Basalt QLD 4820

MT. OWEENEE STATION IS NOT FOR SALE. THE PROPERTY IS OFFERED FOR LEASE, WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE THE HERD OF GOOD QUALITY DROUGHTMASTER/CHAROLAIS CROSS CATTLE

Location:
Mt Oweenee Station is located approximately 115km north from Charters Towers, along the Lynd Highway (Gregory Development Road). Additionally, the property is approximately 160km from the coastal city of Townsville, this time along the Harvey Range access road … all accesses are bitumen main roads. Townsville, the largest city in North Queensland is but a 1½ hr drive. Townsville's fast-developing industries, the Port of Townsville, JBS Meatworks, Live Export facilities, renewable energy hub, and various new developments support a growing population of 200000+ people.
Charters Towers provides access to all the services of a regional town (population approx 9,000 people). Schooling, both primary and secondary, are a feature of the Charters Towers community with the town boasting three Private Schools, the State High School and three State Primary Schools. Charters Towers is an historic city established in the gold rush of the 1880's and still services the large Gold Mining and Grazing Industries.

For cattlemen, the weekly saleyard selling centre in Charters Towers, numerous Live Export facilities, and Townsville meatworks are all major attractions for this location.

Type 2 Roadtrain access - rated for triple road trains to the property.

The property & facilities:
Mt. Oweenee Station is a freehold property of 39,340 ha (97,209 acres), situated 115km Nth West of Charters Towers, and 160km West of Townsville, with the sealed Gregory Development Road running through its length, virtually dividing the property in two.
The property is hilly, fenced into 10 main paddocks, 14 smaller / holding / weaner paddocks and approx 24km of laneways, one of which runs the entire length of the property, adjacent to the main road. Though hilly the placement of waters, fencing, holding paddocks and laneways has made mustering a cost effective, straight-forward exercise with minimum staff requirement.
Water is a feature, with 64 permanent dams, pipeline, 24 or more troughs and countless seasonal creeks for much of the year. There is no risk of flooding.
The property has 2 sets of steel yards with loading ramps, undercover branding facilities and race drafts. The main set at the homestead has an undercover vet crush, 4 large weaner yards, lanes and numerous coolers and is therefore capable of handling and holding, for a period, very large numbers of cattle.
Mt Oweenee is timbered with Narrow & Silverleaf Ironbark, Box, Blue Gum, Moreton Bay, Teatree, Wattles and an understory of native shrubs with pastures species consisting of Black Spear, Golden Beard, Kangaroo, small areas of Buffel, and some Urachloa on flats and around dams. Significantly there is a large and established body of Seca and Verano Stylo's, due to an extensive seeding and spelling programme in the early 2000's. It cannot be emphasised enough, how much the volume of Stylo has lifted the production of Mt. Oweenee.
Mt. Oweenee has 3 houses, Staff quarters and numerous large sheds.
The station also has Telstra mobile service over most of the property as well as UHF repeater tower, allowing UHF communication access extending over multiple properties in the area.

Carrying capacity:
The owners consider 3000 head (LSU, 400kg animal) to be a comfortable year-round average stocking rate for the entire property.
The deliberate development strategy of many paddocks, numerous permanent waters and a stylo seeding programme is paying handsome dividends. With a stocking rate philosophy of matching stocking rate to carrying capacity, of paddock rotation and regular pasture spelling the owners have been able to straddle many 'tight' seasons without damage to the property. Mt. Oweenee has been exemplary with regards to the condition of pasture & groundcover.
Additionally, the focus on weed control has resulted in a very tidy property.

Property for lease:
The entirety of Mt Oweenee Stn (39,340 ha, 97,209 acres) is not for lease as the owners intend retaining a few paddocks (approx 3,800 ha) for some cattle and horses. The O'Neill Family will have a Caretaker occupying one house and continue to occupy the main homestead themselves ... and come and go from time to time.
The Lessee will have the balance 35,540 ha of the property and the full use of one house, staff quarters, most sheds, cattle yards (2) and the general run of the property. A conservative "year-round" stocking rate (owners estimate) for the combined lease country is 2,700 LSU (400kg equivalent). Stocking numbers will vary with seasonal conditions.
The lease is for a term of 3 years, with an option to renew… upon mutual agreement of lessee & landholder. Payment will be 6 months in advance.

The EOI Process:
The EOI will be a 2-stage process with the most attractive offers, from Stage 1, making it through to Stage 2. Stage 2 will include lease contract, property and herd inspections, negotiations and possible contract signing. It is anticipated to have a successful transaction implemented by late May.
Stage 1 EOI concludes 9.5.25
NB. EOI and Lease details are only available from the Agents.

Cattle Herd for sale:
Mt. Oweenee was originally purchased in 1999 as a breeder block, but with extensive improvements, the owners have been able to take advantage many varied markets.
The current herd of cattle are basically Droughtmaster/Charolais cross, which were originally based off a Brahman herd. The O'Neill family pride themselves in having good quality, well educated, manageable, productive cattle due to constant culling for temperament and pregnancy. The herd is quiet, and a pleasure to muster and handle in the paddock and yards.
The preferred option is for the lessee to purchase the entire breeding herd, progeny, female followers and herd Bulls currently running on Mt. Oweenee. Leasing, without the herd purchase, may be considered.
The cattle are best described as a young, well educated, good quality, crossbred breed herd initially bred from a Brahman based herd purchased with the property in 1999. This is a control mated herd with females are culled on temperament, pregnancy status and age (ie. over 10yrs). The subsequent introduction of Droughtmaster and Charolais bulls for many years has resulted in an attractive crossbred herd.

Indicative cattle numbers:
Approx 1900 breeders and all progeny (approx 840 calves, numbers TBC by end April)
Approx 480 No 4 heifers
Approx 150 No 4 steers
Bulls as required

The cattle count at settlement will be conducted in the presence of the selling Agent/s and include provision for lame/blind/unwell rejection and unders & over adjustment. Cows over 10yrs are excluded. There will be no other criteria for cattle rejection unless agreed with both parties prior to muster.
All cattle purchased will be cross branded with Lessee's brand and the Vendors 'sale' brand. The vendors will not be selling the property brand (SL), cattle not cross branded remain the property of the vendors.

DISCLAIMER: The above report on Mt Oweenee Station has been prepared by Queensland Rural and Slaney & Co based on information supplied by the property owner and other credible sources. Every endeavour has been made to verify its accuracy. Whilst we trust the information to be correct, we make no warranties or guarantees and prospective purchasers must rely on their own enquiries & research. ©