"An insult to the memories" — Families of slain officers express outrage after learning of the sale through a public real estate listing.

Wieambilla Property Sold to Private Buyer for $190,000

The property in Wieambilla, Queensland—site of the December 2022 ambush that left two police officers and a neighbor dead—has been sold to a private buyer for $190,000. The sale comes after negotiations between the property's executor and the Queensland Police Union (QPU) broke down.

Background of the Siege

On December 12, 2022, Gareth Train, Nathaniel Train, and Stacey Train opened fire on Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow during a routine welfare check at the property, roughly 310 kilometers west of Brisbane. Neighbor Alan Dare was also fatally shot during the ensuing siege.

The three perpetrators were themselves shot dead by police after several hours of negotiations.

Property Details and Sale

Aidan Train—son of Nathaniel and Stacey Train—sold the property as executor of a deceased estate. The 43-hectare block with a two-bedroom dwelling was listed at $190,000 or above.

Photographs from the real estate listing revealed the home in significant disrepair. Visible inside the property were an "Australian Shooter" magazine on the floor, dishes piled near the kitchen sink, a full bathroom bin, an open gun safe, and clothes scattered across a bedroom floor.

Failed Union Negotiations

Aidan Train said he had preferred to sell the property to the QPU to prevent it from being used for "inappropriate purposes." He reported discussing the sale with the union since late 2023, including property valuations and contract drafting, but said no further contact occurred after October 2024.

QPU president Shane Prior stated that the union had been negotiating in good faith to purchase the property, but the owner ultimately accepted another offer. Former QPU president Ian Leavers had previously advocated for the union to acquire the property to prevent it from "falling into the wrong hands."

Victims' Families Respond

The families of Constables McCrow and Arnold said they learned of the sale through a public real estate listing. They described the sale as "an insult to the memories" of the deceased, noting they had expected the property to be acquired for a memorial park based on earlier discussions with the QPU.

"We had been led to believe the land would become a place of remembrance," a family spokesperson said.

Queensland Police Minister Dan Purdie described the shootings as a dark day for the state and offered his condolences to the families and the broader police service.