THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of interesting recent listings across the Northern Territory and Queensland, and separate articles on southern listings and recent sales of note.

• NQ beef operation with Gilbert River frontage
• Paroo watershed country heads to auction
• 50,000ha of freehold land on offer in NT

The 18,859ha Blanncourt is located 44km west of Georgetown and three hours from Atherton, along the Gilbert River.

NQ beef operation with Gilbert River frontage

A northern beef operation with Gilbert River frontage has been listed for sale in Queensland’s Gulf Region, with Glen and Cheryl Connolly offering Blanncourt Station after three decades of ownership.

The 18,859ha property is located 44km west of Georgetown and three hours from Atherton.

Blanncourt, pictured above, is being offered on a walk-in walk-out basis, including 2570 mixed cattle (comprising 1417 breeders, 550 calves, 520 heifers, 425 steers and 30 bulls), together with extensive plant and machinery.

It has proven capacity to run 2100 to 2200 breeders plus replacement heifers, or 3000AE depending on seasonal conditions.

Queensland Rural agent Andrew Meehan said the station was a well-positioned and highly accessible holding.

“It is recognised as one of the higher producing and well-developed breeding and backgrounding operations in the region and should attract interest from established family cattle operators and those interested in the property’s farming potential,” he said.

The property’s productivity is underpinned by farming country along the river frontage. Around 1000ha has been cleared, including 100ha planted to leucaena and 40ha of established hay paddocks.

Mr Meehan said Blanncourt is well improved but still offers scope for further development.

“Carrying capacity has greatly increased over time due to a combination of weed control, clearing of assessed vegetation areas, the establishment of leucaena and the implementation of new watering points.”

“However, the incoming purchaser could value-add by increasing the area under leucaena, establishing additional country to buffel grass and lifting silage and hay production to support increased backgrounding and finishing of livestock,” Mr Meehan said.

He said the property had a proven record of sustainable productivity, achieved over many years through methodical and consistent management.

“These management practices include measured stocking rates, wet season spelling, supplementation programs and consistent key fertility management. The result is that the Blanncourt breeder herd is one of the leading productive herds in the northern area.”

Water is supplied by 12km of double frontage to the Gilbert River, six bores, 18 dams, and permanent and semi-permanent waterholes.

Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, staff accommodation, numerous sheds and two cattle yards.

Paroo watershed country heads to auction

Highly regarded Paroo watershed country known as the “pride of the Paroo” has been listed for sale by Murray and Anne Todd, Cambooya, and their son Sam.

The 56,587ha Turn Turn and Wittenburra aggregation is located 45km south of Eulo and 110km south-west of Cunnamulla in southern Queensland, placing it between southern and northern livestock markets.

The aggregation comprises two adjoining holdings – the 16,289ha Turn Turn and the 40,297ha Wittenburra – as well as an additional 3726ha of stock route crown land.

During their nine-year ownership, the Todds have completed a major fencing and water infrastructure program and have now decided to downsize.

Nutrien Harcourts GDL agent Nick Dunsdon said the capital improvements have lifted both production capability and ease of management across the property.

The exclusion-fenced area will soon increase from 30,513ha to 45,122ha, with 30km of new fencing being added to the existing 130km network.

Mr Dunsdon said Turn Turn and Wittenburra had previously operated as a Merino and Santa stud, but are equally suited to beef, lamb, wool or goat production.

“The sheep and cattle breeding and finishing country has a reputation for heavy-cutting sheep and impressive fat cattle, with the Todds cutting more than 500 bales of wool this year.”

The vendors estimate the aggregation can carry 22,000DSE. It is currently running 18,500 sheep and 600 cattle.

The country is mostly flat to gently undulating and features sweet pebbly gidgee and mulga.

Open flooded plains carry mostly yapunyah with some gidgee, along with bluebush, sugar grass, green panic, Mitchell and Flinders grasses and prolific seasonal herbages.

The property sits in a 330mm average annual rainfall region and is watered by Turn Turn, Wittenburra, Wiseman and Flannelbelly Creeks, 12 artesian bores, 19 dams and numerous Paroo River waterholes.

Infrastructure includes two five-bedroom homes, two cottages, shearers’ quarters, a seven-stand shearing shed, steel cattle yards, three sheep yards, goat yards and numerous sheds. A small HIR Project provides an additional income stream.

Turn Turn and Wittenburra will be auctioned on September 25.

Turn Turn and Wittenburra previously operated as a Merino and Santa stud, but are equally suited to beef, lamb, wool or goat production.

50,000ha of freehold land on offer in NT

One of the Northern Territory’s largest-ever Freehold land listing has hit the market, spanning nearly 50,000ha.

The landmark offering combines the 33,350ha TRG’s Mahogany Plantation, the 14,342ha Blackbull Station and the 2027ha Kingfisher Station.

The three neighbouring properties are held under highly sought Freehold title, eliminating the regulatory complexities often tied to Pastoral Leases in northern Australia.

The scale, secure water, existing development and operational flexibility, combined with further expansion potential, makes a compelling opportunity for institutional and corporate buyers.

TRG Mahogony Plantation

Expressions of interest are underway for TRG’s 33,350ha freehold African mahogany plantation opportunity in the Douglas-Daly and Katherine regions.

The institutional-grade forestry and agricultural asset features three distinct land uses:

• 10,400ha of commercial plantation: Fully planted with premium African mahogany (Khaya senegalensis).
• 2900ha of farming dedicated to tropical hay production and improved grazing pastures.
• 17,100ha of open grazing.

The cornerstone of the portfolio is underpinned by substantial, imminent woodflows as the expansive African mahogany stands grow toward maturity, targeting lucrative domestic and global timber markets.

Resolute Advisory agent Jiarui Du said the estate also holds environmental upside through embedded natural capital values.

“Investors can tap into preserved native vegetation zones and explore lucrative potential to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).”

Cattle under mahogony trees planted on the NT’s TRG Mahogony plantationBlackbull Station

The adjoining 14,342ha Blackbull Station is a cattle and cotton operation anticipated to raise more than $35 million.

Located 10km from Douglas Daly and 115km north of Katherine, it is underpinned by secure groundwater access.

Blackbull was purchased in 2022 by Australian Agricultural Growth Partners as one of the NT’s first major dryland cotton development acquisitions.

Situated in a district receiving average annual rainfall of 1239mm, a key factor for cotton production, it features quality clay loam and sandy soils.

The property includes 188ha of centre pivot irrigation, 4400ha of dryland cropping, 1210ha of additional arable land, 41ha planted to leucaena and 8500ha of grazing country.

Under its intensive cropping program, Blackbull is estimated to carry 2000 Adult Equivalents, with scope to substantially increase capacity through the development of a cut-and-carry feeding operation.

The holding has 14km of Daly River frontage and access to the Oolloo Dolostone, one of the Top End’s highest-yielding aquifer systems, with annual extraction capacity of 8517ML.

Two equipped irrigation bores supply water to four centre pivots, each covering 47ha. A further two bores have been drilled and capped for potential future irrigation development.

Another eight equipped bores provide secure livestock water.

Infrastructure includes a homestead, manager’s accommodation, staff accommodation, multiple sheds, horse stables and portable cattle yards.

Kingfisher Station

The 2027ha Kingfisher Station is a mixed irrigated and dryland cropping opportunity, 98km from Katherine and 194km from Darwin.

Listed last year for around $9 million, it historically finishes around 1000 head of trading cattle annually.

Vendor Wee Waa cotton farmer Jim Miller has made substantial improvements. Around 177ha supports three centre-pivot irrigators, 839ha has been developed to dryland cropping (cotton) and 29ha is under permit for clearing.

Benefitted by quality clay loam and sandy soils, the property is suited to high-value cropping conversion (cotton, horticulture and intensive fodder production) as well as dryland cropping and/or grazing.

The Oolloo Dolostone Aquifer provides Kingfisher Station with access to high-quality, secure groundwater via three bores.

An additional two irrigation bores supply water to three centre-pivot irrigators and the Daly River and Stray Creek and the Daly River offer permanent and seasonal waterholes.

The sale of Kingfisher includes a 3003ML ground water extraction licence.

Infrastructure includes demountable staff accommodation, three sheds and portable cattle yards.

LAWD agent Olivia Thompson is handling the sale of Blackbull and Kingfisher Stations.