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

• Two Gulf stations head to auction
• $10m sought for productive northern NSW blocks
• Upper Hunter holding boasts abundant feed
• Two Central QLD grazing opportunities
• Drought proofing near Chinchilla
• Picturesque Flinders Ranges grazing
• Scale and value in Western NSW
• Versatile prime Macquarie River country
• Value for money in southern Queensland
• Northern land opportunities

 

Two Gulf stations heading to auction

An efficient low-costing breeding enterprise in the heart of Queensland’s Gulf of Carpentaria region has been listed for sale.

Claraville spans 217,000ha and is located 80km from Croydon and 350km from Julia Creek and Richmond.

The property was established by the Rochfort brothers around 1884. Since then it has been held by several owners, with the latest an Adelaide-based group of investors who purchased it in 2014.

JLL’s Agribusiness Directors, Geoff Warriner and Chris Holgar together with RPL’s Walter Cooper have been appointed to sell Claraville, which is described as predominantly open forest.

The soils are a mix of white sandy clays, with heavier loams and grey clays in the flood-out portions of the property and sandy loams.

Claraville is serviced by two rivers, the Yappar and Clara, and together with their associated watercourses, provide an extensive network of permanent and semi-permanent waterholes.

Geoff Warriner said Claraville had been thoughtfully developed by the current management.

“From an operational perspective, it has the benefit of fit-for-purpose infrastructure and strategically located yards to minimise stock movements. Water is a feature of the property with an established network of 52 dams along with six flowing artesian bores, providing a high degree of security,” he said.

RPL’s Wally Cooper said large portions of the property remained undeveloped.

“Large available quantities of artesian water give the incoming purchaser the opportunity to significantly expand the current enterprise. Claraville is currently running 11,000 adult equivalents, however there is also scope for further expansion,” he said.

Claraville is being offered for sale on a walk-in walk-out basis including livestock (7149 head as of October 2020) and plant and equipment by online auction on December 9.

Kiana on edge of Barkly region

Meanwhile, another Gulf of Carpentaria region holding, Kiana Station, will be auctioned on November 26 by Colliers International.

The 3318sq km property is situated just above Cresswell Downs on the northern extremity of the Barkly Tablelands in the NT, 130km from Borroloola and 1132km south east of Darwin.

Owned by Indonesia’s Oceanic Multitrading (Oceanic Cattle Co) since 2005, Kiana has been offered to the market for sale or for lease since 2016.

Up until 2012, when most of the cattle herd was sold to AA Co, Kiana was running 15,800 head.

Earlier this year, it was listed on a bare basis for around $14m by Colliers’ Rawdon Briggs.

Kiana Station is estimated to carry up to 12,000 breeders, but this number could be increased, and further value added, by completing a water development plan on the property’s southern section.

Mr Briggs said the property was well positioned to feed cattle into northern finishing depots closer to Darwin, or to truck weaners to eastern fattening blocks in Queensland or South Australia.

Kiana has a reliable, high annual rainfall and is watered by 10 bores, 39 dams and nine natural springs.

$10m for productive adjoining northern NSW blocks

Two highly productive breeding and fattening properties on New South Wales’ North West Slopes and Plains have been listed for $10 million.

The adjoining 974ha Creek Heights and 588ha Glen Idol once formed part of the original Wallabadah Station which was established around 1830.

Located 25km from Quirindi and 65km from Tamworth, they have been held since 2007 and 2014, respectively, by Tony Jackson’s Markabby Ptd Ltd, who has decided to return to South Australia.

The country rises from creek flats that are predominantly soft loam soils to gently undulating red basalt ridges.

Together, Creek Heights and Glen Idol can carry 800 cows and calves. However, the vendors are currently running a mix of breeders, trade cattle and 1000 ewes and lambs that are fattened by the summer and winter crops grown on the 325ha of arable country.

Water is a feature with 5km of double creek frontage to Quirindi Creek and a 1.5km double frontage to Back Creek. Between the two, there are 30 dams and three bores.

Richard Cudmore from Davidson Cameron Nutrien Harcourts described the 1566ha holding as the “best breeding and fattening country in the Southern Hemisphere.”

“The properties are situated in one of the region’s sweetest valleys and deliver softness, high rainfall, high fertility, temperate climate, ease of management and high carrying capacity,” he said.

There’s been good inquiry and widespread interest from producers and investors.

Creek Heights and Glen Idol are being offered separately, or as a whole.

Upper Hunter holding boasts abundant feed

Fernleigh, a 2074ha beef cattle and wool operation at Ellerston in New South Wales’ Upper Hunter, has been listed for sale with a price guide of between $7.4 million and $8.2 million.

The property failed to sell following an earlier expressions of interest campaign conducted by MacCallum Inglis.

Selling agent Michael Burke said Fernleigh had been extensively improved over the past 20 years, with sustainable farming development as a goal.

“The vendor has focused on productivity, profitability and sustainable land management by improving pastures, weed management, livestock handling efficiencies and farm infrastructure,” he said.

Undulating and hilly country is complimented by heavy plateaus with soils comprising predominantly chocolate basalt with some red loams.

The property is currently lightly stocked, and enjoying an abundance of good quality stock feed. It has been rated to carry up to 9100 DSE per annum, and with further pasture development and fertiliser this number could be increased.

There are 46 dams and four equipped bores supplying water to large header tanks and reticulate to 14 toughs.

Grazing opportunity in Central Queensland

A well-established grazing enterprise in the heart of Central Queensland will be auctioned by JLL on November 18.

Burngrove, 8km west of Blackwater and 180km west of Rockhampton, spans 3180ha over a single freehold accompanied by a further 2086ha of adjoining leased land.

The country features highly productive soil types and consists of mainly brigalow, bottle tree and bauhinia scrub, underpinned by established stands of buffel.

Burngrove is a viable standalone grazing enterprise or fattening depot within a broader supply chain that has been destocked since July.

CQ offers fattening and farming

The Central Queensland dual-purpose fattening and farming property Lindleigh will be offered for sale after 60 years ownership.

Located in a tightly-held area, 35km north of Capella and 85km north of Emerald, the 1635ha property is described as good country, offering loads of potential.

Recent dry years have made presentation of the property difficult, however there is a positive outlook for a wetter than average summer.

Lindleigh sits at the foot of the Peak Range National Park, with the Calvert and Capella Creeks running through the property. It is mostly watered via the main dam near the cattle yards, which hasn’t been dry since construction in 2007.

The country comprises 749ha of cultivation, 231ha of semi open coolabah and ironbark grazing country and 673ha of semi open to open downs and tea-tree creek flat grazing with mainly native pastures and buffel.

Current vegetation maps show areas that could be further developed for intensive grazing or cultivation.

If cultivation was used for stock feed, Lindleigh would run 400 breeders or 600 backgrounder cattle through to feeder weights.

The marketing of Lindleigh is being handled by Matthew Beard and Terry Ray from Nutrien Harcourts, with the auction on November 27.

Drought proofing near Chinchilla

Western Queenslanders looking to drought-proof or value-add their cattle are showing the strongest interest in Chinchilla’s Oaklodge Feedlot.

The 731ha operation is conveniently located in the heart of the Western Downs, 22km north of Chinchilla, 106km west of Dalby and 186km west of Toowoomba.

Oaklodge has 162ha of cultivation suitable for oats and forage sorghum, with around 243ha of brigalow belah melon hole country suitable for grazing.

The holding has recently undergone major improvements and features a newly developed and approved 1000 SCU feedlot and working yards.

Consisting of seven feed yards and four holding pens, all are fitted with concrete feed bunks, reticulated water and shade facilities.

Brendan Gilliland from Raine & Horne Dalby said the yard’s capacity could be easily expanded to 5000 SCU.

“Oaklodge is a property with countless opportunities for the serious cattleman. It has room to background and a brand-new approved feedlot, central to major selling centres and countless export processing facilities,” he said.

Offering ample water, Oaklodge has seven dams and a newly equipped bore.

It will be auctioned on November 26.

Picturesque Flinders Ranges grazing

After 41 years, Leonard and Sharon Nutt have decided to sell their picturesque Edeowie Station, with the backdrop of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges.

At 26,540ha, Edeowie runs sheep and cattle, as well as offering tourist accommodation, camping and access to the Edeowie and Bunyeroo Gorges.

Situated 56km north of Hawker, with extensive frontage to the sealed Outback Highway, it is located on the western side of the Wilpena Pound formation.

Owner and industry leader Leonard Nutt has adopted best practice grazing strategy and has ease of management infrastructure, particularly around water points and stock handling facilities.

The productive open breeding plains include blue bush, salt bush, Flinders and summer grasses, gum fringed creeks with sectors of acacia and mulga.

Average historic carrying records provide for 3862 sheep shorn together with 137 head of cattle plus progeny.

Three major creeks run through Edeowie and create feed opportunities from natural catchments areas of the Flinders Ranges.

Water is reticulated from nine bores and one permanent well to 29 watering points.

Significant improvements and tourist accommodation activities add opportunity to Edeowie’s productivity.

A good body of feed is emerging after almost 100mm of rain which has fallen since September, bringing the current annual rainfall close to the 246mm average.

Simon McIntyre from Nutrien Harcourts reports widespread interest from local and interstate buyers, from grain growers seeking diversity, Adelaide businessmen and tourist operators.

Edeowie Station will be auctioned on December 8 on a walk-in walk-out basis, including around 2290 merino ewes, plant and equipment.

In October last year, Nutrien Harcourts sold the 62,133ha neighbouring property Moralana Station to South Australia’s Michael family for $6.4m or $450/DSE area.

Scale and value in Western NSW

The Mitchell family has decided to sell Cobar’s Florida Station after almost 80 years of ownership.

Located in central western New South Wales, 50km east of Cobar and 90km west of Nyngan, Florida, pictured above, was established by the Mitchell family around 1942.

Selling agent David Russell from Landmark Russell said the 9238ha of highly fertile grazing and farming country had created strong interest.

“This sought-after country represents value for money in good seasons and in dry. There’s been inquiry from producers in South Australia and northern and southern NSW seeking good cattle and sheep country, as well as opportunity farming.”

The property borders the Western Division, which means part of Florida is under a western lands lease, while the ‘Old Station’ portion is freehold, with 1916ha of cultivation consent.

Florida Station has been conservatively managed and developed by Kevin Mitchell, who has focused on ground cover and water spreading to increase carrying capacity.

He and his wife Gwen are taking advantage of the good season to list the property and retire.

The country on Florida is slightly undulating red loam soil to chocolate loam in the Mulga Creek Basin.

Around 16km of Mulga Creek disperses through the property from south to north. A 210km water spreading bank system allows for around 3500ha to be water shed.

The property is also watered by 28 earth dams (341,000 cubic metres), 85km of drains and a house dam.

During an average season, Florida can carry 400 breeding cows and followers weaning at six months. However, following a good season this year, the property is running around 900 head of cattle on about half of the country.

It seasonally harvests up to 800 goats per annum.

Florida is being sold bare of plant and livestock and will be auctioned on November 20. It is expected to make more than $2.3m.

 

Versatile prime Macquarie River country

Prime Macquarie River grazing, dryland cropping and irrigation country, between Dubbo and Narromine in central western New South Wales, has been listed for sale.

Featuring extensive frontage to the Macquarie River and grey black alluvial soils and deep red loams, the 1142ha Karnang and East Cooltah are described as highly versatile fully integrated turnkey adjoining farms.

They are being offered for sale by expressions of interest by Richard Gemmell from Elders, closing on December 2.

The 681ha Karnang includes 218ha of flood irrigation, 355ha of dryland cultivation and an 800ML water reservoir.

The neighbouring 461ha East Cooltah boasts a six kilometre Macquarie River frontage, 248ha of pivot irrigation and 213ha of dryland cultivation.

Richard Gemmell from Elders said with the combination of river and ground water available plus the security of water storage, these production driven farms represent renowned agribusiness investment opportunities.

Karnang and East Cooltah are being offered as a whole or as two separate farms.

Value for money in southern Queensland

A value-for-money freehold grazing or farming block in Queensland’s productive Western Downs area has been listed for $1.9 million.

The 1033ha Mt Pleasant West is located 16km east of Meandarra and 48km west of Tara.

Most of the property is used for cropping, however it is currently fallow and recently sprayed for weeds.

Warren Hohnke from Allied Beef said the block could easily diversify into a mixed farming and grazing operation.

There is no infrastructure or internal fencing, however a new three boundary exclusion fence has been installed, with the Horse Creek Lagoon providing the fourth boundary.

Mt Pleasant West has brigalow belah scrub soils with some lighter box country and is divided into six large paddocks separated by shelter lines.

There is shared access to a water licence on Horse Creek Lagoon which supplies the property, as well as some small dams.

Northern land opportunities

The Northern Territory Land Corporation, working in partnership with NT Farmers Association, have called for expressions of interests for three unique agricultural land developments in the region spanning 99,212ha.

The largest is the 67,000ha Keep Plains Agricultural Development which adjoins Western Australia’s Ord River Scheme.

Earmarked for agricultural development since the 1990s, it has fertile productive soils, existing infrastructure and irrigation channels. EOIs for the Keep Plains Agricultural Development close on February 26.

The 26,000ha Wildman Agricultural Precinct, located 135km east of Darwin, benefits from high wet season rainfall and has the capacity to accommodate multiple agricultural and horticultural activities and high yield crops, as well as rain fed forestry such as mahogany and cattle production. EOIs for the Wildman Agricultural Precinct close on February 17.

The 5712ha Larrimah Agricultural Precinct is situated in the Big Rivers region, 180km from Katherine. The area has a unique seasonal advantage, extending the season for crops, as well as presenting opportunities for a range of dryland and irrigated crops and the development of intensified beef operations. EOIs for the Larrimah Agricultural Precinct close on February 17.

 

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