In December 1880, his father, Sidney Yeates, who was then farming at Bowen, decided to migrate into the interior and travelled overland to Adavale via Withersfield (40 km west of Emerald) and Tambo, and in partnership with his brother-in law, James Francis Cudmore (1838–1912), purchased Boondoon Station from the Conn Brothers around January 1881, where they ran 50,000 sheep and 2000 cattle.
Like his father, Herbert Yeates took an active part in the public affairs of the community both civic and political.
James Page, who had held the seat since Federation (without much assistance, as the Country Party considered it a "forlorn hope"), but with sufficient electoral success to show that with some organisation, the Socialists could be beaten.
In 1921, on the death of Page, there was a multiplicity of candidates, and Yeates unselfishly withdrew his nomination in favour of James Hunter in order to assist the Country Party.
Herbert married Margaret Ann McNeil Tolmie (20 September 1878 – 1 June 1973) on 11 April 1906.