THIS week’s property review includes a wrap-up of recently completed sales of note and details on recent listings across the country.

 Northern NSW aggregation makes $15m+

 Cameron Corner country sells to Qld family

 Doonans secure blue ribbon Charters Towers country

 Fysh family secures Muttaburra’s Stockholm Station

 Locals expand with large Moonie holding

 Qld family to relocate to NSW picturesque lake country

 

Northern NSW aggregation makes $15m+

Sylvania Aggregation from Inglis on Vimeo.

One of the largest contiguous landholdings in the renowned Gunnedah/Boggabri region of northern New South Wales is believed to have sold to a local farming family for well below its $20 million-plus expectations.

The 3480ha Sylvania Aggregation is situated 29km from Boggabri and 49km from Gunnedah – an area well known for reliable winter and summer rainfall, fertile soils and versatile country.

Agents from Inglis Rural Property and Elders Gunnedah were unable to disclose the buyer or the purchase price; however, sources told Beef Central the aggregation achieved between $15m and $16m.

Inglis agent Liam Griffiths said the sale of Sylvania attracted a wide buyer pool resulting in a competitive sales process.

The high rainfall grazing and cropping operation was purchased in November 2021 by the Tumut-based Stoney Property Group for around $13m from MH Premium Farms after five years ownership.

The company cited consolidation and capitalising on the district’s recent strong sales as reasons for offloading the holding.

Around 88 percent (3079ha) of the aggregation is arable and growing 1450ha of wheat, with the balance perennial pastures that can carry an estimated 22,000DSE.

It is currently running close to 800 mixed cattle including 340 breeders, but previously was fattening 8000 sheep, trading 500 head of cattle and cropping 500ha.

The largely heavy black soils on the southern portion of the holding have a high-water holding capacity, consisting of mostly chocolate self-mulching clays rising to red loam soils.

The property is situated in a 570mm average annual rainfall region. It is watered by four bores, wells, dams and the Bayley Park and Bollol Creeks. Two recently installed reticulation systems cover much of the aggregation.

The improvements include two cottages, numerous sheds, 12 silos with a capacity of 880 tonnes, two cattle yards, a three-stand shearing shed and sheep yards.

Cameron Corner country sells to QLD family

A Queensland family with country in the Western Downs and Boulia regions has paid $9.4 million bare for Bollards Lagoon Station in the Cameron Corner district of north-east South Australia.

The 315,000ha station has been owned by the Rieck family since 1959, with vendors Grant and Gina Rieck listing to consolidate their existing interests in the state’s south-east.

Bollards Lagoon Station is certified organic and has a maximum stocking rate of 18,000 sheep or 3600 cattle.

When the pastoral lease was offered to the market late last year, Elders agents Adam Chilcott and Phil Keen described Bollards Lagoon Station as having a reputation for growing and holding feed and producing quality animals.

The property is situated in a 169mm average rainfall region. Water is also supplied by 16 bores (seven with pipelines), 23 dams and 32 troughs.

Improvements include heavy duty cattle yards, five sheds, a main house and three smaller dwellings.

In addition, Bollards Lagoon Station offers additional income opportunities including road maintenance and civil work, accommodation and potential carbon farming.

Fysh family secures Muttaburra’s Stockholm Station

As one family downsizes, Muttaburra’s David and Sarah Fysh, Acacia Downs, are expanding with Stockholm Station in Queensland’s central west.

After six years ownership, the Drynan family from Beaudesert quietly offloaded the 11,859ha of low-cost breeder country as it moves to consolidate its southern grazing holdings.

Ray White Rural agents Bill Seeney and Rhys Peacock handled the off-market sale, but were unable to disclose the purchase price.

Stockholm is located 36km north-east of Muttaburra. It has a balance of country types – 4046ha of buffel grass, 5584ha of Mitchell grass, 1416ha Cornish Creek/Towel Hill channels and 809ha of pebbly herbage.

Water is a feature. Two flowing bores supply 29 concrete troughs via 50km of poly pipe, providing a maximum 2km radius between watering points. There are also semi-permanent holes in the Cornish and Towerhill Creeks.

Improvements include a home, a cottage and workers quarters, a machinery shed, a six-stand shearing shed, two sheep yards and two cattle yards.

Locals expand with large Moonie holding

A versatile property in southern Queensland’s Western Downs region has sold for expansion to a local family for an undisclosed price.

The 6668ha Inverclyde is located 36km south-east of Moonie and 87km west of Millmerran, with good access to livestock markets and grain silos.

Described as one of the largest holdings in the Moonie district, Inverclyde was offloaded by Brian and Keeleigh Allport, Grassland Goats, to expand their processing operations.

Mr Kirtley said Inverclyde is suited to breeding, backgrounding or finishing cattle, sheep and goats, but is also ideal cropping country.

“Fully exclusion fenced, the property can run 1000 breeders or 25,000 goats and 150 cows, in addition to 627ha of cultivation, that could be greatly increased with further pasture development.”

The property is situated in a 625mm annual average rainfall region. Water is supplied by a 550ML overland flow dam, 12 dams and two bores.

Improvements include three homes, numerous sheds, a four-stand shearing shed, three seed silos, five grain silos, steel cattle yards, goat yards, a 1000 tonne silage pit, a gravel quarry and an air strip.

Eastern Rural agent Andrew Kirtley handled the sale of Inverclyde.

QLD family relocate to NSW picturesque lake country

North-western New South Wales grazing and farming country featuring a picturesque natural lake system has sold for $6.5 million bare to a Queensland family that is planning to relocate.

Wilcannia’s 23,990ha Volo Station, held by the Nitschke family since 1992, is currently running 5000 dorper ewes and followers, 1000 goats and 360 breeding cows and calves.

When the season prevails, the family has been farming the lakebed country for cereal crops including sorghum, oats, hay and wheat.

There are around 3300ha of alluvial black self-mulching lakebed country fronting the Poopelloe Lake and the sale includes a 1877ha cultivation permit from the receding Darling River flooding system.

The balance of the country is red loam and soft under stone grazing growing an abundance of native shrubs and grasses, salines and a variety of edible fodder.

With around 10km of Poopelloe shoreline frontage, Volo is well watered and is supported by a dam and three bores in a 250mm annual average rainfall region.

Improvements include a three-bedroom home, a one-bedroom worker’s cottage, a four-stand shearing shed, steel sheep yards, cattle yards and numerous sheds.

Quality listings in NSW, Queensland and South Australia

 EOI for Coventry’s northern NSW eastern fall grazing

 $40m+ for QLD wool industry pioneer property

 Blue ribbon grazing close to Adelaide listed for $20m+

 Gaden family lists Dunedoo holding for $15m

 Neighbouring NSW Southern Tablelands properties offer scale

 Historic Glen Innes property passed in at $31m

 Snowy Mountains station offered for $6.5m

 

EOI for Coventry’s northern NSW eastern fall grazing

Charlie and Dorianne Coventry are selling their eastern fall grazing country in New South Wales’ New England that they have held since 2015.

Sunnyside has been owned by radio and television personality Dr James Wright. It comprises 967ha of undulating prime New England trap soil with some basalt.

The property is located 44km east of Armidale and is anticipated to make between $7.6 million ($7900/ha) and $8.2 million ($8400/ha).

Despite being bordered by gorges to the east and west, much of Sunnyside is ‘park-like’ and capable of running 6000DSE or more than 400 cows.

Sunnyside is currently run as a beef cattle grazing operation and is described as excellent, with each of the 40 paddocks serviced by at least one dam.

There is a balance of improved pastures, native pastures and an area in the process of being developed, with pockets of native timber along gullies and low ridges offering natural shelter belts.

The property is situated in an 934mm average annual rainfall district. Graham MacDougall from MacDougall Rural Property said Sunnyside is benefitting from widespread storms following a slow start to the season.

“Good enquiry is coming from neighbours, locals and away, with some potential buyers keen to secure the holding as two separate lots.”

Infrastructure includes three homes, three sheds, a grain silo, a three-stand wool shed with sheep yards, steel cattle yards and a smaller set of cattle yards.

Sunnyside is being offered for sale by expressions of interest closing on February 15.

Meantime, Mr MacDougall has been appointed to sell close to 4000ha of breeding and backgrounding country offered to market by different branches of the Cameron family.

The historic 2390ha Fassifern and the adjoining 1573ha Inverinate have been listed for separate sale. Both properties are situated in the Chandler River Valley on the eastern fall, north of Wollomombi and 50km east of Armidale.

$40m+ for Qld wool industry pioneer property

Around $40 million is anticipated for a southern Queensland property with a distinguished position in Australia’s pastoral history.

The 14,435ha Warroo Station is located 40km from Inglewood, between Goondiwindi, Warwick and Stanthorpe.

It was offered to the market in October last year via an expressions of interest process, but failed to sell, with Colliers Agribusiness agents Rawdon Briggs and Phillip Kelly now considering offers above $40m.

Warroo Station has been under single family ownership since it was settled by wool industry pioneer Frederick Bracker in 1849. He is credited with being the first man to start stud breeding in Queensland. Current owner, the Goodrich family, is selling to pursue other interests.

Mr Briggs said the opportunity to secure a large-scale premium sheep and beef cattle enterprise on Queensland’s southern downs is unique.

“Warroo has an industry leading sheep and wool reputation and under the Primerino program produced the first sub-12 micron wool in history.

“Production of quality sheep and wool continues at the station today.”

Mr Briggs said beef cattle have, since settlement, played an important role, with the station today producing high quality Red Angus cattle.

Mr Kelly said Warroo offers purchasers scale of operation, supported by good infrastructure and established, proven production.

“The property has been a generational grazing enterprise since settlement and it is rare to have such a large-scale, quality and proven asset come to the market in southern Queensland.”

Most of the country on Warroo Station is open and lightly timbered natural grazing with expansive alluvial flats rising to soft low hills.

Warroo is watered by more than 70 dams supported by in excess of 20 permanent and seasonal springs.

Bracker Creek (double frontage) provides seasonal flows and contains a number of larger waterholes along with the ability to bring underground streams to the surface via excavation.

Improvements include a five-bedroom circa 1800s homestead, a manager’s residence, three staff cottages and shearer/backpacker accommodation.

There are three shearing sheds, three sheep yards, three cattle yards and numerous storage sheds.

The successful purchaser can secure Warroo’s high-quality sheep flock and cattle herd along with full station plant and equipment.

$20m+ for blue ribbon grazing close to Adelaide

A blue ribbon grazing enterprise close to Adelaide has returned to the market for more than $20 million after failing to sell following an expressions of interest campaign.

The 1158ha Mount Beevor is located 9km north-east of Nairne and 45km from the Adelaide CBD.

Since 1949, the property has been held by the Downer family, with owners Jim (a second cousin to former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer) and his wife Ally selling to enable family succession.

When Mount Beevor was listed for sale in October last year, it was expected to command between $25m to $30m.

There was strong local and interstate interest to divide the holding – that sits on 21 certificates of title — into separate parcels; however, the vendors have chosen to relist Mount Beevor as a whole.

The name Mount Beevor originates from Captain Beevor, the first European settler to the district in 1839.

The productive grazing platform benefits from an average annual rainfall of 605mm.

The sandy loams over clay and sections of loam over clay are growing a mix of pastures including Mount Barker clovers, medics and annual grasses.

The property is rated to run 11,670 dry sheep equivalents. The Downers are currently running 2500 ewes and 275 cows. These are available by negotiation, along with plant and equipment.

Mount Beevor has four homes, a shearing shed, machinery sheds, multiple dams, single-phase power and mains water supply on a restricted line.

CBRE Agribusiness agents Phil Schell and Angus Bills report good interest, particularly from people seeking a commercial grazing enterprise and lifestyle investment.

Gaden family lists Dunedoo holding for $15m

Renowned Dunedoo livestock breeding and fattening property Lockerbie has been listed for $15m after passing in at auction late last year.

Described as one of the longest held and largest holdings in the district, the central western New South Wales property is being offered to the market by the Gaden family after 97 years ownership.

In an average season, the 3389ha can carry up to 3200 breeding ewes, 1500 Merino wethers and up to 350 cows. In optimum seasons, numbers have reached as high as 18,000DSE.

Today, much of the livestock operation is managed by cell grazing techniques.

The rich basalt and loam soils are complemented by 550ha of highly productive arable country mainly along the Merrygoen Creek flats that produce cash or fodder cropping and high performance pastures.

Lockerbie is watered by a 9.5km mostly double frontage to the permanent Merrygoen Creek, complemented by six bores, 19 dams and numerous permanent and semi-permanent creeks.

The sale of Lockerbie is being handled by Meares & Associates principal Chris Meares who said the property has potential to generate biodiversity offsets.

Neighbouring NSW Southern Tablelands properties offer scale

Two neighbouring, high rainfall grazing properties on New South Wales’ Southern Tablelands have returned to the market giving purchasers the opportunity to aggregate or secure them as single holdings.

LAWD agent Col Medway said the assets would suit a range of investors, from entry level families wanting to start their farming journey to experienced managers seeking scale.

“Infrastructure on both properties is excellent and they are conveniently situated within easy reach of selling and business centres, enabling the purchasers to walk straight into an income-generating enterprise.”

Rosemont

The 825ha Rosemont is a well-appointed livestock breeding and grazing opportunity being sold by the Seaman family for $8.9 million.

The property is located 8km from Golspie and 36km from Crookwell. It is suited to pasture and crop production.

The enterprise is currently growing improved and native pastures and running a 5200 head self-replacing Merino flock producing 18.5 micron wool, in addition to 60 cows and progeny.

Rosemont is renowned for its prize-winning fine wools that feature regularly in the Australian Fleece Competition, with the Seamans being the only commercial producers in 21 years to win Grand Champion Fleece against national stud and commercial entries.

The country rises from fertile creek flats through to arable slopes and grazing hillsides and is watered by dams and double frontage to two creeks.

The fit-for-purpose operational improvements to support sheep and cattle enterprises include a four-stand shearing shed, steel sheep and cattle yards, a shed and two silos with 60 tonnes of grain capacity.

Clovelly

Next door, the 408ha Clovelly is a livestock breeding and finishing platform rated to run 3900DSE.

Clovelly is located 5km from Golspie and 25km from Crookwell. It features creek flats rising to arable slopes and grazing hillsides.

The property was developed over 10 years by former NRL chief executive Neil Whittaker and wife Liz. Clovelly has been listed for $4.95m.

The couple is running a self-replacing Merino flock with ewes joined to Merino rams and a portion of the progeny joined to Border Leicesters for first cross ewes, that are then joined to Poll Dorsets for prime lamb production.

Water is supplied by dams and double frontage to the Bolong River and Mianga Creek.

Improvements include a three-bedroom home, 15km of new fencing, a two-stand shearing shed, three sheep yards, numerous sheds and a 30-tonne silo.

Historic Glen Innes property passed in at $31m

The McIntosh’s historic New England property Clarevaulx Station has passed in at auction for $31 million.

The 3548ha property is situated 10km north of Glen Innes and 64km from Inverell, and was originally settled by Captain Phillip Ditmas. The property is being offered for the first time in 123 years.

Ray White Rural agent Geoff Hayes said Clarevaulx Station boasts quality and scale.

“It is an established, easy to manage property with low labour input required and with capacity to expand.”

The country comprises 1550ha of open grazing running 24,000DSE, 1000ha of premium deep basalt and alluvial cultivation and 1000ha of gently undulating cultivation suited to fodder cropping and further development.

Clarevaulx Station

Clarevaulx Station is situated in a 901mm annual average rainfall region, and is also well watered by the Reddestone, Reedy and Five Mile Creeks, as well as a number of dams.

Infrastructure includes a circa 1860s, four-bedroom homestead with some original features, three machinery sheds, a workshop, 600 tonnes of grain storage, a six-stand shearing shed, two sheep yards and two cattle yards.

Snowy Mountains station Boloco offered for $6.5m

The historic Boloco Station in New South Wales’ Snowy Mountains has been listed for $6.5 million after failing to sell at auction.

Described as one of the largest mixed grazing and farming operations close to all major New South Wales snow resorts, the 1613ha holding is located near Dalgety, 17km south-east of Jindabyne.

The property is being sold by Trynie and Glyn Owen after eight years ownership. Previously, Boloco Station was held by members of the Rose family for more 140 years.

KIRSHNER MACKAY Property & Livestock agent Nick Kirshner said during their ownership the Owens have taken Boloco Station to the next level.

“They have improved soils, upgraded infrastructure, installed 6km of internal fencing and erected exclusion fencing around 75 percent of the boundary to increase carrying capacity.”

The eastern fall country features creek flats and gently undulating rolling hills. Some steeper terrain offers some shelter for livestock during the colder times of year.

Traditionally, Boloco Station has run around 2800 ewes and followers, 500 replacement sheep, as well as 80 cows and calves.

Today, it is carrying 2100 ewes and lambs, 650 hoggets, 500 replacement sheep, as well as rams.

Soils range from granite to shale with some heavy alluvial soils along the creek flats growing 80ha of lucerne, 75ha of canola and oats, 80ha triticale, 45ha of oats and 16ha of wheat.

The property is watered by 42 dams and two creeks, including more than 7km of Beloka Creek frontage (a main tributary to the Snowy River), ensuring year-round water supply, as well as a 100,000 litre in-ground rainwater tank.

Infrastructure includes three homes (including a circa 1900s homestead, a circa-1870 settlers’ cottage and a shearers’ quarters), a four-stand shearing shed, steel sheep yards, steel cattle yards, five sheds and four silos.

Boloco Station also comes with an established farm stay and accommodation business.