granada
station
120,000
acre
property
100km
north of Cloncurry
4,000
Brahman
breeders
1000
purebred Wagyu breeders
400
Full Blood Wagyu breeders
Granada Station is a 120,000-acre property purchased by the Hacon Family in 1985. It is located 100km north of Cloncurry in the Southern Gulf region, a region known for quality large-scale beef production. Granada Station is home to 4,000 Brahman breeders and more recently, 500 purebred Wagyu breeders and 100 Full Blood Wagyu breeders. It boasts a balanced blend of black and red soils and is traversed by the Duguld River in the northwest corner.
Granada Station History
The history of Granada Station unfolds with Percival E Walsh's arrival in the Gulf Country around 1878, where he established a run on the Duguld River, naming it Granada. Historical records suggest in a partnership with his uncle, Mr. WH Walsh, and a Mr. Brown, the trio acquired 1000 cows from Daandine Station on the Darling Downs. Despite significant losses during the journey to Cloncurry, only 200 cattle survived. Mr. Percy Walsh briefly resided in Granada before entrusting the property to manager Mr. Tom Brown until its purchase by Messrs Hopkins Bros in September 1883, Granada encompassed approximately 800 square miles.
Following this acquisition, 12,000 ewes were obtained from Terrick Station in 1884, with adverse road conditions leading to substantial losses, only 8000 sheep reaching Granada. The flock, however, increased over time, witnessing the shearing of 39,000 sheep in March 1893. The Granada homestead at that time featured six bedrooms elevated six feet from the ground, a store, blacksmith's shed, kitchen, stockmen's humpies, and a vegetable garden along the Duguld River.
By 1894, Granada covered 800 square miles, supporting 30,000 sheep and 14,000 cattle. Over the years, portions of the original holding were sold, and by 1933, it spanned approximately 300 square miles, reducing to 187 square miles by 1941 and remaining the same today. In 1888, the Hopkins Bros sold Granada to the Union Mortgage and Agency Co Ltd, later becoming the Australian Estates Co Ltd, marking the beginning of significant development work.
Under the management of Mr. AA Frazer in 1933, the Granada Shorthorn stud was established Frazer selected 10 Shorthorn bulls at the Brisbane Exhibition and purchased 150 stud cows from Millungera, Julia Creek. The stud gained a renowned reputation for producing bulls well-suited and acclimatized to local conditions. By 1950, the stud boasted 150 bulls, half of which were polled, and around 2500 breeders. Granada supported about 5500 Shorthorns, annually selling 300 herd bulls. Australian Estates successfully experimented with cultivating crops to feed the stud cattle, achieving notable success with a Sudan grass yield of 29 tons on 18 acres.