THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of interesting recent listings across the country, and a separate article of recently relisted properties of note.

• Tipperary Group carves off NT’s Douglas West
• Stirling Buntine lists central western Qld aggregation
• Versatile grazing country offered near Augathella
• NQ’s Reedybrook Station & Valley of Lagoons list separately
• 2000 head carrying capacity on CQ’s Oaklands Aggregation

Tipperary Group carves off NT’s Douglas West

Douglas West, part of the Tipperary Group’s top-end Northern Territory holdings, has returned to the market after a failed attempt to sell to farm management and investment group CropScale 12 months ago.

In March last year, CropScale Australia announced it was acquiring the property, promising to operate regenerative agricultural and pastoral activities to ‘bring significant technology and benefits to the Northern Territory, and north Australia’s agricultural industry.’

Newly registered at the time of the announcement, CropScale Australia had previously operated as Territory Harvest and was financially supported by Copellian Ventures, an Australian company owned by a UK-based group.

The deal failed to transact, but the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s database currently lists CropScale’s principal place of residence as Douglas West.

It now throws into doubt claims made by CropScale that Tipperary Group chairman Allan Myers was “impressed with the company’s data-driven and disciplined approach and sustainable practices, as well as its ability to add value to NT’s agricultural industry.”

Sue Brosnan from Tanami Rural Property confirmed this, telling Beef Central, the information released by CropScale regarding the purchase of Douglas West was both “inappropriate and incorrect.”

The 42,300ha property is located 166km south of Darwin and while its highest and best use is cattle production, Douglas West is also suited to dryland and irrigated cropping (cotton, corn and sorghum).

It once formed part of Douglas Station which was subdivided by the Tipperary Group into Douglas, Douglas South (both since sold) and Douglas West.

The reasonably undeveloped block is carrying a significant volume of native and improved pastures, offering potential for further development.

It has abundant natural water with significant underground aquifers and permanent and semi-permanent above ground springs.

During its ownership, the Tipperary Group applied for and was granted a clearing permit for Douglas West. As a result, significant clearing has been undertaken, and the property’s Pastoral Term Lease tenure has been converted to Perpetual Pastoral Lease tenure.

Tipperary Group of Stations

The Tipperary Group is owned and operated by the Booloomani Corporation (a group of strategic investors) and Branir Pty Ltd (owned by prominent barrister and businessman Allan Myers KC).

It owns the neighbouring 209,842ha Tipperary East and West and the adjoining 133,859ha Litchfield.

Over the past five years, the group has invested significant funds into the development of Tipperary Station through dryland cotton, with production rising from 150ha to around 5000ha, with the aim to achieve 10,000ha.

The group has also invested around $80m into wholly owning and building the new cotton processing facility (Cotton Gin) near Katherine.

Ms Brosnan said with the gin about to enter its second year of processing, the Tipperary Group was investing further into its current land assets.

“A decision was made to release the Douglas West pastoral lease to the open market as an opportunity for a potential purchaser to further develop,” she said.

With recent sales achieving between $15m to $20m, Ms Brosnan believes Douglas West Station compares favourably.

“There has been good initial inquiry from a wide range of interested parties – typically, those looking at investing in cattle and cropping or carbon farming – from international and domestic investors, existing pastoral companies to local producers.”

Douglas West is being offered for sale via expressions of interest closing on May 30.

Stirling Buntine lists central western Qld aggregation

Northern cattle identity Stirling Buntine’s large-scale breeding, backgrounding and finishing aggregation in central western Queensland has returned to the market.

The 54,300ha Tulmur, 14,140ha Tranby and 6220ha Owens Creek were offered for sale in April 2022 after less than three years ownership but were withdrawn one month later following good rain.

JLL Agribusiness and RPL have been appointed to sell the 74,660ha aggregation that sits on the banks of the Diamantina River.

They said it represents an opportunity for investors seeking an efficient, low-cost breeding, backgrounding and finishing enterprise with direct frontage to the renowned Diamantina River.

Located 100km south-west of Winton, the aggregation provides good access to the north, and to end-markets located to the south and east.

In addition to the 74,660ha on offer, there is 5500ha of potential access to the River Channel Stock Route (linked to Tulmur).

There are areas of open Mitchell and Flinders grass downs to the east transitioning to broken gidgee woodlands and hills to the west. Diamantina River flood-out channels are growing healthy stands of blue bush, buffel and seasonal grass species.

The aggregation is estimated to run around 4000 adult equivalents or 3000 breeders plus progeny.

JLL’s Chris Holgar said the land and soil types are complimentary yet productive and what make the central west region of Queensland desirable, providing the ability to produce cattle, sheep meat and wool.

Situated in a 415mm annual rainfall region, Tranby has a flowing bore linked to a network of tanks and troughs, Tulmur is watered by dams and a network of seasonal and semi-permanent waterholes in the Diamantina River and Williams Creek systems, while four dams provide water to Owens Creek.

Infrastructure includes two homestead complexes (Tulmur and Tranby), quality fencing and three cattle yards.

The Tulmur, Tranby and Owens Creek Aggregation is offered for sale bare of livestock, plant and equipment, via an expressions of interest process closing on May 29.

Northern cattle identity Stirling Buntine’s large-scale breeding, backgrounding and finishing aggregation Tulmur in central western Queensland has returned to the market. Note recent water in the Diamantina River

Versatile grazing country offered near Augathella

Breeding, backgrounding and finishing country in south-west Queensland is being offered for sale for the second time in 100 years by Garry Washbrook after 42 years of ownership.

The 19,733ha Wadeholme is located near Langlo, 90km west of Augathella and 96km north-west of Charleville. It neighbours the 30,759ha Noella which changed hands two years ago.

Situated in a 450mm rainfall area, the property is currently enjoying an excellent season and is lightly stocked.

The pulled country is established to buffel pastures, soft natural grasses and a mixture of salines and herbages.

Extensive mulga areas pushed over the years are also growing buffel, as well as extensive low mulga regrowth reserves.

The soft red and chocolate soils support a variety of timbers including gidyea, brigalow, blackbutt, box, sandalwood, yarran and mulga.

Thousands of hectares are flooded and irrigated by the numerous creeks running through the property.

Wadeholme is watered by 14 dams, numerous semi-permanent waterholes, a new sub-bore and two older bores.

Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom home, a two-bedroom cottage, cattle yards, an old shearing shed and two sheds.

Wadeholme will be auctioned with some plant and equipment, but bare of stock, on June 18 by Elders agent Keith Richardson.

Situated in a 450mm rainfall area, Wadeholme is currently enjoying an excellent season and is lightly stocked.

NQ’s Reedybrook Station & Valley of Lagoons list separately

Patrick Sheahan is offering two picturesque and adjoining cattle stations for separate sale in North Queensland.

Acquired over 40 years, the premier breeding, backgrounding and finishing country is located 45km north of Greenvale and 250km north of Charters Towers.

Stockplace Marketing agent Luke Westaway said both Valley of Lagoons and Reedybrook Stations are turnkey operations capable of operating with minimal input.

“They are low-cost, efficient, highly productive cattle enterprises offering the incoming purchaser an opportunity for extensive development to further enhance production.”

Tourism and conserving the property’s unique native wetland species and abundant birdlife could also be integrated into the cattle enterprise, Mr Westway said.

Valley of Lagoons

The 51,829ha historic Valley of Lagoons boasts 28km of Burdekin River frontage and is being offered to the market with more than 4000 grey and red Brahmans, although it has the capacity to run around 6000 head.

Believed to be North Queensland’s first settled cattle station, it offers spectacular scenery encompassing waterfalls, picturesque escarpments and extensive lake systems.

The landscapes include basalt and granite country, rocky rangelands, fertile black soil floodplains, rich loamy creek/river flats, sheltered valleys, lava flows and softwood scrubs.

Located in a safe rainfall belt, Valley of Lagoons is almost entirely naturally watered from the permanently running Burdekin River, together with lakes, creeks, lagoons, swamps, springs, waterholes, dams and an equipped bore.

Lake Lucy to the north and Pelican Lake to the south are subject to large influxes of water during the wet season, producing substantial pasture and pondage pasture growth.

Infrastructure includes a grand eight-bedroom renovated homestead, a staff house, staff quarters, staff accommodation, numerous sheds and two cattle yards.

Reedybrook Station

The adjoining Reedybrook Station is a breeding and finishing block with abundant natural water.

Capable of running 2000 Adult Equivalents, the sale includes more than 900 head of mostly red Brahman cattle, as well as plant.

The diverse landscape includes sheltered valleys, basalt and undulating conglomerate and granite country.

This is complimented by extensive and fertile wetlands, including islands within the Burdekin River channels, grassy swamps and open black soil floodplains with rich loamy creek frontages growing abundant grass and herbages.

Reedybrook boasts 24km of single and double frontage to the Burdekin River, with the spring-fed Expedition and Reedybrook Creek systems creating additional natural watering points.

A 144ML water licence is used for irrigation, supported by 750mm of annual rainfall. To date, the property has experienced a phenomenal wet season.

Infrastructure includes two four-bedroom homes, two cattle yards and numerous sheds.

2000 head carrying capacity on CQ’s Oaklands Aggregation

Springsure’s Nobbs family is selling its scenic and productive aggregation in Central Queensland’s Sarina Ranges.

The 1822ha Oaklands Aggregation is located 22km from Sarina and 58km from Mackay and consistently runs 2000 head of cattle.

It comprises four adjoining properties which are being offered as a whole, a combination or individual parcels via expressions of interest closing on June 4.

• 1458ha Oaklands – 40ha previously cultivated for hay and forage crops, new cattle yards, a four-bedroom home, a self-contained quarters and numerous sheds.
• 80ha Bar 20 – improved pastures, three dams and a shed.
• 83ha Lawries Road – improved pastures adjoining Funnel Creek and three dams.
• 200ha Bartons – improved pastures running along Funnel Creek, Bluegum Creek flats, three dams and a lagoon.

There are three different land types – 1025ha of developed undulating coastal forest and rainforest, 475ha of developed creek flats and 322ha of rainforest range.

Across the aggregation, there are frost free, improved pastured ridges with a variety of soils, including rainforest loams and a mix of dark and red soils on the blue gum creek flats.

Situated in a 1750mm annual rainfall region, the aggregation has 12km of double frontage to three permanent creeks, two bores and 24 dams.

Most of the fencing has been renewed in recent years, with some new exclusion fencing.

Ray White Rural agent Richard Brosnan said the aggregation’s high rainfall and stocking rate, variety of improved pastures and good infrastructure have generated good interest.