Graeme Acton
Graeme William Acton | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1950-11-15 Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia |
| Died | 2014-05-09 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Cattle baron, campdrafting competitor and advocate |
| Known for | Australian cattle industry leadership, campdrafting promotion |
| Notable work | Acton Land and Cattle Company, Acton Super Beef brand, Paradise Lagoons Campdraft Complex |
Graeme William Acton (15 November 1950 – 9 May 2014) was a prominent Australian cattle baron recognized for his significant contributions to the cattle industry and his active participation in campdrafting.
Early life
Graeme Acton was born in Rockhampton, Queensland to parents Thomas and Valma Acton. He spent his childhood on the family’s cattle station, "Wilpeena," located near Dingo, Queensland, alongside his four siblings: Robert, Elizabeth, Evan, and Allen.
Business
Acton's initial substantial venture commenced in 1970 when he and his brother Robert established Arana Downs, where they initially lived with modest means. Later, he partnered with his brother Evan to create the Acton Land and Cattle Company, overseeing a vast herd of 180,000 cattle comprising Santa Gertrudis, Charolais, Angus, and Brahman breeds spread over 3.87 million acres.
His extensive property portfolio included notable stations such as Millungera Station near Julia Creek, Queensland, Barkly Downs close to Mount Isa, Moray Downs near Clermont, Queensland, Iffley Station near Mackay, Queensland, Croydon Station located north of Rockhampton, Mountain View west of Rockhampton, along with the family residence Paradise Lagoons.
The vertically integrated business was valued at around $500 million and supplied both domestic and international markets through its own brand, Acton Super Beef. The company exported approximately 30,000 head of cattle annually to regions including Asia and the Middle East.
In 2011, a 26,000-hectare portion of Iffley Station was sold to Macarthur Coal for $38 million. The following year saw the sale of Moray Downs to the Indian multinational Adani Group for $110 million—originally acquired for $7 million two decades earlier—to support Adani’s planned Carmichael coal mine. This transaction generated debate among graziers concerned about mining companies purchasing prime grazing land.
By 2015, Acton Land and Cattle Company divested a controlling stake to Australian Country Choice, resulting in a joint venture named Australian Cattle and Beef Holdings. Under this agreement, Australian Country Choice took ownership of Barkly Downs and secured indefinite leases on several other properties. The Acton family retained ownership of Paradise Lagoons and Mountain View near Rockhampton.
Campdrafting
Inspired by his father’s background as an amateur jockey, Acton initially explored horse racing but transitioned to campdrafting due to his physical stature. He gained recognition as both a competitor and a leading advocate credited with rejuvenating campdrafting in Queensland.
In 2001, Acton purchased "Paradise Lagoons," situated near Rockhampton, where he invested $3 million to develop the Val & Tom Acton MBE Memorial Complex—a campdrafting facility named in tribute to his parents. The complex was officially inaugurated in 2003 by Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson alongside Australian Campdraft Association President Ed McCormack and is considered the "spiritual home" of campdrafting.
Paradise Lagoons is the venue for the yearly Paradise Lagoons Campdraft, which stands as Australia’s most lucrative campdraft event with prize money totaling several hundred thousand dollars. This event also functions as a fundraiser supporting charities such as the Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service and the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, along with various local community organizations.
Beyond its role in campdrafting, Paradise Lagoons serves as a multifunctional event space hosting weddings, corporate gatherings, and charity functions including Rockhampton’s Black Dog Ball.
Acton held the presidency of the Clarke Creek Campdraft Association for ten years before resigning in the early 2000s and is honored on the Australian Campdraft Association Honour Roll.
Additional Projects
Acton significantly contributed to advancing the triennial Beef Australia event in Rockhampton, acting as chairman for the 2000 and 2003 exhibitions. Additionally, he held the position of deputy chairman at the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach, where his strategic insight was instrumental in obtaining funding and developing the $2.5 million Outback Entertainment Centre.
During 2013 and 2014, Acton took part in the annual Global Food Forums held in Melbourne and Sydney, where he engaged in conversations focused on the beef sector and food production challenges.
Media
The 2012 television series Big Australia, produced by Southern Cross Austereo and broadcast nationwide on 7mate, highlighted mustering activities at Acton's Millungera cattle property.
Following his passing, Acton was featured in the 2014 BBC One three-part documentary John Bishop's Australia, hosted by comedian John Bishop.
He also made several appearances on ABC Television’s national rural affairs program Landline, where he discussed issues pertinent to Australia’s beef industry.
Rich Lists
Graeme Acton and his brother Evan consistently appeared on prominent wealth rankings such as the BRW Rich 200 and The Sunday Mail Top 150 Rich List, reflecting their considerable financial success. In 2010, they were positioned at #170 on the BRW Rich 200, rising to #151 in 2011 and #117 in 2012 before falling to #143 in 2013. After Graeme Acton's death in 2014, Evan was listed individually at #176 that year.
Personal life
In 1975, Acton married Jennifer Beak, with whom he had four children: Tom, Victoria, Hayley, and Laura. The couple first met at a bull sale in Gracemere, Queensland in 1970 and discovered they were born just hours apart at the same hospital. Early on, Beak proposed marriage in 1972 but was initially declined; Acton later sold a rifle to purchase an engagement ring before accepting her proposal. At the time of his death, they had been married for 39 years.
Acton's daughter Tory sought election during the 2016 Local Government elections, contesting Division 2 of the Rockhampton Regional Council. She was part of mayoral hopeful Michael McMillan’s team and received 30.51% of votes but was defeated by incumbent Neil Fisher, who secured 43.26%.
Political Views
Graeme Acton identified as a conservative and openly endorsed the Liberal Party of Australia along with its leader Tony Abbott. He welcomed Abbott, then Federal Opposition Leader, to the Paradise Lagoons Campdraft events in both 2011 and 2013; Abbott’s visit in 2013 coincided with his Federal election campaign. At this occasion, Acton introduced Abbott as "the future Prime Minister of Australia," a prediction fulfilled shortly thereafter.
In 2013, Acton voiced criticism toward the Labor governments of Queensland under Peter Beattie and Anna Bligh, accusing them of disregarding agricultural interests and food producers. He stated he had "battled" these administrations for two decades. Furthermore, he attributed the decline of horse racing in regional Queensland to state Labor policies, asserting that this sport was "dying out" across rural communities.
Death
Graeme Acton passed away in Brisbane on 9 May 2014 as a result of injuries he suffered on 2 May during the Clarke Creek Autumn Classic Campdraft near Rockhampton, when a horse fell on him after he was thrown. Initially, he was airlifted to Rockhampton Hospital, then moved to the intensive care unit at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital with severe head and spinal trauma. Although there were brief signs of recovery, including removal from life support, Acton ultimately died from his injuries a week later.
Prominent Australian figures such as Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce, and Queensland Premier Campbell Newman publicly acknowledged Acton's profound impact on the beef industry.
His funeral took place at the Paradise Lagoons Campdraft Complex.
Legacy
In memory of Acton, a 1200-metre horse race at Middlemount was designated the Graeme Acton Memorial Benchmark 55. This event was relocated from Wilpeena to Middlemount and received backing from the local coal mining sector despite ongoing difficulties faced by regional equestrian sports.
The Graeme Acton Beef Connections initiative was introduced in 2015 during the Beef Australia exhibition in Rockhampton to provide guidance and education for emerging beef producers, reflecting Acton's dedication to nurturing new talent within the industry.
During the 2015 Beef Australia event, the Rockhampton Art Gallery unveiled a hand-woven tapestry portrait of Acton. Commissioned by his friends and crafted by the Australian Tapestry Workshop, it received acclaim from former Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley for embodying Acton's essence and his deep bond with rural Australia.
Central Queensland University honored Acton posthumously with an Honorary Doctorate in 2015, acknowledging his role as an ambassador for both Central Queensland and Australia's cattle sector.
At the 2015 Paradise Lagoons Campdraft, Prime Minister Tony Abbott revealed a bronze bust of Graeme Acton, celebrating his legacy as a distinguished cattleman and a key figure in Queensland.