THIS week’s property review includes a wrap-up of interesting recent listings in southern and central New South Wales, a separate story on recent listings in Tasmania, Queensland and northern New South Wales, and an article of recently completed sales of note.

• $60m+ for home of Binda Picnic Races
• Ch7 newsreader & wife list Southern Tablelands country
• Turnkey grazing asset in Central NSW returns to the market
• Canowindra’s Millambri running 10,000 DSE

Currently operated as a beef production enterprise, Funny Hill, near Binda in the Southern Tablelands, is equally suited to mixed grazing enterprises such as wool or prime lambs.

$60m+ for home of Binda Picnic Races

The Carr family’s iconic pastoral enterprise and landmark holding in southern New South Wales has returned to the market with expectations of raising more than $60 million.

Continuously developed by the family since the 1860s, the 3860ha Funny Hill, pictured above, is situated near Binda in the Southern Tablelands region, 23km north of Crookwell and 67km north of Goulburn.

It is home to the oldest country racecourse in Australia and every March hosts the annual Binda Picnic Races – first held in 1848.

Funny Hill stands as the largest contiguous landholding in the region. With rich granite soils and highly improved pastures, the scenic tablelands country has a high percentage of arable land suited to perennial pasture establishment and fodder production.

Currently operated as a beef production enterprise, Funny Hill is equally suited to mixed grazing enterprises, such as wool or prime lambs.

Offered for sale after 164 years of single-family ownership, James and Felicity Carr have been upgrading and improving the property since the 1970s allowing them to transition from running 45,000 dry sheep equivalents to a 2200 head Angus commercial cow herd.

Inglis Rural Property CEO Sam Triggs said inter-generational assets of this calibre seldom came to market.

“Funny Hill is located in one of the state’s most sought-after and seasonally reliable districts. It boasts enviable scale, high-performing pastures and turnkey operations allowing for high labour efficiency and a cost-effective operation.”

“Considered one of the beef production powerhouses of southern NSW, the property’s substantial Angus herd is offered for sale as a ‘going concern’ allowing continued operation and immediate cash flow,” Mr Triggs said.

Located in a reliable 763mm annual rainfall district, Funny Hill has almost 10km of Crookwell River frontage, several permanent creeks and 64 dams.

It has a magnificent historic six-bedroom stone/brick homestead (c 1864), an old schoolhouse (c 1875), 16-stand woolshed (c 1906) and the shearer’s mess and stables (c 1907).

Funny Hill will be offered for sale via expressions of interest closing on November 12.

TV newsreader & wife list Southern Tablelands country

Sydney Channel 7 newsreader Mark Ferguson and his wife Jayne, a non-executive director of Commonwealth Games Australia, are selling their picturesque sheep and cattle property on the New South Wales Southern Tablelands.

The 777ha Hazeldean (no connection with the NSW Angus Stud of the same name) is located 33km from Crookwell and 72km from Canberra and is suited to any combination of store lamb, fine wool and cattle production.

Purchased by the couple in 2015, the Fergusons have invested significantly in improvements to pastures, fencing and water supply.

They have also upgraded livestock handling facilities and renovated the historic Hazeldean homestead.

Mr Ferguson said it would be tough to say goodbye to the property.

“I have loved the journey over the past ten years but family priorities change and it is time to hand Hazeldean over to someone new. I am very proud of the improvements we have undertaken resulting in a very productive block,” he said.

Based on recent sales of high rainfall grazing properties, LAWD senior director Col Medway anticipates the market to value Hazeldean at around $8.5 million.

“The property provides an ideal add-on enterprise for existing operators outside the Crookwell district who are seeking geographic diversity, or investors looking for a turnkey, hands-off rural investment.”

“Hazeldean should appeal to a wide range of buyers, particularly given the improvements to infrastructure and the flexibility of enterprise,” Mr Medway said.

Capable of running 7650 Dry Sheep Equivalents, the property has a history of carrying 3000 Merino ewes joined to terminal sires for store lamb production and can run 150 cows on agistment in a weaner production system.

Complementing the high average annual rainfall of 783mm, Hazeldean is securely watered by 1.3km of double frontage to Phils River and 2.7km of single frontage to Berrells Creek supported by 25 dams.

Infrastructure includes an historic, fully-renovated four-bedroom home, a four-stand shearing shed, steel sheep yards and numerous sheds.

Hazeldean is being offered for sale by expression of interest closing on November 7.

Angus cattle on Hazeldean

Turnkey grazing asset in Central NSW returns to the market

A turnkey grazing investment opportunity on the Central Tablelands of New South Wales is being reoffered to the market by the Forbes-based Johnston Rural Group.

The 1212ha Avalon West is located near Murga, between Eugowra and Cudal, and 70km from Forbes, Orange, Parkes and Cowra.

The well-developed mixed farm is being sold to rationalise a 21-year partnership.

Agent Sam Johnston said the country is looking like a picture.

“Pastures along the highly productive creek flats are carrying a good body of feed that typically run 350 cows and calves, plus breeding ewes, stud bulls and opportunistic trade stock (season dependent).”

Over the past two decades, the vendors have bred and backgrounded young cattle before selling them to feedlots.

The property is also home to a registered Angus stud which has been in operation for more than 15 years.

Around 323ha of country is arable and used for pasture improvement, lucerne production and/or fodder cropping.

Avalon West is located in a 600mm average annual rainfall region and watered by more than 4km of double frontage to the spring fed Reedy Creek, two equipped bores and 32 dams.

Mr Johnston said the property has excellent fencing (a significant amount has been replaced in the last six years) and user-friendly operating improvements.

Infrastructure includes two cottages, a three-stand shearing shed, sheep and cattle yards, numerous sheds and two silos with a total 100 tonnes of grain storage.

Expressions of interest for Avalon West close on November 14.

Canowindra’s Millambri running 10,000 DSE

Also on offer in the Central West region of New South Wales is the 1688ha grazing and dryland cropping platform, Millambri.

Located 13km from Canowindra and 36km from Cowra, the property is suited to cattle breeding and finishing, prime lamb breeding and finishing, fine wool production combined with cropping (canola, wheat and oats).

Offered with a 10,000 DSE carrying capacity, the Belubula River and Canongle Creek flats grow lucerne and brassica for hay and fodder production and lamb finishing.

The alluvial creek and river flats rise to undulating arable land and steeper grazing country with productive red volcanic soils.

Water is secured by extensive frontage to the Belubula River, creeks, 12 dams and a bore, supported by 756mm of annual rainfall.

Infrastructure includes two five-bedroom homes, a five-stand shearing shed, sheep yards, a shed, a workshop and a 100-tonne silo.

Millambri is for sale by expressions of interest closing on November 7.

The 1688ha grazing and dryland cropping platform, Millambri, located 13km from Canowindra is suited to cattle breeding and finishing, prime lamb breeding and finishing, fine wool production combined with cropping.