Ron and Nadine Atkinson’s new tourist venture will combine two things close to their hearts – family and food.
Despite forging a life on the land running a beef cattle operation on Pinnarendi Station, Mt Garnet, it was hospitality that brought the two together.
The couple – parents to Connor, 9, Kalan, 7, and Aran, 4, – met while working at Undara Lava Tubes near Mt Surprise.
“Nadine has always wanted a cafe,” Ron said. “She is a people person and likes to make people happy.”
While working at the Hilton in Brisbane, Nadine developed a love of coffee making, a skill she puts her “heart and soul” into.
Pinnarendi Station Stay and Cafe will comprise a camping ground with up to 20 accommodation sites and cafe with a wood-fired oven, open grill rotisserie and hot smoke house.
“I want to do traditional cooking – basic wholesome country food,” Ron said.
The venture will allow the couple to work on the property, where previously Ron was forced to run a heavy earthmoving business off-farm. “I want our kids to have the same lifestyle,” he said.
The couple hope to open the doors in July.
Breeding to Suit the Market
Ron and Nadine Atkinson may be small time cattle producers but they are dedicated to breeding cattle that meet the market and suit their operation.
The couple run Pinnarendi Station, a 1571 hectare property on the Kennedy Highway, near Mt Garnet. They agist another 2832 hectares.
Pinnarendi was cut off the family property, Minnamoolka, owned by Ron’s grandparents, the late Vernon and Anne Atkinson, and formerly part of Gunnawarra.
Ron’s brother Thomas is a neighbour on Goodcamp.
The Atkinson family are pioneers in the region.
Some of Ron’s ancestors were responsible for helping bring the Brahman breed to Australia – a pivotal moment for the development of the northern Australian beef industry.
Ron, a fourth generation cattleman, and Nadine run about 180 breeders, predominantly Brahman.
“You have to have Brahman for the ticks, their ability to travel to water and performance in the heat,” Ron said.
They have also been introducing Brangus bulls into the herd to produce an article sought by the market and suited to their operation.
“It all comes back to what we can do here,” Ron said.
“We can’t fatten so we can only get them to stores.
“For the boats we target 250 to 320 kg and stores 280 to 350 kg.
“We can get them to that without running out of grass.”
The past wet was mixed for Pinnarendi, with the property receiving just below its annual average rainfall of 25 inches.
“The grass cover is really good,” Ron said.
“But there was no run-off rain. Not one dam filled up.”
With three truckloads of cattle ready to offload, Ron is keeping a watch on cattle prices but admits they are the best he’s ever seen.
“Cattle prices have been unbelievable,” Ron said.
“A good price at Mareeba use to be $1.30/kg but now you would be disappointed if you got $1.30.”
His most recent sale fetched him $3.30/kg for cattle weighing between 180 and 240 kg.
He trucked them to Sugarbag Yards, some 18km away, further reducing his freight costs.
