BLACKALL EFFICIENCY: Athol has the ability to run 3500 breeders with weaners or up to 6000 backgrounders.

Athol has the ability to run 3500 breeders with weaners or up to 6000 backgrounders.

THE focus of the rural property investment is back on Blackall, with the Butler family’s extensively developed property Athol now on the market.

Described as perfect for breeding, fattening and backgrounding, the quality mixture of soft country has the ability to run 3500 breeders with weaners or up to 6000 backgrounders.

The 36,275 hectare (89,636 acre) property with 2000ha of stock route was purchased by the Butler family in 2000 with the vision of developing an efficient, low cost management operation. The organically accredited property located 32km west of Blackall is being offered as a whole or in three separate portions. 

Improvements include a four bedroom, three bathroom two storey homestead.

Water is a standout feature of Athol, with no pumping required. There are three capped bores interlinked with about 175km of poly pipe, ranging from 100mm down to 50mm with the majority being 63mm and 50mm. There are 40-plus tanks and 70-plus troughs all set on cement pads. The majority of the water infrastructure has been completed in the last eight years. There are also water holes along the Ravensbourne creek and its anabranches.

Athol is divided into 25 main paddocks with an average paddock size of 1200ha to 1600ha all connected to a 60km laneway system. There are three sets of 800-1000 head capacity steel cattle yards. The majority of the fencing has been completed in the past 10 years. 

Water is a standout feature of Athol, with no pumping required.

Development work includes 1600ha of scrub country being blade ploughed, 3200ha pelleted, and a large percentage of the property having been stick raked and chained, leaving selective shade lines and cattle camps. 

Pastures include buffel, Mitchell, button, Flinders grasses and other native species including gidyea burr and herbages. Timbers include gidyea, bauhinia, boree, myall and coolabah spread throughout the creek country.

Improvements include a large, two storey homestead (circa 1910) and two bedroom guest quarters set in an established garden, a large second home, and three bedroom workers quarters.

Expressions of interest close on May 9.

Contact Wally Cooper, 0427 781 054, or Andrew McCallum, 0427 581 889, Ruralco Property GDL Real Estate.

The story Athol offers efficient, low cost management first appeared on Queensland Country Life.