A well-built barbed wire fence will last 20+ years with minimal maintenance. This guide covers post selection, spacing, straining, and gates for Queensland conditions.
Planning Your Fence Line
Walk your fence line before buying anything. Note changes in direction (strainer posts needed at every significant change), creek crossings, gate locations, and terrain changes. Plan gate placement before setting strainers.
Post Types
Timber strainer posts are the backbone of any fence. In Queensland, hardwood species like ironbark, spotted gum, or grey gum are preferred. Treated pine is acceptable where hardwood is unavailable — use H4 or H5 treated for in-ground use.
Steel Y-posts (star pickets) make excellent intermediate posts for cattle fences. Quick to drive, termite-resistant. Browse our Fence Posts & Drivers range.
Post Spacing
Standard spacing for a 4-wire barbed cattle fence on flat Queensland country:
- Strainer posts: Every 200-250m flat, every 100-150m on hills
- Intermediate posts: Every 5-6m
- Stays: Every 15-20m on flat, every second post on slopes
Wire Selection
Use high-tensile barbed wire with minimum 800kg breaking strain. GalMAX galvanised wire outlasts standard wire significantly in Queensland conditions. Browse our Wire & Fencing range.
- 4-wire fence: Wire heights at 30cm, 55cm, 80cm, 105cm from ground
- 5-wire fence: Add fifth wire at 125-130cm for fences carrying cattle pressure
- Bottom wire: Keep 30cm from ground for wildlife passage
Gates
Set gate posts before straining adjacent wire. Allow minimum 4.5m clear opening for farm equipment (6m for large machinery). Browse our Farm Gates range.
Products at TGRM
We stock GalMAX barbed wire, steel Y-posts, timber strainers, wire strainers, Gripple clips, staples, and gate hardware. Our team can calculate quantities for any fence length.
Call (07) 5482 1692 or visit 55 Tozer St, Gympie.
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