Chinese couple’s tree change pain after paying $1m for Queensland farm
6 hours ago
A Chinese couple who shelled out close to $1 million for a quiet retirement on a Queensland farm have found themselves deep in “endless work” after failing to prepare themselves for the financial hardship of life on the land.
‘That scene of barbecuing with friends on a ranch only happens in the movies’
Lei Qing and his wife sold off their 110-square-metre apartment in Beijing to be able to afford a 323-hectare farm in central Queensland, the People’s Daily Online reports.
He initially paid $800,000 for the ranch but with taxes and the cost of hiring a manager, his expenses blew out to almost $1 million.
The couple’s relocation pain didn’t end there, with Lei’s money-making plans foiled at every turn.
His plan to transport fertilizer from China failed to happen with Australian laws banning the use of such stimulant.
He had also planned to keep cows to make money, selling their milk. Yet the closest milk-processing plant from his farm was 200 km away.
The cost of hiring a driver and workers to shift the milk would end up costing him $1.30 per litre.
His plan to build a vineyard on his property also fell flat because of the isolated nature of his farm.
His wife has been forced to plough the farm herself as a way to make money.
“The nearest neighbour is 50 kilometres away. That scene of barbecuing with friends on a ranch only happens in the movies,” Lei said.
A real estate agent who spoke to the media outlet said many Chinese clients have been forced to sell their farms over the isolated lifestyle and lacking income.