top was $28,000, paid by NSW stud breeder Hugh Spencer, Ironbark, Barraba.

The top bull was lot 2, a 872kg horned Hereford, Yarram Emperor U117.

He was sired by Talbalba Emporer P043 that had an Estimated Breeding Value of 1.7mm for intramuscular fat.

Mr Spencer said the bull had “good numbers behind him”.

He said the Spencer and Baillieu families had a long association, buying bulls together out of Canada and Yarram Park genetics had underpinned much of Ironbark’s cow herd.

“It is sad to see the stud finishing up but I’m happy to have bought a quality bull,” Mr Spencer said.

Antony Baillieu of Yarram Park. Picture: Nicole Cleary

The final bull sale for the stud, which comes after 75 years of breeding by the Baillieu family, attracted interest from NSW, Gippsland and some local buyers.

However, bidding was subdued, with long-term commercial clients often buying only a single bull each, as western Victoria continues to struggle for stock water and feed.

Other past clients who have dispersed, or have moved into Angus cattle, also attended the sale as a nod to the contribution the stud has made to the industry.

Seventeen bulls were knocked down to TDC agent Rob Handbury for Broadlands Station at Lucindale in South Australia, which is another property owned by the Baillieu family.

Mr Handbury said today was “the end of an era, with three generations of the Baillieu family, and a lot of work has gone into it but like everything in life, things change, nothing stays the same forever”.

Notable commercial western Victorian Hereford herds to pick up a bull or two each included Neville McClure, Mooree; Beerik Partnership, Coleraine; RS Rundell and Sons, Hamilton; Liz and John Craig, Iverell, Hamilton; the Hortle family, Casterton and the Upton family, also from Casterton.

The Baillieu family, l-r. Charlie, Sybil, Ruki with son Archie (4), Sam and Antony Baillieu . Yarram Park final bull sale. Pictures: Nicole Cleary.

Commenting on the sale result, stud principal Antony Baillieu said: “I’d say, in a roundabout way, the sale reflected the season and probably the fact that people have sold their cow numbers down therefore their need for bulls was not great”.

At the conclusion of the sale, his son, Ruki Baillieu thanked the supporters of the stud and past and present employees, including the late Bob Potter, the late Jeremy Upton, and the current manager Craig Brewin.

Pat Millear and Sam King at the Yarram Park sale.

Yarram Park also donated the proceeds of one bull sold at the auction for $10,000 to the Westmere CFA Group, after volunteers toiled for weeks on end through the bushfires that ravaged the Grampians bordering the Baillieu property.

Mr Baillieu said he was happy to donate the proceeds of a bull to the Westmere CFA group in recognitions for the “wonderful” work they had done.

Willaura’s Pat Millear and Tatyoon’s Sam King, both producers and CFA volunteers themselves, were at the sale to accept the donation from Yarram Park. Mr Millear said volunteers spent a couple of weeks in the Yarram Gap road area, defending against the fires and the donation was “greatly appreciated”.

Yarram Park final bull sale.

Antony Baillieu, Mick Petersen (cattle manager), Craig Brewin (Yarram Park manager), Hugh Spencer from Ironbark Herefords and Ruki Baillieu with son Archie (4).

Samantha van Assche and baby Olivia (eight months).