THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of interesting recent listings across New South Wales and Victoria, and separate articles on listings in Queensland and a summary of recent sales.
- Hughes list New England breeding platform
- Upper Hunter prime cattle asset
- 115yrs of farming to come to an end
- $12m for prime lamb & cropping in central NSW
- Grazing & renewable energy upside near Yass
- Walcha’s Round Hill offers rural retreat
- Victoria’s historic Fairholm offers premium grazing
Presenting with a good body of feed, the 2335ha Colomendy is 40km north-west of Armidale.
Hughes list New England breeding platform
After paying $65 million for a showpiece Wagyu breeding and finishing property in July, Peter and Jane Hughes have listed their high-rainfall breeding platform in New South Wales’ New England.
Presenting with a good body of feed, the 2335ha Colomendy is 40km north-west of Armidale.
It is understood the prominent Queensland couple (who run Hughes and Georgina Pastoral Companies) are relocating their Wagyu stud herd to the 33,959ha Taylors Plains, 100km north of Mungallala in south-west Queensland’s Maranoa district.
For the past 14 years, the Hughes’ have been running a 700 head Wagyu cattle breeding operation on Colomendy, with 1334ha currently sown to improved pastures supported by a comprehensive fertiliser program.
The property has extensive frontage to the Abington, Basin and Two Mile (dual) Creeks and sources water from two bores and several dams in a 795mm average annual rainfall region.
Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom home, livestock yards and numerous sheds.
Colomendy will be auctioned on November 27. LAWD agents Danny Thomas, Simon Cudmore and Elizabeth Doyle are handling the sale.
Upper Hunter prime cattle asset
Mandalea, originally part of the historic Belltrees Station in New South Wales’ Upper Hunter, has been listed for sale with a $7 million to $7.5m price guide.
Situated in a private valley, the 1391ha Mandalea is close to Gundy, 35 minutes east of Scone and 3.5 hours from Sydney.
With an average annual rainfall of 675mm, the country combines arable creek flats, semi-arable slopes and heavier basalt hills suited to grazing, fodder cropping and pasture improvement, with upside for future productivity.
McGrath Upper Hunter agent Michael Burke said the property was carrying a significant body of feed, with most of the inquiry coming from local producers seeking an expansion opportunity.
Mr Burke said Mandalea was demonstrating its capability to turn off prime cattle.
“A recent draft of dry cows averaged 716kg, while weaners are being turned off at an average of 350kg, topping at 400kg. This highlights the property’s production upside and ability to deliver quality beef from a reliable, low-cost grazing base.”
Over the past 12 months, the vendor has invested in extensive water infrastructure including Hunter River access via easement, an equipped bore, 21 dams, long double creek frontage and more than 160,000 litres of header tank storage.
Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, a three-stand shearing shed, steel sheep and cattle yards, a shed and two silos. New fencing has been completed in the past six months.
115yrs of farming to come to an end
The sale of a productive mixed cropping and grazing operation in the New South Wales’ Riverina will end 115 years of Weise family farming in Ariah Park.
The Weise Aggregation spans 2482ha of open mixed farming country across three non-contiguous farms – 825ha Brentwood, 824ha Pinevale South and 832ha Glengarry.
Listed for around $21.5 million by Scott and Melissa Weise, the three properties are currently run as a single enterprise and produce cereals, pulses and oilseeds, as well as some livestock.
This year’s cropping program consists of 1120ha of wheat, 660ha of canola and 440ha of lupins.
The Weise family arrived in Ariah Park in 1910 and over the generations aggregated Brentwood (1936), Pinevale (2002) and more recently, Glengarry (2015).
Johnston Rural Group has been appointed to sell the three farms as a whole or as separate assets. Expressions of interest close on November 27.
Brentwood – $10.2m ($12,364/ha or $5000/ac)
Situated on the eastern side of Ariah Park, around 95 percent of the 825ha is arable. The reliable red loams are growing 567ha of wheat and 220ha of lupins.
Suited to farming and livestock production, it consists of four adjoining blocks with three described as blank canvases offering development upside or subdivision potential.
The property is underpinned by around 500mm of average annual rainfall and watered by eight dams.
Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, a three-stand shearing shed, steel sheep yards, two sheds and seven silos.
Pinevale South – $6.15m ($7464/ha or $3000/ac)
The 824ha Pinevale South is near Beckom, centrally located between West Wyalong, Griffith and Temora.
Around 94 percent of the open cropping country is arable, with the reliable red loams growing 550ha of wheat and 222ha of lupins.
Underpinned by 475mm of average annual rainfall and watered by seven dams, it has a dedicated timber belt to improve on-farm biodiversity.
Infrastructure includes a shed and an 85-tonne fertiliser silo.
Glengarry – $5.15m ($6190/ha or $2500/ac)
The 832ha Glengarry is 18km from Ardlethan and 19km from Beckom. It has mostly open, gently rolling red farming country suited to cropping and livestock. This year, it is growing 659ha of canola.
Watered by 10 dams, infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, numerous sheds, a three-stand shearing shed, sheep (steel) and cattle yards and three silos.
Brentwood is part of the Weise Aggregation and sits adjacent to the Riverina town of Ariah Park. Photo: Johnston Rural Group
$12m for prime lamb & cropping in central NSW
Keith and Barbara Jones have put a $12 million price tag on their productive mixed farm used for dryland cropping and grazing in the Central West region of New South Wales.
Held by members of the Jones family for around 70 years, the 2538ha Ashford Heath is located 12km from Bogan Gate, 13km from Trundle and 49km from Parkes.
Around 1981ha of the fertile limestone to red and brown soils are arable, with the owners typically sowing 800ha to dryland winter cereal crops including canola, wheat, barley and oats. This year, 630ha have been sown to wheat and barley which are included in the sale.
Alongside the cropping operation, the Jones’ operate a 9000DSE prime lamb breeding and finishing program on open Kurrajong country growing native pastures. Currently they are running 2100 ewes and lambs on large areas of established lucerne.
Elders agents Brian McAneney and Chris Malone said Ashford Heath was offered in first class order.
“The soils in the area are renowned for their productivity and turning off prime lambs and beef, with the vendors producing high yielding grains and pulses, prime lambs and soft bright Merino wool.”
They said Ashford Heath is an ideal, stand-alone operation, or one that would fit alongside existing operations within the region.
Securely watered by 44 dams and two equipped bores, the infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, a cottage, a four-stand shearing shed, an original two-stand shearing shed, steel sheep yards, numerous sheds and eight silos with 380-tonnes of grain capacity.
In addition, the property has a 6ha quarry with the Parkes Shire Council extracting between 30,000 and 50,000 tonne per year. Income is generated at $1 per tonne extracted.
Grazing & renewable energy upside near Yass
A Southern Tablelands grazing asset offering renewable energy upside has been listed for sale by Matt Doyle after 21 years of ownership.
Expected to raise more than $6.5 million, the 667ha Glenryan, 21km north of Yass and 81km from Canberra, is suited to cattle and sheep breeding and finishing and is offered with a 5300DSE carrying capacity.
Glenryan has a gently undulating landscape underpinned by productive granite soils benefitting from a strong history of fertiliser and lime applications.
Situated in a 695mm rainfall region, water is supplied by 16 dams, frontage to a seasonal creek and a solar powered bore.
Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, cattle yards, two sheds, 87-tonnes of grain storage and 6km of new fencing.
Glenryan is being offered for sale by expressions of interest closing on November 20. LAWD agents Col Medway and Tim Corcoran are handling the sale.
They said the successful purchaser can benefit from an executed option for a large-scale solar development offering the potential for a significant passive income through a long-term lease or sale at a lucrative price.
Glenryan has a gently undulating landscape underpinned by productive granite soils benefitting from a strong history of fertiliser and lime applications.
Walcha’s Round Hill offers rural retreat
Offers of around $2.5 million are anticipated for a scenic and well-developed farm in northern New South Wales.
The 50ha Round Hill neighbours Walcha and the local jockey club racecourse.
Agent Sam Meares described the property as an unrivalled offering in the area.
“It will appeal to young families, professionals or those simply seeking a perfect rural retreat. The opportunity can generate income on a low maintenance yet productive, smaller scale beef operation, stud or equine spelling farm,” he said.
Subdivided into 11 paddocks which have been sown to improved high performance pastures, Round Hill can finish between 50 to 100 steers annually (season dependent).
Watered by a bore, the infrastructure includes an architecturally designed five-bedroom home, steel cattle yards and two sheds.
Round Hill is being offered for sale via expressions of interest closing on November 27.
The 50ha Round Hill neighbours Walcha and the local jockey club racecourse.
Victoria’s historic Fairholm offers premium grazing
The exceptional central Victorian property, Fairholm, is for sale after being in one family for five generations, offering a combination of rich pastoral history, prime agricultural land and an 1874 homestead renovated with all modern conveniences.
Set on four titles, the 186ha property at Whiteheads Creek near Seymour is ideally suited to grazing or fodder production.
It is equipped with as-new fencing and an abundant water supply from double frontage to Whiteheads Creek, multiple dams and troughs, and annual rainfall of 600mm.
Fairholm currently operates as a dual grazing operation, producing Angus cattle and Merino and first-cross sheep in a rotational grazing system featuring a mix of perennial rye grasses, sub clover pastures and annual lucerne crops.
At the heart of Fairholm is a circa 1874 homestead worthy of a country estate. The rendered brick residence is set within established gardens featuring mature trees, a tennis court and a heated mineral swimming pool, all with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
While the spacious four-bedroom home with two modern bathrooms retains its original character, with timber floors, a wood fireplace, high ceilings and timber sash windows, its functional layout is well-suited to contemporary family living.
A separate one-bedroom, self-contained cottage is nestled within the garden to provide independent accommodation for guests or potential short-stay rental, and is equipped with a kitchenette, bathroom and split system air-conditioner.
LAWD Director, Bart O’Sullivan, said Fairholm offered all the benefits of a turnkey rural property with a showcase home, and the market expects a sale price of more than $5 million.
“The fact that Fairholm has been in one family for five generations signifies its reliability, productivity and security as a working farm, and the new buyer could move straight in and begin working,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
“With its proximity to the large regional town of Seymour and just 90 minutes’ drive from Melbourne, Fairholm also offers excellent potential for investors seeking an established country estate.”
The property has been divided into 17 paddocks allowing for efficient access and movement of livestock. Multiple red gum and grey box shelter belts and shaded areas have been planted to provide stock protection at the height of both winter and summer.
Fencing is in excellent and stockproof condition, and comprises a mixture of ringlock and plain wire with steel and timber posts.
Quality infrastructure on Fairholm includes a three-stand shearing shed, 260sqm machinery shed, barn and hay shed, and steel cattle yards and sheep yards, and the property has three road frontages.
The holding is located 7km from Seymour, which offers a range of commercial, agricultural, education and health services, and 88km from Melbourne on the Hume Freeway.
Fairholm is being offered for sale by Expressions of Interest in partnership between LAWD and Nutrien/Harcourts. The campaign closes at Wednesday 26 November.
Fairholm has been divided into 17 paddocks allowing for efficient access and movement of livestock