Movement at the station: Recent property listings

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

• Australia’s largest sheep station back on the market
• Well grassed NQ’s Raelee Downs
• Solicitors list high rainfall Riverina block
• Riverina breeding & fodder opportunity lists for $32m
• Downsizers eye SE Qld cattle holding
• EOIs closing for Mount Magnet’s Windsor Station
• WA’s Shiloh Farms lists for $55m

The 10,117sq km Rawlinna Station is located at Rawlinna, 400km east of Kalgoorlie in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia.

Australia’s largest sheep station back on the market

Australia’s largest sheep station has returned to the market after Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group walked away from the sale.

The 10,117sq km Rawlinna Station, pictured above, is located at Rawlinna, 400km east of Kalgoorlie in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia.

In May last year, Mr Forrest was named as the buyer of Rawlinna and subsequently announced plans to assess the potential for future green energy and carbon reduction projects, while continuing to run a commercial flock.

It is understood the Western Australian government failure to grant ministerial approval is the reason behind Fortescue’s withdrawal.

Vendor, Jumbuck Pastoral, is one of Australia’s largest sheep and cattle producers with properties in South Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, including the 1.25m/ha Wave Hill and Cattle Creek Stations.

Established in 1888, the MacLachlan family began growing wool at Paratoo Station near Yunta in South Australia.

In April last year, managing director Jock MacLachlan announced plans to divest Rawlinna as part of a succession planning project.

He told Beef Central the company had no intention to sell any other assets, but would continue to look at opportunities to further grow and diversify the portfolio moving forward.

Elders executive general manager network Tom Russo said the return of Rawlinna was a rare opportunity to acquire Australia’s largest sheep station during a period of unprecedented growth in demand for quality fibre and protein.

“The station is strategically located to give access to both the western and eastern markets and is a powerhouse of wool production, having carried up to 69,000 sheep in recent history,” he said.

Mr Russo said the short-term opportunity was immense, as Rawlinna had benefited from an outstanding season and was currently conservatively stocked.

“Given the strategic advantages and efficiencies that can be achieved by operating an enterprise at this scale, offers are anticipated from large private and corporate investors within Australia and internationally.”

Mr Russo said Jumbuck Pastoral owned a substantial portfolio of sheep and cattle stations across Australia and intended to retain and grow that portfolio into the future.

“The portfolio of agricultural assets acquired by Jumbuck over many years of sustained investment is extraordinary.”

“While the divestment of Rawlinna constitutes a significant sale, in the context of the overall portfolio, it is a refinement to better align the asset base with Jumbuck’s strategy moving into the future,” Mr Russo said.

History

In the mid-1950s, Hugh MacLachlan was travelling from South Australia to Perth on the Indian Pacific when the train stopped at a remote siding called Rawlinna.

He observed the siding had good quality underground water and, being an established pastoralist, could see the miles and miles of open saltbush, bluebush and grass plains.

What most people saw as they traversed the Nullarbor on the Indian Pacific was not what Mr MacLachlan saw. He saw a vast blank canvas and the opportunity to create the country’s most efficient sheep station.

He first placed a survey peg in the ground during the 1960s and through planning and substantial investment, Rawlinna Station was established.

It is now the largest sheep station in Australia, occupying 1,046,323ha and is widely regarded as an excellent example of planning and land management.

The property features a boundary exclusion fence that spans around 400km.

Rawlinna Station will be offered to market by way of a staged expression of interest process.

Well grassed NQ’s Raelee Downs

A well-developed, low-cost Corfield district backgrounding, breeding and finishing property has been listed for sale by a local family after more than 20 years of ownership.

The 11,264ha Raelee Downs is located 40km west of Corfield and 112km south of Richmond in north-west Queensland, and is offered with 1376ha of stock route.

TopX agent Phil Avery said Raelee was well positioned to take advantage of both the live export market and the southern domestic feedlot markets.

The prickly acacia free country is mostly open undulating Mitchell grass downs with some Flinders, buffel, Queensland blue grass and native seasonal herbages and legumes.

It is currently boasting a strong body of feed capable of running 1400 adult equivalents but is being sold on a bare basis.

The property is traversed by Middle Creek and the Workingham and Wyora Creek systems providing semi-permanent waterholes throughout the year.

This country produces high value, good weight gain feed at a low cost.

Raelee is watered by two artesian bores and four dams, supported by 415mm of average annual rainfall.

Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom home, a three-bedroom worker’s cottage, sheds, steel cattle yards and a shearing shed.

During the last five years, around 21km of new boundary fencing and 20km of internal fencing have been completed.

Raelee Downs is offered for sale by tender closing on November 29.

The 11,264ha Raelee Downs is located 40km west of Corfield and 112km south of Richmond in north-west Queensland

Solicitors list high rainfall Riverina block

More than $4.78 million is anticipated for noted Eastern Riverina property Umbango South listed by solicitors Keith McConnell and Penelope Jaffray.

Originally part of the renowned Umbango Station, the 977ha of high rainfall, livestock breeding and finishing country is 17km north of Humula and 63km south of Wagga Wagga in southern New South Wales.

Historically, Umbango South was operated as a grazing property running mainly sheep and some cattle.

Since 2003, the vendors have been managing it as a fine wool growing and prime lamb enterprise running up to 1000 Merino and crossbred ewes, as well as grazing 1000 fine wool Merino wethers. Rated to carry 2500DSE, Umbango South is situated in a district also recognised for cattle breeding, backgrounding and fattening.

The scenic property has rich alluvial Umbango Creek flats rising to sheltered valleys and hill country growing many high value tree species.

It offers 800m of Umbango Creek frontage, 2km of double frontage to Morgans Creek, and is watered by 17 dams and an equipped bore. This year, the property has enjoyed an excellent predominantly winter/spring 733mm average rainfall.

Meares & Associates agent Sam Meares is anticipating good inquiry from existing rural operators and off farm investors.

“Umbango South has significant biodiversity and carbon offset credit features. Early reports show positive potential, both from a flora and fauna biodiversity point of view and also possible tree plantations for carbon in the valleys and low hills.”

Infrastructure includes a five-bedroom home, a three-stand shearing shed, sheep yards and two sheds.

Umbango South will be offered for sale via online auction on December 3.

More than $4.78 million is anticipated for noted Eastern Riverina property Umbango South

Riverina breeding & fodder operation lists for $32m

Rob Topfer and Becky Sparks have relisted their first-class cattle breeding and fodder production operation in New South Wales’ Eastern Riverina for $32 million.

The 1029ha Walteela, located 13km west of Wagga Wagga, is an aggregation of two properties -the adjoining Walteela and Fletchers.

It was offered to the market in November 2022 and withdrawn six months later after failing to sell following an expressions of interest campaign.

Since then, the vendors have continued to invest significant capital expenditure into developing the working infrastructure, irrigation and additional water entitlements.

Walteela is the last property on the Murrumbidgee River. Boasting 2.5km of frontage, it is positioned on the high side of the river which means it is flood-protected.

Featuring a range of soil types, the main enterprise is irrigated fodder (hay and silage) and dryland lucerne, wheat, forage crops and improved pastures capable of running 500 cows.

Walteela has more than 2000ML of water entitlements including a 1555ML Mid Murrumbidgee zone three alluvial groundwater source and a 635ML regulated river water source, as well as nine bores.

Around 304ha of irrigation is run under nine pivots, with plans and clearing completed for an additional two pivots to further expand the irrigation area by 120ha.

Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, steel cattle yards, numerous sheds, a four-stand shearing shed and 11 silos with more than 500-tonnes of grain storage.

The 1029ha Walteela, 13km west of Wagga Wagga, is an aggregation of two properties -the adjoining Walteela and Fletchers.

Downsizers eye SE Qld cattle holding

Locals and producers looking to downsize are showing good interest in a productive and picturesque south-east Queensland beef cattle operation, an hour’s drive from Brisbane.

The Melbourne-based BE Power Group is offloading the 1150ha Milford Rocks near Crows Nest and 56km from Toowoomba, however it will retain 844ha to accommodate required biodiversity offsets delivered over a 20-year period.

Milford Rocks is close to livestock saleyards at Toogoolawah, Toowoomba and Dalby, and processing facilities at Crows Nest, Esk and Kilcoy.

The country is mostly blue gum timber on granite, transitioning to stands of ironbark on the eastern side of the property and smaller areas of blue gum alluvial flats along the watercourses.

Pastures are a mix of Rhodes and panic grasses, as well as seasonal legumes and herbages, supporting 240 breeders.

Soils comprise a mix of sandy clay loams and fertile dark grey and dark brown cracking clays.

LAWD director Grant Veivers said Milford Rocks offered a perfect blend of work and lifestyle.

Benefitting from an average annual rainfall of 723mm, the holding is watered by a bore, 18 dams and numerous seasonal and permanent spring-fed creeks.

Infrastructure includes a prestigious five-bedroom homestead, two steel cattle yards, sheds and stables.

Milford Rocks is offered for sale by expressions of interest closing on November 28.

Milford Rocks is close to livestock saleyards at Toogoolawah, Toowoomba and Dalby, and processing facilities at Crows Nest, Esk and Kilcoy.

EOIs closing for Mount Magnet’s Windsor Station

Expressions of interest close this week for a pastoral station in Western Australia’s mid-west region suited to cattle, sheep or goat enterprises.

The 230,372ha Windsor Station is situated 80km east of Mount Magnet in the Lower Murchison.

Held by Pierre Folezzani for 12 years, the sale includes more than 300 Droughtmaster cows and followers, as well as extensive plant and equipment.

Situated inside a vermin proof fence, Windsor has been rated by the Department of Agriculture with a potential carrying capacity of 1571 Cattle Units or 11,000DSE.

Originally developed for sheep, the property is now set up for cattle with yards, fences and waters.

Windsor is offered with a registered and reporting HIR carbon project with a good cash flow. To date, there have been 83,432 ACCUs issued since registration in 2018.

While details of the carbon project remain confidential, Elders agent Greg Smith said based on the size of the property, land systems and ACCUs issued to date, the assessments of estimated ACCUs over the 25-year period are between 380,000 and 450,000.

Windsor features a large variety of land systems from rugged breakaways and granite outcrops to open salt bush and spinifex plains.

Situated in a 200mm rainfall region, the station has 50 bores and wells, with most of the bores equipped with solar powered pumps.

Infrastructure includes a five-bedroom home, a three-bedroom shearers’ quarters, a shearing shed, sheds, goat facilities and cattle yards.

Windsor is offered with a registered and reporting HIR carbon project with a good cash flow. To date, there have been 83,432 ACCUs issued since registration in 2018.

WA’s Shiloh Farms lists for $55m

The Cox family has cancelled the offers to purchase campaign for its substantial sheep, cattle and cropping opportunity on Western Australia’s south coast, choosing to list it for $55 million.

Aggregated over 30 years, the 5005ha Shiloh Farms comprises six contiguous holdings near Neridup and 40km north-east of Esperance.

AWN Real Estate agent Rowan Spittle has been fielding good inquiry from corporates, as well as larger family farmers.

“Rarely does a property of this scale, in such a tightly held, high rainfall region, come to the market. The stand-alone aggregation would suit a larger farming operator with the southern properties running 3000 trade cattle, as well as growing out young heifers for a local dairy business,” he said.

Originally purchased as a backgrounding property for the Cox’s Busselton-based dairy, the enterprise runs 1400 head of trade cattle and produces 3500ha to 4000ha of crops (canola/wheat rotation and barley).

Mr Spittle describes the paddocks as large and easy working with sandy duplex soils.

“Soils are typically 30-50cm of sand over gravel and clay, with areas of deeper sands planted to 240ha of tagasaste and perennial grasses for cattle fodder.”

“This system provides a very useful supply of feed during the autumn gap and enables high stocking rates during the spring flush,” Mr Spittle said.

Biodiversity on the asset has been maintained, with about five percent of the land set aside with plantations, tree lines and fenced remnant native vegetation and waterways.

Considered drought proof in a 450mm to 500mm rainfall zone, Shiloh Farms is well watered by four bores and three equipped dams.

There is extensive infrastructure for both sheep and cattle, as well as numerous sheds and silos, a home, a worker’s cottage and a modern workers’ quarters.

Aggregated over 30 years, the 5005ha Shiloh Farms comprises six adjoining holdings near Neridup and 40km north-east of Esperance.