About Us

Established in 2002 by local graziers, the Henry family, the Yards were designed to keep the northern livestock industry moving. Originally it functioned as depot for the Innisfail meatworks, then became a live export quarantine depot and government certified tick clearing centre.

Sugarbag (Qld) strives to be the Destination marketplace for North Queensland cattle, rather than just a transit stop.

Over many years there has been extensive investment in developing new live export markets to utilise its quarantine license and its dedicated portside loading facility at Mourilyan Harbour (south of Innisfail). With the increasing regulation and compliance costs now facing live export Sugarbag (Qld) has moved its focus towards beef exports. Significant works have been completed for the on-site slaughterhouse with plans in place for completion in the near future.

Licences held include:-

• Certified weighbridge, verified annually
• Cattle Feedlotting, up to 10,000SCU. F1-0031
• Certified Tick Clearing CT003
• Live Export Depot – LAE120, licensed to hold up to 21,500 cattle in quarantine
• Live Export License L575
• Livecorp Accredited Shipboard Stockperson, Number 45
• ERA meat processing EPSX03410815
• Certificate III Meat Processing (Meat Safety)
• Agency & Auctioneer Licence Number 3641868
• Commercial dog-baiting operator Q000000232085

Sugarbag Yards remains family owned and managed by Brian Henry with his wife Tania.

Brian descends from a multi-generational north Queensland cattle grazing family with roots going back over 120 years, including some time at Butcher’s Hill (now Lakeland). Raised in Innisfail Brian’s father purchased his first cattle property in Hughenden (Gunnerside) before purchasing Sugarbag in the mid-80’s. The family moved permanently to Mt Garnet in 1995 which is where Brian returned after completing First class honours in Agribusiness at UQ Gatton. Early in his career Brian sailed as the Accredited Stockperson on numerous live export boats. Around this time the family purchased the neighbouring properties of St Ronan’s and Sundown. After undertaking significant improvement works the decision was made to on-sell those properties to invest in the development of Sugarbag (Qld), with the aim of creating a vertically integrated marketing chain for north Queensland cattle. In 2024 the family underwent succession and the parcel of land on which Sugarbag Yards are located was subdivided from the main station.

While Brian has a thorough knowledge of the north Queensland cattle industry from the ground up, he has become well regarded for his disciplined practices in managing cattle – especially with respect to all compliance and agri-political matters. His experience and knowledge in tick-clearing is equally matched by his working knowledge of the NLIS system.

Tania has a mixed dairy and beef heritage from southern Queensland (Wright family from Warwick) so is no stranger to early mornings, late nights and a lot of hard work. Tania has post-graduate qualifications in Business Management and a breadth of experience across business and politics in the south-east of the State. Since moving north and joining the family business Tania has become an accredited tick certifier however she is most often seen in the back yard, feeding out or keeping up with maintenance.