THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of recently completed sales and two separate articles covering properties for sale in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and recently re-listed properties.

• Three locals pay record price for WA aggregation
• Kimberley calf factory sells with 8500 cattle
• Prominent NT cattleman expands with Napier Valley & Jarrahdale
• NSW Southern Tablelands grazing makes $18m+
• Far western NSW station makes $7.1m

The 11,262ha West Fitzgerald and West River Aggregation, midway between Albany and Esperance, comprised six properties offered by the estate of MP Slade.

Three locals pay record price for WA aggregation

Three locals have combined to pay a record $52.5 million for one of the largest and most strategically located rural holdings in Western Australia’s Great Southern region.

The 11,262ha West Fitzgerald and West River Aggregation, midway between Albany and Esperance, comprised six properties offered by the estate of MP Slade.

With a capacity to crop and run high numbers of sheep, the portfolio includes the adjoining 1505ha Boccamazzos, the 1514ha Oakleys, the 3379ha Graingers, the 1631ha Bowlings, the 1516ha Dekkers and the 1716ha Fergusons.

A 1783ha portion of Graingers was withdrawn from the sale, with the estate electing to retain the land for lease.

The southern boundary of the aggregation neighbours the South Coast Highway providing transport access to regional service centres, processing facilities, export terminals and local CBH receival points.

No price guide was offered when the aggregation was launched in September last year, but Elders agent Simon Thomas said properties of this calibre and scale are rarely brought to the market.

He was unable to disclose the buyers but said the final sale price exceeded expectations and set a new benchmark for the region following a strong marketing campaign dominated by locals and neighbours.

On an arable basis, the 6426ha holding achieved $8169 per hectare ($3300 per acre).

Historically operated as a Merino sheep enterprise, the West Fitzgerald and West River Aggregation had been conservatively managed, running around 10,000 head of sheep.

The soils include duplex, gravels and clays with areas of lighter and lake country. Across the enterprise 7781ha are arable, with the current cropping season growing 3280ha of barley and canola.

Infrastructure includes three residences, numerous sheds, several shearing sheds and sheep yards and several silos.

Kimberley calf factory sells with 8500 cattle

Kimberley calf factory Country Downs has sold prior to auction, ending more than 20 years of ownership by vendor Kurt Elezovich.

Elders agent Greg Smith was unable to disclose the price or the buyer, however they are understood to be from the Northern Territory.

After failing to sell in September 2024, Country Downs returned to the market in May last year with hopes of raising more than $16 million as a going concern.

Located 90km from Broome on the Dampier Peninsula in Western Australia’s West Kimberley, the 183,000ha have a potential carrying capacity of 9355 cattle units, with more than 8500 cattle included in the sale.

Final numbers will be confirmed with a bang-tail muster conducted prior to settlement.

“The owner will organise a muster after the auction when conditions are suitable, with the buyer invited to attend for the purpose of bang tailing and counting the cattle,” Mr Smith said.

He said mustered cows will be priced at $850 per head, herd bulls at $2000, heifers at $750, male weaners $450, female weaners at $400 and calves under 100kg liveweight at $150 per head.

The plant and equipment were valued at $400,000.

Situated on the coastal side of the ranges, Country Downs receives an average annual rainfall of more than 950mm.

Mr Smith said the operation was virtually drought proof.

“Even in the worst wet seasons, Country Downs has received reasonable rainfall with prolific pasture growth and cattle remaining in forward condition.”

The sale includes an approved 233ha area available for cultivation and hay production and permission to sow improved pasture of stylos and wynn cassia on 17,550ha.

Country Downs is watered by 16 equipped bores and two dams servicing 20 watering points.

Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, a three-bedroom quarters, cattle yards, sheds, a recently renewed 24hr power system and extensive plant and equipment.

Situated 90km from Broome, on the West Kimberley’s Dampier Peninsula is the 169,106ha Country Downs

Prominent NT cattleman expands with Napier Valley & Jarrahdale

Prominent Northern Territory cattleman Tim Edmunds is believed to have paid around $18 million on a walk-in, walk-out basis for a grazing and farming holding in the Northern Territory’s Top End.

Listed by Peter and Donna Schubert, the 3917ha Napier Valley and the 2603ha Jarrahdale are 30km south of Katherine with sealed road frontage providing year-round market access.

Andrew Gray Land & Livestock principal Andrew Gray confirmed the properties were under contract, but was unable to disclose the buyer or the price paid. However, during the 2024-25 marketing campaign, an $18m price guide was offered with an extensive list of plant and equipment, a 390ML water licence and 2000 store cattle.

Napier Valley and Jarrahdale comprise four adjoining improved freehold properties that can background 2000 dry cattle. Around 3000ha of developed country is used for grazing and hay production.

Benefitting from 1000mm annual rainfall (mainly November through to March), Napier Valley and Jarrahdale are positioned within a fertile area noted for established agriculture and horticulture businesses.

The well-maintained properties neighbour a watermelon farm, and during the initial sales process, Mr Gray said it presented the incoming purchaser with cropping and horticulture diversification opportunities.

Infrastructure includes multiple dwellings and sheds.

NSW Southern Tablelands grazing makes $18m+

A family with other holdings in the area has paid a district record for a premium mixed farming enterprise on New South Wales’ Southern Tablelands.

Listed by the Maas family, the 1367ha Inveralochy is near Lake Bathurst and 15 minutes from Goulburn. It was purchased for more than $18 million.

After failing to sell via expressions of interest last year, Inveralochy was offered with a $17,292/ha ($7000/ac) price guide.

Raine & Horne Rural agent Nicolas Heath said the listing generated strong interest from local multi-generational farming families and international buyers.

“Demand for quality assets of this size and calibre remains very strong, particularly from those close to Sydney and Canberra.”

He was unable to disclose the buyer or the final sale price but said the combination of scale, infrastructure and water security was key to the strong result.

“This is a blue-ribbon rural asset with ample infrastructure, multiple residences and outstanding water security, offering immediate productivity with long-term upside.”

Inveralochy runs around 4800 sheep and 400 cattle, with capacity for up to 850 cows and calves or 15,000DSE.

The property has healthy and productivity improved and native pastures with 62ha sown to wheat, 34ha to lucerne and 43ha to ryegrass.

Water is provided by two bores, 38 dams and 7km of dual frontage to the Mulwaree River supported by 650mm of average annual rainfall.

Infrastructure includes three residences, a six-stand shearing shed, sheep and cattle yards, numerous sheds and four silos with 364-tonnes of capacity.

Far western NSW station makes $7.1m

Willeila Station in far western New South Wales has sold under the hammer for $7.1 million (including plant and machinery) to the nearby McLeod family for expansion.

The renowned 28,985ha sheep and cattle breeding and finishing property, 80km south-east of Broken Hill and 80km from Menindee, was sold by the Johnstone family after 16 years of ownership.

Elders agent Marty Deacon said the marketing campaign generated strong buyer interest, with multiple offers received and inquiry from Victoria, South Australia and central New South Wales.

During their ownership, the Johnstone family conservatively managed stocking rates resulting in strong stands of native grasses and herbages, even during dry times.

Willeila has open plains and undulating red sandy soils and grey lakebed soils known for growing strong stands of native grasses and herbages that can support 3500 Dorper breeding ewes and 180 breeding cows.

Lake Nettlegoe provides 1214ha of lakebed grazing, while the Stephen’s and Redan Creeks offer valuable flood-out country suited to finishing prime cattle in season.

The property is watered by six bores, four of which are equipped, and five dams.

Infrastructure includes a five-bedroom home, a three-bedroom cottage, workers’ quarters, a four-stand shearing shed, steel sheep yards along with 3 additional outer yards, steel cattle yards and numerous sheds.

Willeila has open plains and undulating red sandy soils and grey lakebed soils known for growing strong stands of native grasses and herbages that can support 3500 Dorper breeding ewes and 180 breeding cows.