Queensland couple snaps up historic NSW farms

A pair of North Queensland graziers have paid more than $26 million for 3960ha in the NSW New England region. See the details.

Fassifern and Inverinate straddle the Chandler River for more than 13km and have the Wollomombi River on the western boundary.

Two historic NSW grazing properties have changed hands after they were snapped up by a Queensland couple’s expanding cattle enterprise.

North Queensland graziers Emma Robinson and Michael Duckett, of Amatunga at Capella, have acquired 3960ha of livestock country in the New England region of NSW.

Following 155 years of family ownership, two different branches of the Cameron family listed the 2390ha Fassifern and the adjoining 1573ha Inverinate properties for sale in spring last year.

In April this year a deal was struck with Fassifern and Inverinate sold for $26.6 million, reflecting a purchase price of $1062 per dry sheep equivalent (DSE) improved based on a carrying capacity of 25,000 DSE.

Trading as Blue Sky Trading (NQ) Pty Ltd, Mrs Robinson and Mr Duckett run several cattle stations in North Queensland, including the 50,000ha Caerphilly Station south of Charters Towers and the 3760ha Amatunga property at Capella.

It is understood Mrs Robinson and Mr Duckett will relocate their beef cattle operations to the New England region following the purchase of Fassifern and Inverinate.

MacDougall Rural Property selling agent Graham MacDougall handled the sale of Fassifern and Inverinate, saying the properties transacted in what was a cooling market.

Charters Towers graziers Emma Robinson and Michael Duckett, trade as Blue Sky Trading (NQ) Pty Ltd.

“The buyers looked at the properties then, and returned in the new year and decided New England is for them,” he said earlier this year.

“The diversity of soils, the superb water and relatively safer seasons were big draw cards to these properties and our district; not only to this family, but to other potential buyers we showed as well.

“It is fantastic that as the Camerons leave, another Aussie family is arriving in our district.”

Historically wool producing properties, Fassifern and Inverinate were held by six generations of the Cameron family, following Donald Cameron’s initial purchase in 1869.

In recent seasons Fassifern has bred the same Merino bloodlines since the 1980s, to produce 18-micron wool as well as running a Hereford and Angus cross cattle operation.

The neighbouring property Inverinate was holistically owned and managed by Angus and Sue Cameron since 1986, conservatively running 500 cows and 6000 sheep.