A Brahman bull named Maverick sold for $100,000, the top price at the Lancefield Brahmans Invitation Sale at CQLX in Gracemere on Monday, October 26. Buyers from Queensland and the Northern Territory pushed prices to the top figure. The top heifer, Palmal WC Estelle 2915, sold for $36,000. Bulls were up $3731 on average compared with the 2025 sale, when no females were offered. Maverick was bought by Rob Flute and Sharon West of Chatfield stud in Charters Towers.
Only one rental market in Queensland is classed as healthy, according to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland's September quarter vacancy report. The Bay Islands, near Redland, recorded a vacancy rate of 3.5 per cent. Forty-eight of the 50 regions tracked remain tight, with vacancy rates of 2.5 per cent or below. Thirty-four regions recorded rates of 1 per cent or less. Antonia Mercorella, the institute's chief executive, said the shortage was changing how Queenslanders live, with more multigenerational households forming and more friends sharing homes to split costs.
Two Queensland Brahman studs, Burdekin Brahmans and Yacamunda Investments, have jointly bought the top-priced heifer at the Great Northern Brahman Heifer and Genetics sale in Airlie Beach. Vella Macey 6976 sold for $16,000 on Thursday, October 22. The heifer was offered by Ray and Leah Vella of Vella Brahmans. The buyers said they wanted polled genetics for their herds. The sale's heifers grossed $116,000, with an average of $9666 and a 92 per cent clearance rate. The top semen package sold for $1700 a straw to Reginald Valmadre.
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Charters Towers Regional Council is asking residents, businesses, young people and visitors to help shape the future of the town centre. The Charters Towers CBD Master Plan, funded by the Queensland Government, will set a shared long-term vision for growth, investment and revitalisation. Mayor Liz Schmidt said community input from the start is key to the plan's success. People can give feedback through an online survey, workshops, pop-up activities and by reviewing a draft later. The survey closes on Friday, 30 November 2026, and hardcopies are available at council's Administration Centre, Excelsior Library and Visitor Information Centre.
The Drensmaine Santa Gertrudis stud at Tambo sold all 82 bulls offered at its sale on October 18, despite 120mm of rain. The top bull sold for $42,500 to the Swan Hill Santa Gertrudis stud, and the average price was $12,153. Buyers came from across Queensland and New South Wales, and some bid online. Five horses and four working dogs were also offered, with the top horse selling for $20,000 and the top dog for $15,000.
Charters Towers Regional Council has welcomed the Federal Government's decision to keep its contribution of up to 75 per cent under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. The government has dropped plans to move to a 50-50 split, following advocacy from councils across Queensland. Mayor Liz Schmidt said the decision removes financial pressure on councils and communities recovering from natural disasters. She thanked the Local Government Association of Queensland for leading the united campaign. The council says the funding certainty will support future recovery and reconstruction projects.
Veterinarians are urging graziers in north Queensland to vaccinate their cattle as an unseasonal outbreak of bovine ephemeral fever, also known as three-day sickness, spreads. The virus has caused unusual deaths in cattle over 24 to 48 hours, with significant losses reported in Hughenden and Charters Towers. The outbreak is believed to have been spread by mosquitoes, and while there is no risk to humans, the severity of symptoms has raised concerns about a potential change in the virus.
