History
The saleyards commenced operations in early 1952 having moved from the Rockhampton showgrounds, having previously been moved from a site near the Allenstown State School. Hence names such as Saleyards Hotel and Saleyards Park etc. The cattle in those days were swum across the river to the meatworks on the northside. Later with the construction of the Fitzroy River bridge, the cattle were walked across in single file, until the rail bridge was constructed to transport 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 Longreach and Winton.
The controlling body, the Rockhampton District Saleyards Board was formed in 1949. After looking at many sites in and around Rockhampton, the final choice being Gracemere. This site has proven to be a very useful site from the point of view of its zoning under the local authority of the Fitzroy Shire Council. The geographical position ensures that it cannot be built out by residential development as the site is surrounded by swamp on three sides, and fronted by the western highway and western rail line on the other side. Across the rail line the title is zoned Industrial or Heavy Commercial with provides a green buffer area between the operations here at the Gracemere saleyards and residential areas further east.
Numbers of cattle steadily grew at Gracemere until the late 1950's saw the introduction of Brahman cattle to the Central Queensland area. Twelve pens were built to cater for these cattle and this was considered adequate for this breed as all other stock was British bred. As time has witnessed, the vast majority of cattle passing through the saleyards, probably 95% plus, are now Brahman or Brahman cross derivatives. Cattle numbers steadily increased over the years until 1978 when liveweight selling was introduced to Gracemere, being the second yard in Australia to adopt liveweight facilities. 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 155,000 head annually. The annual throughput is in excess of $65 Million dollars per annum.
The selling ring at the Gracemere saleyards was constructed in the late 1950's and stud sales began a few years later. The original intention was to sell cattle through a selling ring operation, where the buyers were seated around the ring bidding on the cattle and the auctioneers operated from a central point. This operational practice was altered to selling in pens some years later.
Many stud records have been set at Gracemere. Current records are held for nearly all breeds of cattle, both registered and herd. Some notable studs have sold here for record prices for a number of years. 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 beast is $80,000 the beast being a Brahman bull CMT TUXPEND (IMP) USA.
Gracemere now ranks as one of the major selling centres in Australia and its' growth pattern has continued over the last ten to fifteen years and certainly as time goes by, numbers will continue to increase.
The Rockhampton District Saleyards Board is a joint local authority, a local authority in its own right. It comprises two members from the Rockhampton City Council, two members from the Livingstone Shire Council, two members from the Fitzroy Shire Council and one member from the Mount Morgan Shire Council.
In recent years improvements totaling $6,000,000.00 have been completed. These include The Gracemere Exhibition Centre ($4.2m), 80 new concrete selling pens, a new veterinary crush and dip (constructed in concrete with steel cattle rail), an undercover small stock selling facility, a new double decker loading and unloading facilities, a campdrafting arena and cutting facility and a soon to be constructed 50x80m undercover arena final cost $2m.
The Gracemere saleyards has over the years played a role as a leading marketing venue for the auction system as a social venue for country people and producers to meet and discuss current situations within the industry. The saleyards also acts as an educational venue for competition and comparing cattle breeds and the different techniques for conditioning of cattle for market or preparation for breeding.
Gracemere has also played host to many international visitors, and study groups from south east Asian/Pacific countries, South and North America, Europe, South Africa and the subcontinent of India hosting the commercial cattle championships held every three years as a major event of the Beef Expo.
