THIS week’s property review includes a wrap-up of interesting recent listings and sales across the country in Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales.

 $50m+ for WA’s The Oaks

 Picturesque New England grazing country

 10.5m for fully exclusion fenced Qld grazing

$50m+ for WA’s The Oaks

The Malaysia-based Russell family has listed its significant and strategically located mixed farming opportunity on Western Australia’s south coast with hopes of raising more than $50 million.

The 5313ha The Oaks is located 40km north-west of Esperance in the Dalyup region.

It is being sold after more than 50 years of ownership due to a change in direction, with the family business understood to be deploying capital elsewhere.

The Russells are not only the largest tea producer in Malaysia but also in Australia – they own Nerada Tea in Far North Queensland.

JA Russell (Australia) purchased its first farmland in Esperance in 1967 and expanded with the neighbouring property, The Oaks, in 1974.

Historically, the aggregation has operated as sheep and farming enterprise, with more than 50 percent of the land dedicated to pasture production.

Over the last five years, crop production has advanced with the family adopting and deploying capital into advanced technologies, soil amelioration and modern machinery.

This has shifted the focus of The Oaks to a 70/30 split between cropping (wheat, barley and canola) and pasture (fine wool and prime lamb production).

The perennial pastures feature a diverse mix of kikuyu grass, clover, serradella and ryegrass capable of running 12/DSE during winter, with a current flock of 4421 Merino ewes and 921 crossbred ewes.

The current sheep genetics boast a fine micron yielding Merino base, with cull ewes mated to a white Suffolk ram.

Formal offers close on September 4 with the sale being handled by Colliers Agribusiness agents Rawdon Briggs, Duncan McCulloch and Gabi Mewburn and AWN Rural’s Rowan Spittle.

They said The Oaks’ proximity to the coast provides a favourable environment for high yield crops and cost-effective freight.

“This location safeguards efficient grain logistics with quick turnaround times from the CBH, and there is excellent road access to paddocks with three main access driveways and a gravelled internal laneway network.”

The water facilities are extensive and include three river systems which run through the property providing excellent drainage, as well as 30 dams and a comprehensive waterline supplying troughs and cup-and-saucer tanks.

Infrastructure includes three homes, a six-stand shearing shed, sheep yards and a shed as well as extensive fence replacement.

Picturesque New England grazing country

Picturesque New England grazing country offering potential for development and an off-farm income has been listed by a Brisbane-based businessman after 27 years of ownership.

The 1491ha Linwood Aggregation consists of the adjoining 857ha Linwood and 633ha Auburn Vale and is 25km north-east of Walcha and 65km from Armidale.

It is offered with an 8500DSE estimated carrying capacity, and in the past has comfortably carried 6000 mixed sheep and 100 cows and replacement females.

Nutrien Harcourts agent Bruce Rutherford said Linwood is affordable grazing country and is attracting interest from locals and producers from Queensland and southern New South Wales looking for breeder country.

“Operated as a Merino wool growing and breeding property with a herd of Angus breeders for weaner production, there is significant potential for production to be increased with the development of permanent pastures and fertiliser.”

The mostly gently undulating traprock country rises to some steeper basalt hills growing mostly native species, with 180ha cropped to oats.

Linwood is situated in the Winterbourne district and here is also potential for off-farm income through the New England REZ (renewable energy zone) and more specifically, the proposed Winterbourne wind project.

Linwood is watered by two bores, four creeks and 53 dams, in a 780mm annual average rainfall region.

Improvements include two homes, a cottage, two three-stand shearing sheds, cattle yards, four sheep yards, grain silos and numerous sheds.

Expressions of interest close on August 7.

Meantime, the 1891ha Doughboy Mountain, also listed with Mr Rutherford, is receiving good interest with parties currently conducting due diligence.

The property is situated on top of the Doughboy Mountain Range, 56km east of Guyra and 68km from Armidale. The scenic high rainfall country is located in the dress circle Wongwibinda/Ebor district of northern New South Wales.

The property is described as a red meat production factory and is currently breeding and backgrounding around 21,000DSE.

$10.5m for fully exclusion fenced grazing

After 44 years of ownership, Don Southern is seeking offers above $10.5 million for a fully exclusion fenced grazing property in south-west Queensland.

The 6900ha Powrunna Bore is located 70km north-west of St George and 149km south of Mitchell.

The property is suited to cattle, sheep, and goat production. It is offered with a 1500 Adult Equivalent carrying capacity and has been running cows and calves, plus sheep and lambs.

Elders agent Jon Kingston said Powrunna Bore would suit producers chasing expansion.

“Currently, conservatively stocked with some sheep, the property has good stands of buffel.”

The country comprises mostly red loamy box, sandalwood and wilga timbers with some areas of sandy spinifex and scattered ironbark and pine. Along the western boundary, there are belah self-mulching soils with some slight melon hole influence.

A shared bore on the Gubberamunda Aquifer waters the property, together with five dams.

Infrastructure includes basic accommodation with two bedrooms, a new four-stand shearing shed and steel sheep and cattle yards.