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

• Adalong showcase Mirradong offered for only second time in 100 years
• Water a feature on Canaway Downs near Quilpie
• Cunnamulla’s Nardoo attracting strong sheep interest
• $18m sought for Springfield, Mt Surprise

 

New South Wales:

For only the second time in 100 years, the highly productive cattle property Mirradong, in the NSW Riverina, pictured above, has been listed for sale.

Located 5km from Adelong, the picturesque 673ha property is located 50 mins from Wagga Wagga. Originally held by the Arragon family, it has been owned for the past six years by Richard and Bernadette Cameron who hail from Southern Queensland.

Mr Cameron said the family had decided to return to Goondiwindi, Hannaford and Mooni districts where they are expanding their cattle operations.

He described Mirradong as a ‘gem’ of a property owned only once in a lifetime.

The property boasts extremely fertile basalt soils. In addition, a substantial amount of capital has been invested into improving the fertility of the soil with single super, urea and lime generously spread across the property over the last five years.

Mr Cameron said Mirradong would never run dry.

“With a reliable average rainfall of more than 800mm, the spring fed dam in the middle of the property has never been dry and is an extremely reliable source of water.”

The Camerons have also installed a new water system ensuring every paddock has a reliable supply, as well as renewing most of the fencing.

Oscar Freeman from Miller & James Real Estate said with all the hard work done, the sale of Mirradong represented a great opportunity for somebody looking for a walk in ‘blue ribbon’ grazing property either as a standalone or add-on operation.

“Mirradong is a big parcel of land in the extremely tightly-held Adelong district. Tremendous interest is coming from larger family farmers seeking expansion, as well as western producers looking to relocate to the east,” he said.

Run as a cattle trading operation with a 3000 head carrying capacity, Mirradong is being auctioned on August 3. Given recent sales in the area, it could achieve anywhere between $6m and $8m.

 

Queensland:

After more than 30 years, Scott and Megan Turner are selling their large-scale cattle breeding and fattening enterprise Canaway Downs, in south-west Queensland.

Located 100km northeast of Quilpie, the 93,357ha property has a carrying capacity of 5000 adult equivalents or 2500 breeders plus calves. In the past, Canaway carried 30,000 sheep and 1000 cattle.

Andrew McCallum from Ruralco Property GDL said Canaway Downs could exceed price expectations, given its excellent water infrastructure.

In 2013, the property’s 90-year-old bore was plugged and replaced under the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative (GABSI) round.

“The privately-owned bore is the feature of the property. It is one of the deepest flowing bores in Queensland at 1615m, with a flow rate capacity of 20/L sec or 1.7ml/day.”

“Its pressure pushes water 200km through poly lines to all paddocks servicing troughs and tanks. The stock also have access to dams and semi-permanent waterholes along the Conna Conna and Bulgroo Creeks,” Mr McCallum said.

The country at Canaway Downs ranges from dark black to soft red and dark loamy type soils. Grasses consist of Mitchell on open downs, open boree and gidyea country. The flood-out country benefits by many creek systems running off the ranges of neighbouring properties.

Canaway Downs has 133km of exclusion fencing and is a member of a cluster fence group that protects almost 220,000ha of country. It will be auctioned by Ruralco Property GDL on August 3. Plant will be included in the sale, with the option to buy livestock available to successful purchaser.

 

WITH the current boom in wool and lamb returns, southern sheep producers are showing the most interest in a quality aggregation in the heart of south-west Queensland recently listed by CBRE.

Located close to Cunnamulla and Wyandra, 54,029ha Nardoo and 13,974ha Bando are for sale, bare of stock, via an expression of interest campaign – in one line or as separate assets – closing on July 26.

Selling agent Chris Holgar said it is a unique offering.

“The properties are situated on the floodplain north of Cunnamulla. They are predominately open Mitchell grass downs and improved gidyee country transitioning to alluvial channels associated with the Warrego River and select areas of mulga and sandalwood.”

Secure water resources comprise four capped artesian bores supplying water to a network of tanks and troughs, numerous dams and extensive frontage to the Warrego River.

Nardoo and Bando, owned by the Barlow family, have a combined carrying capacity of 5000 AE or 40,000 DSE.

Mr Holgar said while the properties are currently running cattle, they are better suited to sheep.

“Producers from New South Wales and southern Australia are seeking scale because that is where their respective markets have gone. South-west Queensland is a value proposition and exclusion fencing is lifting lambing percentages.”

The properties are strategically located within a highly productive region of Queensland with efficient access to end-markets.

Mr Holgar said given the prevailing climatic conditions and production systems, it wouldn’t take too much to convert the properties to certified organic production.

 

NORTH Queensland’s strong breeder enterprise Springfield Station is being offered for $18 million including plant and equipment and 8500 head of cattle.

The 68,500ha Mt Surprise property is located 400km north-west of Charters Towers and 330km south-west of Cairns.

Matthew Kennedy from Kennedy Rural said Springfield has vast amounts of good cattle country for breeding, growing and fattening with copious amounts of crystal clear water.

“It is a unique piece of Australia and North Queensland. The available water, including the naturally flowing Fossilbrook and Saltwater Springs, provides an unbelievable unlimited water supply for the entire property.”

Additionally, Springfield boasts extensive double frontage to the semi-permanent Lynd River.

A large area of Springfield is basalt soil with the unique feature of swamps and clear Springfield creeks and the associated fertile frontages.

Mr Kennedy said Springfield would attract buyers looking for good breeder country.

“With an average 750mm rainfall, the station has good grass, abundant water and can carry 11,000 mixed cattle,” he said.

The owners Shane and Kim Gaynor, who own Gum Creek at Normanton, have decided to off-load Springfield Station so they can restructure their business.

Springfield also offers tourism potential with the Savannah-lander tourist train service travelling weekly through the property.