RECENT listings across New South Wales feature in this article by Sheep Central property editor Linda Rowley.

 $50m for historic Eastern Riverina holding

 $9m for Wellington’s Warrengunyah

 $11m for blue ribbon Yass property

$50m for historic eastern Riverina holding

An historic and landmark pastoral holding in New South Wales’ eastern Riverina has been listed for sale after 25 years of ownership, with a $45 million to $50 million price tag.

The 5260ha Ardenside Station near Tooma, at the headwaters of the Upper Murray in southern New South Wales, is being sold by former investment banker Clive Standish.

Ardenside Station  was established in the late 1800s and formed part of a massive pastoral empire created by Melbourne businessman, politician, and pastoralist Edmund Jowett, spanning Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

In 1981, it was purchased by Burns Kidman Reid, a grandson of the legendary Australian ‘Cattle King’ Sir Sidney Kidman.

In the early days of ownership, cattle were walked from Ardenside up to the high country forestry leases at what became known as the Ardenside Run.

In early spring, the cows were moved to three stopover points that neighbour Bago and Maragle State Forests and Kosciuszko National Park.

Earlier this month, Oakvale, Bowens Retreat and McPhersons Plains spanning 664ha were sold for close to $1.7m.

Ardenside Station features 2km of Murray River frontage. The property is rectangular in shape, stretching for more than 20km with an altitude ranging from 220m to 840m above sea level. As a result, rainfall patterns vary from a winter-dominant 800mm on Ardenside to 900mm on the higher country at the northern end at Allerthorpe.

Professional agronomic advice from Mark Lucas has led to more than 70 percent (3850ha) of the property being established to high-performance pastures, including phalaris, cocksfoot, fescues, and sub and white clovers.

Strong red granite and clay loam soils, supported by an annual average rainfall of 800mm to 900mm and 50 years of top dressing, provide pasture and fodder cropping.

Under the management of Max Manefield, the property sustainably runs between 45,000 and 50,000 DSE.

Meares & Associates principal Chris Meares said that in terms of livestock production, Ardenside is an absolute factory.

“Today, the station runs around 2000 Te Mania blood Angus cows, boasting one of the outstanding Angus herds in eastern Australia, with the progeny taken through to either weaning or feedlot weights depending on seasonal conditions.

“This is complemented by a select flock of around 3500 outstanding Kurra-Wirra blood Merino ewes, which traditionally join to either Merino or Poll Dorset rams, historically cutting up to 6kg of wool at a popular 17.5 microns,” explained Mr Meares.

Mr Meares is anticipating interest from a range of sectors, including corporates, institutional investors and large-scale family operators.

Ardenside Station is being offered for sale via expressions of interest closing on October 28. It is being offered as a whole or as three separate holdings:

 As a whole: Ardenside Station can run 46,100 DSE, or 1960 cows and calves, 200 replacement heifers, 3475 Merino ewes, 750 replacement ewes and 650 wethers.

 2004ha Ardenside: Can run 23,440 DSE, or 878 cows, 560 replacement heifers, 1904 Merino ewes and 750 replacement ewes.

 3146ha Allerthorpe: Can run 22,670 DSE, or 1044 cows and calves, 561 replacement heifers, 1568 Merino ewes, 651 Merino wethers and 477 crossbred lambs.

 110ha Ingledale: Can run 1500 DSE or 200 steers or dry cattle.

$9m for Wellington’s Warrengunyah

Meantime, another historic homestead and property, this time in the Central West region of New South Wales, has been listed after 45 years of ownership with hopes of raising around $9 million.

The two adjoining holdings — 245ha Warrengunyah and 363ha Woodbine — span 608ha, and are located 3km from Wellington and 54km from Dubbo.

They feature 127ha of fertile alluvial Bell River flats and 180ha of gently rising arable country suited to cash cropping, fodder production and pasture development.

The balance is sheltered sandy loam native grazing country currently carrying 150 breeding cows and 1500 ewes, or 7000DSE.

Meares & Associates agent Sam Meares said there is scope for significant productivity expansion through further pasture and irrigation development.

The aggregation is situated in a 640mm annual rainfall region and also has 7km of Bell River frontage, bores, dams, six alluvial wells, extensive irrigation infrastructure and a 364ML groundwater entitlement.

Infrastructure includes an historic (circa 1888), renovated six-bedroom limestone homestead overlooking the Bell River, two three-bedroom cottages, a three-stand shearing shed, sheep and cattle yards, stables, sheds and grain storage.

Warrengunyah and Woodbine will be offered as a whole, or as two individual holdings, via an online auction commencing on October 28.

$11m for blue ribbon Yass property

More than $11 million is being sought for a blue-ribbon grazing platform held since 1915 by members of the Walker family.

The 612ha Ledgworth is located 11km south-east of Yass and 35km from the ACT border. It is being sold by Michael and Katie Walker after more than a century of family ownership.

With 469ha of arable cropping land and 139ha of perennial pastures carrying 6750DSE, the property is equally suited to a combination of winter cropping and cattle and sheep production.

The Walkers have run a self-replacing Merino flock producing superfine wool, together with prime lamb production and cattle breeding and finishing.

Ledgworth has a history of cropping wheat, oats, canola and triticale for grazing, and occasionally haymaking.

The gently undulating landscape is underpinned by productive red granite-derived soils, mostly clay loams, complemented by a long history of fertiliser application.

More than 95 percent of the property is suitable for direct drilled pasture establishment.

LAWD national director Col Medway said Ledgworth is ideally positioned for future subdivision development.

“The dual road frontage, combined with the current 40ha minimum lot size, provides an efficient future subdivision development in one the fastest growing regions in rural NSW.”

Ledgworth is situated in a 692mm rainfall region, and is also watered by two headwater tributaries of O’Brien’s Creek, seven dams, a permanent spring and an equipped bore.

Infrastructure includes a grand 1915 renovated six-bedroom home, three renovated cottages and shearers’ quarters, a five-stand woolshed, steel sheep and cattle yards, a stable complex, sheds and grain storage facilities.

Ledgworth is being offered for sale by expressions of interest closing on October 29.