THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of interesting recent listings across Western Australia and South Australia, and separate articles on recently completed sales of note, and new listings in other states.

• $30m – $35m for WA’s Bindoon campus & farmland
• Local interest in WA sheep farm
• SA’s Wattle Range splits seven ways

The former Bindoon Agricultural College comprises two distinct components: 1600ha of highly fertile cropping and livestock country, and the extensive college infrastructure, including a campus and a 217ha heritage precinct.

$30m – $35m for WA’s Bindoon campus & farmland

A price guide of $30-$35 million is anticipated for the former Bindoon Agricultural College and its surrounding farmland, north-west of Perth.

The 3464ha property has been listed for sale by Edmund Rice Education Australia, a national network of Catholic schools and educational organisations operating across every Australian state and territory.

Established in 1936 by the Congregation of Christian Brothers as a farm school and boys’ town, the site later evolved into an educational and boarding college.

Situated 10km north of Bindoon, the Bindoon Agricultural College is 30 minutes from the Muchea Livestock Centre and 86km from Perth, with substantial frontage to the Great Northern Highway.

Ray White Rural agent Steve Vaughan said the property comprises two distinct components: 1600ha of highly fertile cropping and livestock country, and the extensive college infrastructure, including a campus and a 217ha heritage precinct.

At the southern end, gently undulating land featuring well-drained, medium red-brown gravel loams is suited to canola, cereals and grains.

The northern section has heavier, undulating red-brown clay loams with granite influences. While supporting high-yielding crops, it is better suited to grazing.

Around 1217ha is currently cropped by a local farmer under licence, while a further 329ha is used for grazing.

Mr Vaughan said converting some grazing country to cropping could expand the property’s arable area.

He said the campaign is attracting interest from agricultural, tourism and education buyers, as well as investors seeking a substantial property within an hour of Perth.

Water is supplied by three equipped bores, dams and a freshwater spring, supported by average annual rainfall of 600mm.

Infrastructure includes five residences and a broad range of education, training, farming, workshop and boarding facilities, along with a shearing shed and numerous other sheds.

The Bindoon Agricultural College property is being offered for sale by offers to purchase, closing November 6.

Local interest in WA sheep farm

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

Located 20km from Pingaring and 35km from Hyden, the 1206ha Soakcliffe sits 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.

Previously operated as a mixed grain and sheep enterprise, 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 86 percent to 100 percent.

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.

Over the past 50 years, Soakliffe has conservatively run up to 2200 sheep

SA’s Wattle Range splits seven ways

New Forests has divided the remainder of its Wattle Range Portfolio into seven separate holdings, following the sale of part of the South Australian Limestone Coast property.

Located 25km west of Penola, 47km from Naracoorte and 55km from Mount Gambier, a local farming family has paid around $10,000/ha for the 1265ha Southern Aggregation.

The remaining 2769ha Northern Aggregation and 1451ha Central Aggregation have now been split into seven blocks.

The global investment manager had initially hoped to raise $60 million, but price expectations have since been reduced to about $43 million after it decided not to undertake remediation works following the harvest of the blue gum plantations.

Now, each holding will be offered with ‘stumps-in-ground’, leaving the incoming buyer responsible for ploughing and fully clearing the land for productive agricultural use.

Across the portfolio, the land is flat to gently undulating and underpinned by the Gambier limestone formation. An extensive unconfined aquifer supports irrigation and drainage for year-round agricultural production.

The properties are suited to a broad range of agricultural uses in the highly regarded Wattle Range region, known for its productive soils, reliable rainfall and temperate climate.

Potential uses include grazing, cropping, dairy, horticulture, viticulture and future forestry, subject to regulatory approvals.

Under the sale arrangement, New Forests will retain rights to the existing blue gum plantations until harvest through a leaseback agreement.

Buyers may have the opportunity to acquire additional water rights through the Lower Limestone Coast Prescribed Wells Area, subject to availability and approvals. These rights could support irrigation development in an area receiving average annual rainfall of 656mm.

The seven holdings are:

• 1058ha Fuaran South – offers above $8.5m. Of the total area, 876ha (83pc) has recently been delivered as ‘stumps-in-ground’ following harvest, with the remaining 183ha (17pc) comprising native vegetation and support land.
• 885ha Fuaran Central – offers above $7.5m. Of the total area, 747ha (84pc) has recently been delivered as ‘stumps-in-ground’ following harvest, with the remaining 138ha (16pc) comprising native vegetation and support land.
• 685ha Acacia Park – offers above $5m. Of the total area, 505ha (74pc) will be delivered as ‘stumps-in-ground’ following harvest, with the remaining 180ha (26pc) comprising native vegetation and support land.
• 456ha Neale – offers above $4.5m. Of the total area, 438ha (96pc) will be delivered as ‘stumps-in-ground’ following harvest, with the remaining 18ha (4pc) comprising native vegetation and support land.
• 248ha Croser – offers above $1.9m. Of the total area, 201ha (81pc) will be delivered as ‘stumps-in-ground’ following harvest, with the remaining 47ha (19pc) comprising native vegetation and support land.
• 267ha Fuaran North – offers above $2.3m. Of the total area, 201ha (75pc) will be delivered as ‘stumps-in-ground’ following harvest, with the remaining 66ha (25pc) comprising native vegetation and support land.
• 102ha Oschar – offers above $1m. Of the total area, 99ha (96pc) will be delivered as ‘stumps-in-ground’ following harvest, with the remaining 4ha (4pc) comprising native vegetation and support land.