THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of recently completed sales, and two separate articles on interesting recent listings across New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland.

• Two NQ cattle stations change hands for $20m
• Local expands with New England’s Eulabah Aggregation
• NT Government secures Silkwood
• Toowoomba’s impressive Stanton sells under the hammer
• North Burnett’s Lochaber passes-in at auction

Wetlands on Reedybrook, via Mt Garnet in far North Queensland

Two NQ cattle stations change hands for $20m

Patrick and Delinda Sheahan have sold North Queensland cattle stations Reedybrook and Hopewell for a combined $20 million.

Regarded as premier breeding, backgrounding and finishing country, the Upper Burdekin River properties formed part of the larger Valley of Lagoons aggregation and were sold individually by Stockplace Marketing following substantial buyer interest.

Agent Luke Westaway was unable to disclose the buyers but said it marked a significant transaction in the region’s rural property market.

“Reedybrook, acquired by the Sheahan family in 2018, has been used for breeding and finishing cattle. It is a magnificent parcel of land offering wetlands, basalt country and production reliability,” he said.

Mr Westaway said the 51,829ha historic Valley of Lagoons, the signature property of the aggregation boasting 28km of Burdekin River frontage northwest of Ingham, remains available for sale and continues to attract interest.

Reedybrook Station

The 9387ha Reedybrook Station is a breeding and finishing block with abundant natural water located 45km north of Greenvale and 250km north of Charters Towers.

Capable of running 2000 Adult Equivalents, it was offered to the market with more than 900 head of mostly Red Brahman cattle, as well as plant. However, it is unclear whether the sale price included the cattle.

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.

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

Reedybrook 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.

Hopewell Station

The 25,200ha Hopewell Station, the cornerstone of the Sheahan family’s cattle operations, has been held in the family for more than 40 years.

Located 70km north of Greenvale and 140km west of Ingham, it has provided a foundation of reliability and stability, underpinned by secure and consistent rainfall.

The open black soil flats and valleys rise to red tablelands country with softwood scrub capable of supporting more than 2000 head of cattle.

It is watered by more than 13 dams, frontage to numerous creek systems and complemented by a wet tropics rainfall pattern.

Hopewell offers potential for further development and was marketed as a low cost and easy-care opportunity.

The open black soil flats and valleys on Hopewell rise to red tablelands country with softwood scrub capable of supporting more than 2000 head of cattle.

Local expands with New England’s Eulabah Aggregation

A local producer is expanding with a blue-ribbon New England breeding or finishing aggregation in northern New South Wales.

The 1011ha The Eulabah Aggregation, comprising Eulabah, Balnagowan and Glen View, is near Niangala, 45km south of Walcha and 80km east of Tamworth.

It was sold by the Haggarty family’s Goonoo Goonoo Pastoral Co after six years of ownership, prompted by the retirement of its long-term manager.

Jim Lyons Agency agent Jim Lyons was unable to disclose the buyer or the price paid, however during the marketing campaign, Eulabah was offered with a $15 million price guide.

Elevated around 1200m above sea level, the highly productive beef operation offers high rainfall grazing (1000mm average annual) and is capable of running and finishing 1500 steers.

The country ranges from level creek and river frontage to undulating and rolling hills, with rich basalt soils timbered with peppermint and white gums.

The aggregation boasts 1.6km of frontage to the McDonald River and 1.2km of frontage to the Halls Creek, and is watered by 42 dams, many of which are spring fed.

Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, two cattle yards, a shed and many kilometres of new fencing.

NT Government secures Silkwood

The Northern Territory Government will expand Litchfield National Park by 20 percent after paying $7.5 million for the Silkwood Aggregation.

Silkwood is located 120km south of Darwin near the Adelaide River and borders Litchfield’s south-east boundary, as well as the renowned Tipperary Station.

The diverse country ranges from low-lying floodplains, open plains, the well-known Robin Falls and a significant number of valleys to rugged escarpments with spectacular views.

Owned for 20 years by Sydney-based Dr John Cooper, the 35,766ha comprise three holdings – Adelaide River Downs, Spitfire Creek and The Grand Plateau.

In April last year, they were offered to the market by LAWD agents Olivia Thompson, Peter Sagar and Eline Wesselink as possible development opportunities.

“While particularly appealing to tourism, conservation and subdivision, the ‘blank canvas’ properties are well positioned and offer producers opportunities to graze and hold cattle destined for international export,” Ms Thompson said.

It is the largest addition to the national park estate in 25 years and will open up a new southern section of the park, featuring waterfalls, gorges, hot springs and 4WD tracks.

Litchfield receives more than 250,000 visitors each year, with popular sites including Wangi Falls, Buley Rockhole and Florence Falls.

NT Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment Joshua Burgoyne said the Silkwood acquisition will secure the long-term protection of the region’s pristine environment.

“Thirty thousand hectares of escarpments, woodlands and wetlands are being returned to public hands, protecting Territory ecosystems and wildlife while opening up a range of incredible new recreational opportunities,” he said.

Silkwood is the largest addition to the NT’s national park estate in 25 years

Toowoomba’s impressive Stanton sells under the hammer

Noel Grant’s productive and picturesque property close to Toowoomba has sold under the hammer for $6.15m to Goondiwindi’s Lach and Kate McMaster who are retiring to Toowoomba.

The 129ha Stanton near Ramsay, 27km south of Toowoomba, was offered by the co-founder and managing director of the Grant Daniel & Long (GDL) agency network and inaugural director of the Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association.

Around 56ha of the rich, productive deep alluvial chocolate soils can be cultivated, with 34ha currently planted to oats.

The balance is grazing pastures with shade lines and shelter, making it an ideal depot for breeding, backgrounding and finishing.

Stanton is growing a mix of grasses, including Queensland blue grass, Rhodes, bambatsi, green panic and native pastures, capable of running 80 backgrounders, or cow and calf equivalent.

Infrastructure includes a 2015-built showcase four-bedroom custom-built Arden Vale home, bathrooms with underfloor heating, a 250 plus head cattle yard capacity with four-way draft, scales and crush, undercover work area, sink and storage area, as well as machinery and commodity sheds with three-phase power and lighting.

Stanton is watered by two bores, two dams, a spring-fed creek and 70,000 gallons of rainwater storage.

The sale was handled by Nutrien Harcourts GDL agent Andrew McCallum.

Around 56ha of Stanton’s rich, productive deep alluvial chocolate soils can be cultivated, with 34ha currently planted to oats.

Passed in: North Burnett’s Lochaber passes in at auction

Ray and Anne Drayton’s grazing country has passed in at auction for $5 million ($1507/ha), with Aussie Land and Livestock agent James Bredhauer now negotiating with an interested party.

The 3318ha Lochaber is centrally located between Mundubbera, Gayndah and Eidsvold in Queensland’s tightly held North Burnett region.

Auctioned for the second time since it was selected in 1927, it has B-double access and is close to selling centres including Eidsvold and Monto.

The breeder block, with the ability to finish cattle, has historically run between 450 and 480 breeders, with past carrying capacity exceeding 500 head.

Lochaber has 1416ha of cleared to semi-cleared, undulating grazing country growing native grasses, with around 809ha of development potential for improved pastures.

It is watered by 18 dams, five equipped bores, a well and a permanent spring.

Infrastructure includes cattle yards, additional portable yards and a shed.

Country on Lochabar, near Mundubbera in the North Burnett