A CHANGE of business direction for Warwick entrepreneur John Doherty is the reason behind a major auction of farm machinery and equipment east of Warwick this weekend.

Mr Doherty is one of the major vendors at Saturday's auction on Longs Bridge Rd.

Agent Brent Bowles, speaking for Mr Doherty, said the local businessman was selling surplus farm equipment as part of a move to focus on his mining and equestrian enterprises.

"John sold his Wheatvale property and leased out a section of cultivation on his Miandetta property a while ago," Mr Bowles said.

"Now he plans to lease or share farm more of his cultivation country, all of which means he has accumulated a significant amount of surplus plant and equipment."

Mr Bowles said while Mr Doherty planned to maintain his piggery interests at Miandetta he was also keen to develop his mining and thoroughbred interests.

"John has a horse property at Beaudesert now as well," he said.

"And locally he has invested in a sandstone mining operation, which he is very keen to develop.

"So selling this surplus farming equipment will allow him to concentrate on those operations."

Mr Doherty and former Yangan publican Warren McDonald are in partnership together as the Australian Sandstone Mining and Exploration Company.

Mr McDonald said they had spent the past four months developing their Southern Downs mine site and were now taking orders for high-quality sandstone to be exported to China.

"There is increased demand both for export and domestic-quality sandstone, so now really is the time to develop our Warwick operation," Mr McDonald said.

Mr Bowles, who was formerly Warwick Property Specialists and is now with Raine and Horne, will handle this weekend's auction in conjunction with George and Fuhrmann.

"There has been huge interest in this auction; we have had hundreds of phone inquiries so we are expecting considerable buyer interest," Mr Bowles said.

The sale includes everything from Komatsu forklifts, to John Deere tractors, Landcruiser utes, a D3 Caterpillar dozer, hay making gear and steel cattle yards. The auction starts at 9.30am Saturday.