Confidence in the cattle industry and a push for grassed country has resulted with three substantial properties in north west Queensland changing hands at auction during this month.  First to sell was Brackenburgh near Middleton which was offered by Duncan and Lesley Lawton. Brackenburgh is 170 kilometres west of Winton and consists of 182,481 hectares and was offered with 5000 mixed cattle. It sold for $22.25 million to John and Robyn Rodger, Hatcham Downs, Taroom. Selling agent Tom Brodie, Brodies Agencies, Winton, said the Brackbenburgh aggregation is a modern, well improved beef property, with an excellent balance of strong grazing country, ranging from flood-out channels to Mitchell and Flinders grass downs country. Mr Brodie conducted the auction in conjunction with David Tannock, Tanco Rural Real Estate. Brodie Agencies also sold Fairlight, near Hughenden and Nargon near Muttaburra at auction last Friday. Both these properties were offered on behalf of the Estate of the late Edna Joyce Pensini, and both attracted strong interest. Fairlight, consisting of 45,300ha situated 56km north of Hughenden sold for $14.1m to Dale and Kris Appleton and their families. The Appletons have country in the Clermont and Alpha district, and Fairlight appealed as they were looking for grass, due to the prevailing dry weather.  Nargon, consisting of 9138ha and situated 60km north east of Muttaburra sold for $1.75m to neighbours Greg and Belinda Terry and son Jack and Kate Terry, Lerida, Muttaburra. The Terry families also found the good body of grass on Nargon was attractive to them. 
