Property

Institutional-scale grazing opportunities in southern Qld/Northern NSW

Beef Central 03/02/2025

The SLM Pastoral Portfolio, spans 285,000ha across southwest Queensland and northwest NSW

 

TWO institutional grade, large-scale Queensland/northern NSW grazing assets totalling almost 320,000ha have been independently put to market this week, both being sold through expressions of interest.

Noel Chiconi and his wife Jo-Anne bought their well-known 34,000ha Taylors Plains property near Mungalalla 22 years ago and have since developed it into a Wagyu cattle showpiece (see details below).

Further south, the SLM (Sustainable Land Management) Pastoral Portfolio, spanning 285,000ha across southwest Queensland and northwest NSW, offers a compelling target for those seeking regenerative grazing enterprises with established carbon projects.

Established in London in 2009, SLM Partners completed a joint venture with Australian management partners to develop a beef cattle strategy a year later. A $75 million fund was established in 2012, leading to the acquisition of its Australian assets, now being sold. SLM now has more than US$750 million in assets under management in Australia, the US and Europe.

The SLM portfolio comprises Willacora (47,900ha), Amenda (43,700ha), Padua Park (43,135ha), Garrawin (almost 80,000ha) and Eureka (71,000ha) – all within a 100km radius of the Cunnamulla and Bourke regions.

SLM has developed the portfolio as a grassfed beef breeding and growing enterprise within its SLM Livestock Fund, which is nearing the end of its term and is the catalyst for the sale.

Over the past 13 years, the portfolio has undergone extensive capital development to implement a regenerative cell grazing system that optimises production capacity while delivering independently verified positive impacts on biodiversity and land condition.

Some 4000km of fencing across the five aggregations has created 1100 new paddocks to facilitate stock rotation, supported by 500km of new poly pipe to supply 150 water points. Each new water point has sufficient flow to provide water for 4500 adult equivalents (AE) at any time.

SLM Partners’ general manager in Australia, Graham Finlayson said the holdings’ rotational grazing systems made the portfolio resilient to weather cycles.

“Cell grazing has allowed us to ride out dry spells and make the best use of rain when it arrives,” he said.

“The land is in terrific condition now and we see plenty of room for further improvement. SLM has had a strong focus on increasing the perennial grass base across the aggregation over the past 12 years, which has improved the drought resiliency of the production system immensely.

“The commercial breeding program, high standards of animal welfare and stock-handling, policies, procedures and efforts in regenerating the land-base are second to none in the industry.”

SLM Partners was an early proponent of carbon project methodologies approved by the Australian Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative. The Portfolio has two carbon projects generating and selling ACCUs until at least 2039. These will be sold and transferred to the new owner as part of the transaction and align with the regenerative grazing system, allowing for simultaneous cattle production.

Genetics key focus in cattle production

About 13,000 cattle are being offered as part of the sale.

SLM has predominantly used Pharo Australia Angus bulls, with Rangelands Angus/Composites also in its program, and incorporated some Lasater Beef Master genetics from the US through an AI program.

Nutrien Harcourts managing partner, Greg Seiler currently manages the livestock transactions for the portfolio and said an outstanding and experienced management team was in place.

“Each aggregation is led by a separate management team responsible for anywhere from 2500 to 4000 cattle at a time, depending on season conditions and stocking rate,” Mr Seiler said.

“All operational staff are trained in low stress stock handling techniques, and the cattle are renowned for their extremely calm temperament given how frequently they are rotated through the grazing system.”

Productive soils, water security and strategic capital expenditure

The Portfolio comprises a range of productive soil types and topographies supported by summer-dominant annual rainfall of 370mm.

Artesian groundwater bores feed multiple watering points via an extensive underground polyethylene pipe network. Further water security provided by frontage along the Thurrulgoonia, Eunama, Owangowan, Tuen and Werri Creeks and Ledknapper watercourse allows the aggregations to benefit from low level flooding.

Custom designed cattle yards were installed across all properties between 2013 and 2015, with further improvements including shade installations, water points and hydraulic cattle crushes to assist with the safe handling of large numbers of animals.

Significant capital has been invested in fencing, including extensive internal and external exclusion fencing, to support cell grazing and mitigate risks posed by feral animals and pests. All aggregations are fenced to boundaries with internal fencing comprising a mix of plain and barbed wires on steel and timber posts.

The aggregations are supported by high-quality and often new infrastructure, including workshops, storage and machinery sheds and two aircraft hangars situated at Padua Park. A variety of accommodation is located across the aggregations, including several large homesteads, cottages and a range of workers’ quarters.

The Portfolio has several opportunities for future growth and is being offered for sale in one-line or as any combination of individual aggregations, which LAWD Senior Director, Danny Thomas, said would draw a diverse buyer pool.

“The current portfolio is an extraordinary asset as it stands following the significant capital investment made by the vendors, however there remains scope for the new owner to further grow the enterprise by stocking at higher rates and accessing higher-value, regenerative grass-fed market channels,” Mr Thomas said.

“The vendors recognise the significant size of the Portfolio and are willing to split the aggregations to meet market demand. Each has its own experienced management and operational team in place, making this an outstanding turnkey offering.

“We are expecting significant interest from domestic and global institutional investors, corporates and large family enterprises looking to expand their livestock operations.”

The SLM Pastoral Portfolio is being offered in-one-line or as any combination of individual aggregations by Expression of Interest closing Wednesday 19 March, via LAWD  and Nutrien Harcourts.

 

Mungalalla showpiece developed for Wagyu

Beef industry investors seeking a showpiece Wagyu breeding and finishing property will inevitably show interest in Chiconi Grazing’s outstanding holding, Taylors Plains, at Mungallala in southwest Queensland.

Comprising almost 34,000ha, Taylors Plains, pictured above, has a conservative carrying capacity of 6250 adult equivalents and features abundant stands of improved pastures, dominated by buffel grass and including bambatsi, fine cut rhodes, digitaria and creeping blue grass.

The property is securely watered via seven bores delivering water through 105km of mainly 63mm poly pipe to an extensive network of 27 tanks, two turkey’s nest dams, and 105 concrete troughs, with water security supported by 47 dams.

Noel Chiconi and his wife Jo-Anne bought Taylors Plains 22 years ago with the intention of fully developing it. They invested heavily in upgrading the property to its current showcase status.

“The incoming buyer will need to spend virtually nothing on the property – the fencing, waters, cattle yards and accommodation are all in A1 condition, and Taylors Plains is in a highly regarded ‘safe’ area with an average of 605mm of annual rainfall,” Mr Chiconi said.

“We have been breeding Wagyu cattle since 2014 and turn off Wagyu feeder steers that do very well on the dense stands of buffel supported by native grasses. Our decision to sell has not been taken lightly, but it’s time.”

A skilled campdrafter and former President of the Australian Campdrafting Association, Mr Chiconi and his wife have also invested in quality performance horses, and the majority of cattle work on Taylors Plains has been completed on horseback by their son Gary and his team. As such, Taylors Plains has suitable yards for horses, stables and a horse walker.

Among the exceptional infrastructure on Taylors Plains are steel cattle yards with covered working area, a hydraulic crush, drafting pound (seven ways), curved race and double-deck loading ramp, together with adjacent concrete bunked weaning and feeding yards, an outpost set of cattle yards, and a 1400-metre airstrip.

A commodity shed with concrete floor and concrete panelled bays is supported by extensive machinery shedding, a workshop, and new butcher’s shop featuring a boning room and 130 square metre chiller. All fences have premium steel posts and steel end stays.

The 118km of laneways and formed roads with cattle grids provide unparalleled access across the property for cattle, staff and machinery.

The country includes 9000ha of brigalow, bottle tree and belah scrub, 11,500ha of poplar box on alluvial plains, and 8200ha of lancewood and bendee ridges.

There is accommodation for owners and staff, including a four-bedroom homestead, a four-bedroom manager’s residence, a two-bedroom cottage, two expander homes each with three bedrooms, two cottages under construction, and donga demountables providing five bedrooms connected to a large communal area and kitchen.

The main operations and accommodation hub is located within an attractive compound featuring irrigated lawns and mature trees, and electricity supply is assured through an 80 kva diesel generator with auto start.

LAWD senior director Col Medway described Taylors Plains as ‘a standout’ in the Queensland property market.

“The property’s combination of land types and pasture provides tremendous carrying capacity and fattening capability, as proven by the Chiconi family’s success in first turning off quality Angus cattle, and for the past ten years, premium Wagyu feeder steers,” Mr Medway said.

“Taylors Plains will not require a cent to be spent by the successful buyer because they will be walking into a sophisticated cattle operation backed by guaranteed water, abundant pasture and top notch infrastructure.”

The property is located 100km north of Mungallala, 230km north-west of Roma, 580km from Toowoomba and 700km from Brisbane.

Taylors Plains is for sale by expressions of interest through LAWD closing Thursday 27 March.

 

Source: LAWD

 

 

 

 

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