Natal Downs Aggregation: Three properties cover almost a million acres

The Natal Downs aggregation of three properties consisting of almost 1 million acres is being offered for sale individually or as an aggregated holding, and cattle will be available to the purchaser of the properties.
The properties are being sold by expressions of interest, closing on 22 May, 2014.
The Camm Group currently runs in excess of 33,000 cattle on the aggregated properties of nearly 1 million acres.
Traditionally they have been used as a breeder base supplying cattle to backgrounding and fattening properties in central Queensland and their feedlot on the Darling Downs.
More recently the group has been able to capitalise on the reinvigorated live export market out of Townsville.
Natal Downs, Longton Station and Narellan are all adjoining, and are located about 135km south-west of Townsville.
The properties are about 330km north-west of Clermont off the Gregory Highway, which is an arterial road to central and southern Queensland.
Access is via the Natal, Yarrowmere and Mirtna roads – all formed earth, main road. These roads provide good dry-season access to the property. Internal roads consist of periodically graded earth tracks, providing good dry-season access through the property.
The nearest Bureau of Meteorolgy rainfall-monitoring station is located at Pentland. The median average rainfall for the past 10 years is 738mm.
Services to the properties include rural grid electricity, telephone, internet, television, twice weekly mail, education is available via School of the Air, and there are two graveled light aircraft strips located at the Natal Downs homestead, one near the Longton homestead and another near the Narellan homestead.
Urban amenities located at Charters Towers include basic retail, council office, police, health services, primary school, saleyards, agricultural support businesses, secondary school and a bitumen strip with lights.
Townsville provides all the associated business, schooling, health and shopping amenities of a large regional city.
Townsville is the main live export port for Queensland, also having export-accredited abattoirs, along with Mackay, Rockhampton and Biloela in central/northern Queensland.
The Gregory development highway provides very good access to all of northern, central and southern Queensland for fattening and lotfeeding options and markets.
Natal Downs consists of an area of 51,799.8ha (127,997ac) and has historically carried 7000 breeders plus 5000 steers.
Natal Downs has an expansive homestead complex and facilities and all improvements are of a high standard. The property has a mix of very good quality open black soil downs and pulled brigalow/blackwood running into open forest and flooded coolibah flats, which is fenced into about 29 paddocks plus laneways and holding paddocks.
The country mix of Natal Downs is about one-third open downs established to Mitchell and buffel grasses, one-third scrub country established to buffel, and on-third standing forest established to blue grass, stylo seca, forest Mitchell and native grasses.
There is about 12,000ha that has been pulled, burnt and seeded to improve pastures – mainly buffel grass. The land is a mix of very good quality open black soil downs and pulled brigalow/blackwood running into open forest and flooded coolibah flats.
There are about 26 dams with 10 being equipped, plus four equipped bores with about 43km of reticulated water through predominantly 63mm poly pile systems on the property.
Natal Downs is extensively developed with excellent structural improvements, well-maintained fencing and yards.
Longton Station consists of an area of 294,000ha (726,474 ac) and is currently carrying 15,000 breeders.
Amelia Creek flows through the centre of the property from south-west to north-east, joining the Cape River in the north-east corner.
Both of these prominent watercourse provide numerous permanent and seasonal water holes throughout the property.
The open downs, clackwood gidgee and brigalow areas are mostly established to Mitchell and buffel in the black clay soils.
Buffel greass and seca stylo are spreading through the property and are well established in the heavier scrub country, along with Mitchell grass on the open downs. There are traditional bluegrass, forest Mitchell, white spear grass pastures in the forest country.
Narellan runs about 2500 breeders and while it compliments Longton, has proven itself over past years as a standalone breeder property covering some 44,800ha (110,000ac).
Narellan is ref forest breeder country. Seca stylo has been introduced and is spreading throughout the property. Buffel grass is established in the paddocks surrounding the house, native pastures throughout the property.
Expressions of Interest for properties will close Thursday 22nd May 2014 at 3:00pm.
For further details, please contact Bruce Douglas of Ray White Rural (Queensland) on 0417 602 603 or Richard Brosnan of Ray White Rural Rockhampton on 0400 361 114.