THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of interesting recent listings and sales in Queensland, a separate article on listings in NSW, Victoria and South Australia, and another on three significant recent transactions published earlier today.

• Collinsville’s Panhandle lists with close to 3000 breeders
• CQ’s Bluegrass Plains lists for $11m
• CQ cattle & cropping portfolio makes $30m
• Well grassed Glenalba splits two ways

Country on Panhandle, near Collinsville in Central Queensland

Collinsville’s Panhandle lists with close to 3000 breeders

An abundantly grassed breeding opportunity in the Collinsville district of Central Queensland has been listed for sale by the Simmons family after seven years of ownership.

Located 43km west of Collinsville and 125km south-west of Bowen, the 31,800ha Panhandle is a leasehold property that stretches east from the Burdekin River.

The calf factory is being sold on a walk-in, walk-out basis including 2850 breeders, 2000 followers and selected plant and equipment.

The reliable, low-maintenance grazing country can conservatively run 2850 breeders plus followers, with development underway to support up to 3500 cows.

The undulating country is open and lightly-shaded with goldfields black and red soils, creek flats and loamy expansive alluvial valleys growing verano and seca stylo, urochloa, native pastures and areas of buffel.

Since 2019, the Simmons family has invested significantly in pasture development, fencing and cattle yard upgrades, water infrastructure improvements, laneway development, building improvements and breeder herd management.

The holding is watered by 19 equipped bores, 18 dams and seasonal creek systems supported by 705mm of annual average rainfall.

Infrastructure includes a renovated three-bedroom home, a two-bedroom cottage, a three-bedroom quarters, staff accommodation, four cattle yards and 30km of new fencing.

Panhandle is being sold by expressions of interest closing on June 25. Leichhardt Group agent Scott Kostecki is handling the sale.

CQ’s Bluegrass Plains lists for $11m

RBV Rural is negotiating with interested parties for Bluegrass Plains in Queensland’s Central Highlands, which has been listed for $11 million.

The scenic 1922ha grazing and dryland cropping enterprise is located 28km north-east of Capella and 56km from Clermont.

It is offered for sale by Charles Curran after 70 years of family ownership. Mr Curran’s father, Dennis, drew the block in a ballot in 1956.

The undulating country has areas of brigalow scrub and semi-open downs. Its black, grey and chocolate soils have a strong moisture profile following recent beneficial rain.

Around 1000ha is cultivated and contoured, with a typical rotation of sorghum and some mung beans in summer, followed by wheat and chickpeas through the winter.

During the marketing campaign, agent Terry Ray said the incoming buyer could move quickly, with the entire cultivation area ready to plant.

“The vendors are willing, subject to an unconditional contract and deposit, to provide early access for winter crop preparation and sowing.”

Mr Ray said the new owner could run considerably higher numbers if the cash crops were converted to fodder production.

The balance of the property, including 200ha of Capella Creek finishing country, supports grazing of around 300 head of cattle on established buffel stands and native grasses.

The enterprise is watered by two dams and a bore.

Infrastructure includes a two-bedroom home, donga accommodation, cattle yards, numerous sheds and 633-tonnes of silo storage.

CQ cattle & cropping portfolio makes $30m

Four buyers have collectively paid close to $30 million for a premier cattle and cropping portfolio in Queensland’s Central Highlands.

Aggregated and developed by the Shaw family over 15 years, the 4582ha Matilda Downs is located 5km west of Capella and 52km north of Emerald.

It comprises four adjoining but standalone properties – 1029ha Crystal Brook, 1035ha Bonnie Doon, 1277ha Matilda Downs and 1240ha Mitchell Park.

RBV agent Matt Beard described the sale as in line with expectations but was unable to disclose the name of the buyers.

“Three of the four properties sold under the hammer, with Mitchell Park selling shortly afterwards for an undisclosed price above $10m. Three of the buyers were local and a fourth was from central western Queensland. All were existing operators seeking expansion and grass,” he said.

During the marketing campaign, Mr Beard said Matilda Downs sat on some of Capella’s most fertile and reliable country, and in terms of water security and infrastructure, rivals most properties.

“Around 3000ha is heavy carrying-capacity country, boasting abundant feed and used to finish cattle. The remaining 1500ha is used for cultivation, with any fodder crops included in the sale.”

The Certified Organic beef and grain production on Matilda Downs is accredited for the European Union market and certified as non-genetically modified, with additional certification covering the US Department of Agriculture, Korean requirements and Good Agricultural Practices.

Here’s a brief description of the four blocks:

Crystal Brook – $5.4m

Around 563ha of self-mulching heavy black soils is developed and contoured for cultivation. Around 237ha are ready for winter planting, while 326ha is growing silk sorghum.

The 466ha balance is pastured, with open and semi-open box, ironbark, brigalow, bauhinia and ti-tree waterways. It is watered by an equipped bore and two dams. Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home and cattle yards.

Bonnie Doon – $4.9m

Around 440ha is cultivated, including 160ha of waterways with two waterholes. Around 435ha are fenced for grazing and timbered with coolabah, blackbutt, brigalow, box and ironbark. It is watered by a dam and the Capella Creek, with seasonal waterholes. Infrastructure includes cattle yards.

Matilda Downs – $8.6m

Around 570ha of mostly self-mulching heavy black soils to areas of softwood scrub country is ready for winter planting.

Around 706ha of improved pastures include areas of brigalow, blackbutt, bauhinia and box country. The predominantly lighter, loamy soils are displaying an impressive stand of pasture including buffel, panic, seca and native pastures. It comes with a 680ML water licence and is watered by seven dams.

Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom home, 2000-tonnes of grain storage, cattle yards and numerous sheds. Most fencing has been replaced in the last eight years.

Mitchell Park – $10m+

Around 1035ha of brigalow, bauhinia and softwood scrub country has been developed to pastures.

Around 75ha of cultivation are under centre pivot and planted to oats (early April). A further 90ha are flood irrigated, 71ha are planted to forage sorghum and 40ha to dryland cultivation.

It is offered with two 680ML water licences, supported by five dams.

Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom home, steel cattle yards and sheds.

Matilda Downs sits on some of Capella’s most fertile and reliable country

Well grassed Glenalba splits two ways

Well grassed breeding or backgrounding country in Queensland’s south-west has split two ways, after selling under the hammer for a price above expectations.

The Jones and Jukes families from Morven/Mungallala paid a combined $14.5 million ($1491/ha) for the 9726ha Glenalba located 18km south of Mitchell and 105km from Roma.

Nutrien Harcourts GDL agent Nick Dunsdon reported strong competition from six registered bidders chasing expansion and grass.

Offered for sale by Surat’s Doug Slack, Glenalba is described as a low-cost, low-input property that was presenting with fresh feed during the marketing campaign.

Capable of running 1000AE, the country grows mostly Mitchell and Flinders grass, along with bluegrass along the creek flats and abundant winter herbages, including crow’s foot, clover and lamb’s tongue.

Timbers include brigalow, bottle tree, womal and box, along with bendee ridges.

Large areas of cleared and cutter-barred country with heavy red and chocolate soils offer farming potential.

Water is supplied by 20 dams, three sub-artesian bores (two equipped) and four creek systems with semi-permanent waterholes, supported by an annual average rainfall of 570mm.

The property’s undulating country provides plenty of run-off, with potential to develop additional dams.

Infrastructure includes renovated three-bedroom quarters, a four-bedroom cabin, two cattle yards, an old five-stand shearing shed and two sheds.

The 9726ha Glenalba is described as a low-cost, low-input property located 18km south of Mitchell and 105km from Roma.