History
The Gracemere Saleyards commenced operations in January 1953 having moved from the Rockhampton showgrounds where sales were conducted for thirty years having relocated from a site near the Allenstown State School. Hence such names as Saleyards Hotel and Saleyards Park are reminiscent of this era when cattle first sold in Rockampton. Cattle in those days were swum across the river to the meatworks on the northside. Later with the construction of the first Fitzroy River Bridge, the cattle were walked in the early hours of the morning across the bridge in single file to avoid the bridge swaying, until the rail bridge was constructed allowing the transportation of stock by rail to the meatworks.
The Gracemere saleyards is situated 8 kms west of Rockhampton on the Capricorn Highway leading to the Central Highlands and the Central western centres of Barcaldine, Blackall, Longreach and Winton.
The then controlling body, the Rockhampton District Saleyards Board was formed in 1949 with the task of establishing a regional saleyards. The Board comprised of members from the four local Governments Rockhampton City, Fitzroy, Livingston and Mount Morgan Shire Counicls.
After investigating at a number of sites in and around Rockhampton, the final choice resulted in Gracemere considered the most suitable for the requirements. This site has proven to be an appropriate site from the point of view of its location and zoning under the local authority of the Fitzroy Shire Council. Its geographical position ensures that it cannot be built out by residential development being surrounded by lagoons on three sides, and fronted by the western highway and western rail line on the southern side. Beyond the highway and the rail line the zoning to the south is Industrial / Heavy Commercial providing a buffer between the operations at the Gracemere saleyards and residential areas further south and to the east.
Numbers of cattle sold have increased at Gracemere, then in the 1950's, the introduction of Brahman cattle to Central Queensland from the United States of America. Twelve pens were built to cater for these Brahmans considered adequate for this breed as the majority of stock sold was British or European bred. As time has witnessed, the majority of cattle passing through the saleyards are now Brahman or Brahman cross derivatives. Cattle numbers steadily increased over the yearsthen in 1978 liveweight selling was introduced to Gracemere, being only the second yard in Australia to adopt liveweight auction selling. This saw a major increase in the number of cattle passing through the facilities, which was accompanied by an increase in prices following the beef depression of 1974-1978. Cattle numbers rose to 200,000 head for that year. This has now settled over the past ten years to the current average of 135,000 head annually. The annual throughput of livestock at the Gracemere Saleyards is in excess of $85 Million dollars per annum.
The original selling ring at the Gracemere saleyards was constructed in the late 1950's and stud sales began immediately there after. The original intention was to sell cattle through a selling ring operation, where the buyers were seated around the ring bidding on cattle with auctioneers operated from a central point or podium. This operational practice was altered to selling in pens some years later as a faster selling practice.
Many stud records have been set at Gracemere since selling commenced in the 1960's. Record prices are held for all tropical breeds of stud cattle, both registered and herd. Some notable studs have sold here establishing individual breeder record prices for a number of years such as Tartrus-Lancefield and Glendlands. The stud scene is dominated each year by Brahman Week conducted in early October and the All Breeds sale conducted in early February. Stud sales are conducted primarily in the spring, September through to November and many Australian and Australasian records are held both in relation to prices and the number of stock sold. The current highest price paid for a bull is $300,000 (Lancefield Burton Manso 3251 lot 17 30/10/06 sold to Happy Valley Cattle Co.)
Gracemere now ranks as one of the major selling centre's in Australia being regarded as the best stud selling facilities in the country supported by the fact that the number of stud sales have increased in the last three years with applications for new sales continuing to be attracted to Gracemere. Commercial cattle numbers have leveled out over the last ten years as a direct result of below average rainfall and the reduction in live cattle export. In the last financial year 2007-2008 numbers have improved and indications suggest this trend will continue.
In recent years improvements totaling $8m have been completed. These include The Gracemere Exhibition Centre ($4.2m), 80 new concrete selling pens ($1m), a new veterinary crush and dip (constructed in concrete with steel cattle rail), an undercover small stock selling facility ($120,000), a new double decker unloading facility, two single deck ramps, 40 receival yards, NLIS scanning facilities, a campdrafting arena plus a recently constructed 50x80m undercover arena costing $2m.
The Gracemere saleyards has over many years played a role as a leading marketing venue for the auction system, a social venue for country people to meet and discuss current situations within the industry, the weather and markets. The Gracemere Saleyards also acts as an educational venue for competition, comparing cattle breeds and the different techniques for conditioning of cattle for market and / or breeding. The young judges competition and the auctioneers schools lend weight the ongoing development of the cattle industry.
Gracemere plays host to many national and international visitors. Study groups from South East Asian, Pacific Rim countries, South and North America, Europe, South Africa, Japan, China and the subcontinent of India attend the commercial cattle championships held every three years as a major event of the Beef Australia Expo.
In March 2008 the Rockhampton District Saleyards Board disbanded with the Rockhampton Regional Council replacing the four component councils forming the Board by amalgamating into one council.
