THIS week’s Sheep Central property review includes recently completed sales and listings across New South Wales and Western Australia.

 $20m+ for historic Collie holding

 Prestigious Tottenham portfolio changes hands

 WA sheep farm offers cropping potential

$20m+ for historic Collie holding

Two local farming families have paid more $20 million for a highly regarded and historic cropping and livestock enterprise in the Collie district of central western New South Wales.

The 5075ha Merrigal is 11km north of Collie, midway between Warren and Gilgandra, and 90km north of Dubbo. It was sold by the Lean family after 19 years of ownership.

During the marketing campaign, Peter Milling & Company agent Peter Dwyer fielded strong interest from corporates and large family farming operators.

In the end, two established local farmers purchased the property, including one who is believed to be a neighbour.

Merrigal was originally settled by Alexander McGregor in 1845. It has transitioned from a traditional wool-growing enterprise into a mixed farming operation combining cropping (cereals and pulses) with a self-replacing Merino flock. It is equally suited to sheep, cattle or a combination of both.

The property has been continually improved under the stewardship of the Lean family, and around 3242ha of fertile soft grey self-mulching soils through to red loams is typically sown to dryland cropping.

The remaining 1833ha provides quality grazing and finishing country along the creek systems. In addition, lucerne has been grown on some of the cropping country, providing a valuable grazing and finishing platform.

The holding is situated in a temperate inland climate with hot summers, cool winters and moderate annual rainfall averaging between 480mm and 500mm. Water is also supplied by five equipped bores, 13 dams and frontage to the Merrigal and Wemabung Creeks.

Infrastructure includes three three-bedroom residences, a five-stand shearing shed, two steel sheep yards, two steel cattle yards, numerous sheds, and 2270 tonnes of grain and fertiliser storage across 14 silos.

A historic 12-stand shearing shed, one of the first in New South Wales to be powered by electricity, is used for sheep shedding and storage.

Prestigious Tottenham portfolio changes hands

A local family has paid around the asking price for a blue-ribbon mixed farming property in central western New South Wales.

The 3812ha Peep-O-Day is 25km north of Tottenham and 165km north-west of Dubbo.

It was sold by Dr Colin Andrews — a retired neurologist from Canberra who grew up in Tottenham — after 30 years of family ownership.

Forbes Livestock & Agency Co agent Sam Mackay was unable to disclose the buyer or the price paid; however, a guide of between $12.8 million and $13.2 million was offered during the marketing campaign.

Mr Mackay described Peep-O-Day as one of the most prestigious cropping portfolios in the Lachlan and Bogan Shires.

“A model of sustainable farming, it strikes a careful balance between soil health, crop rotation and infrastructure investment to drive long-term productivity and success.”

The soils range from grey self-mulching clays to soft red clay loams suitable for cropping and lucerne pastures.

The Peep O Day shearing shed and worker quarters.

Around 97 percent of Peep-O-Day is arable and divided into 12 paddocks designated for rotational cropping, including cereals, lupins and canola, delivering an average wheat yield of 2.85 tonnes per hectare. Seasonal oats are strategically planted to enhance cattle feed supply.

Mr Mackay said the property also excels in water use efficiency (WUE), with an average of 17kg/mm of growing season rainfall (GSR) over the past decade; well above the regional average of 14kg/mm for wheat in the area.

“Peep-O-Day places a strong emphasis on soil fertility with balanced nutrient levels maintained through the consistent application of 70kg/ha of MAP equivalent phosphorus.

“Regular soil testing ensures the careful management of potassium and sulphur levels,” he explained.

Break crops such as monola and lupins are grown to enhance nitrogen levels, improve soil structure and support long term soil health.

Peep-O-Day is watered by 16 dams and three 30,000 litre water tanks. Infrastructure includes two homes, a worker’s quarters, 16 silos with a combined 1900-tonnes of grain storage, cattle and sheep yards, a five-stand shearing shed and numerous sheds.

WA sheep farm offers cropping potential

Geoff and Keva Bowron have listed their sheep farm with cropping potential in the wheatbelt region of Western Australia.

The 1206ha Soakcliffe is located 20km from Pingaring and 35km from Hyden, on the doorstep of the iconic Wave Rock.

The Bowrons purchased the land as a virgin block in 1974 and have spent five decades developing it into a highly productive enterprise.

The property was previously operated as a mixed grain and sheep enterprise, but in recent years the focus has shifted primarily to sheep production.

Nutrien Harcourts agent Ross Dunkeld is anticipating good interest from neighbours and locals.

“Soakcliffe can continue to be run for livestock production or return to a more intensive cropping program.

“With six holding and feedlot pens, it is perfectly set up for a flexible mixed cropping and sheep operation,” he said.

Over the past 50 years, the property has conservatively run up to 2200 head of sheep. Refined management practices have seen lambing rates climb from 86pc to 100pc.

The property has 1027 arable hectares divided into 17 paddocks growing a good stand of clover. The remaining land consists of natural shelter belts and securely fenced-off bushland.

Soakcliffe is watered by an equipped bore and 12 dams. Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom transportable house, numerous sheds, a shearing shed, a sheep feedlot and four silos providing 220 tonnes of grain storage.

Offers for Soakcliffe close on October 28.