The article from ABC News Rural, titled “Queensland family buys Manners Creek Station in Northern Territory,” details the acquisition of Manners Creek Station by Gibson Grazing, a family-owned Queensland grazing company. Key points from the article include:
- Acquisition Details: Manners Creek Station, located 256km northeast of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, spans 6,879 square kilometers. It was purchased by Gibson Grazing for $15 million from its previous owners, Brett and Vanda Hick.
- Expansion and Strategy: This acquisition marks Gibson Grazing’s expansion into the Northern Territory, aiming to gain access to the Darwin and Townsville trade. Michael Gibson and his family, who already own 2.4 million hectares interstate, settled the property on September 6.
- Property Characteristics: The station is described as having nice soft grasses, scattered timber, and some areas of spinifex. Michael Gibson noted the land as being different from their existing properties but suitable for their operations, especially in drier times.
- Livestock and Future Plans: The purchase included 11,000 cattle, predominantly Red Brahmans. The Gibsons plan to cross these with Charolais bulls. They aim to increase the station’s cattle capacity by 3,000 to 5,000 and are considering adding more bores to the property.
- Market Access and Sales: The new acquisition provides the Gibson family with access to markets in Mount Isa, Darwin, and Townsville. They currently sell 7,000–8,000 cattle a year to a major supermarket and plan to integrate Manners Creek cattle into this supply chain.
This acquisition reflects the Gibson family’s strategic expansion and adaptation to different environmental conditions, as well as their commitment to enhancing their cattle production capabilities.
Read the full article here: https://www.beefcentral.com/property/property-southern-qlds-darran-aggregation-makes-15m/