Four months after the gates of the Longreach Pastoral College were controversially closed by the Queensland Government, a local butcher has moved into the facility.
Erin and Jerome Marks, who run the B.F Savage and Co butchery, have signed on to lease the abattoir for two years.
Ms Marks said the plan was to source cattle, sheep and goats from the local area rather than buying them from other abattoirs.
"We'll just see how things go in our two years and see how much response we get from the community," Ms Marks said.
"This western Queensland area produces such good quality stock, so why not put that to good use and sell it locally?"
Ms Marks said selling to the east coast was the long-term goal.
"We get so many tourists that come through the butcher shop that say we can not get the quality meat they get here on the coast," she said.
"That's long term though — we'll see how things go."
'Perfect fit'
The closure of the Longreach Pastoral College after more than 50 years of operation was met with anger by the local community.
Former board member and grazier Rosemary Champion was heavily opposed to the decision.
But she said the local investment in the facility was a positive outcome.
"It's a perfect fit," she said.
"A local family using a local facility that's been here so long, and kept up to pristine condition."
Ms Champion said processing local meat in the area would help complement the growing tourism industry.
"Tourists love to see home-grown product and we all love to try the local flavours," she said.
"We just wish them enormous success and hope they do well."
