Strong Community Support Drives Successful Tully Cattle Sale

31 March 2026, AU: The return of a dedicated cattle sale to Tully has been met with strong community support and standout market results. Elders’ first night sale in the region drew a crowd, competitive bidding and prices that rivalled larger selling centres across Queensland.

Marking a successful return to the Tully Showgrounds on Friday night, the Elders’ North Queensland Livestock team hosted the town’s first cattle sale of the year. It was a one of its kind, not seen locally in decades.

A total of 154 head of cattle were yarded, attracting strong competition from a solid panel of buyers. More than 40 bid cards registered on the night. The market proved highly competitive, holding its own against larger regional centres across the state.

Elders Stock Agent Lee Young said the sale represented a significant milestone for the region.

“It’s Elders’ first sale in Tully. The town usually has one sale per year at the Tully Show. It’s probably the first sale of its kind in Tully for some time,” Lee said.

The initiative was driven by local demand, with producers eager to see selling opportunities return closer to home.

“I had a few locals ringing, enquiring about it and keen to make it happen. We have a great team this year, and I knew we could all pull together to make it happen,” he said.

Cattle were predominantly sourced from the local district, with additional support from Charters Towers vendors. 

Elders Stock Agent Beau White said the strength of the market was a standout feature of the night.

“When you break it down to cents per kilo, it was quite impressive,” Beau said.

Lee added that, on average, the sale ranked among the strongest in the state for the week.

Great results

“I think, on averages, it was actually one of the dearest sales in Queensland last week when converted back to cents per kilo,” he said.

Competition was particularly strong across several categories.

• Bullocks topped at $2,400per head for a pen from Spurdle Rural, averaging $2,345.
• Cows reached a high of $1,520 per head for Kidd Grazing, with the run averaging $1,275.

Store cattle performed exceptionally well.

• Heavy feeder steers from Daryl Apap selling to $1,930,
• Store steers averaged $1,348.
• Store heifers were a highlight of the sale, with a pen of breeder-quality females from J & R Di Mauro topping at $1,780 per head at 374kg.
• Processor heifers peaked at $1,390 for a pen from the Hicks family, while limited bull numbers saw a top of $1,650.
• A single cow and calf unit sold for $1,000.

Buyer interest was largely driven by local demand, particularly for store cattle, alongside support from local butchers and processor competition from JBS.

Great for the community

Beyond the strong market performance, the sale delivered a significant boost for the local community, both economically and socially.

“It was a great night out,” Beau said. 

“Given fuel prices, people in the Tully area usually have to travel to Mareeba or Charters Towers to sell or buy. Bringing a sale to them saves on freight and supports the local community.”

The event also contributed back to the Tully & District Show Society, with a portion of proceeds donated in appreciation of their support. The contribution will assist with infrastructure improvements to help ensure future sales can continue locally.

The atmosphere reflected the community-driven nature of the event, with a large crowd turning out to enjoy the Friday night sale.

“We sold out of steak burgers in the first 20 minutes,” Lee said. 

“A lot of people turned up for a look. They had a hamburger and a beer, watched the sale while the kids ran around on the football oval.”

The success of the sale was further strengthened by strong internal support, with more than a dozen Elders staff attending from across North Queensland, including representatives from Tolga, Innisfail, Townsville and Charters Towers.

Elders North Queensland and Northern Territory Livestock Manager Anthony Ball praised the community response.

“A big thank you to the Tully community for turning out and supporting the sale. The atmosphere and backing on the night was fantastic,” Anthony said.

“It was a great success, and we’re looking forward to bringing another sale to Tully later this year.”

Planning for the next sale is already underway, with Elders working closely with the Tully & District Show Society to build on strong momentum.

Local vendors interested in future sales are encouraged to contact the Elders North Queensland Livestock team, listed below.

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