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

• Big River country tipped to make $20m
• Berry family divides prime northern NSW country
• Southern NSW grazing returns to the market
• Nundle cattle country lists after four years ownership
• Adjoining blocks close to Tamworth offer versatility
• Eyre Peninsula portfolio set to change hands
• Picturesque CQ breeder block must sell
• Reduced price for Upper Hunter’s Bundaleer

Kintyre River junction

Big River country tipped to make $20m

After less than two years ownership, Northern Territory-based cattlemen Steve Garner is selling the picturesque breeding property Kintyre in the Big River Country of northern New South Wales.

The well-watered property is situated in the Newton Boyd district, 76km east of Glen Innes and 170km north-east of Armidale. It is anticipated to make around $20 million.

Spanning 4481ha, Kintyre, pictured above, is an aggregation of three holdings – Kintyre, Riversdale and Romsey – that can run 1400 cows or 17,600 dry sheep equivalents.

The country ranges from fertile alluvial river flats (259m above sea level), low grazing hills and steep ridge lines (865m above sea level) in an area that receives a 757mm average annual rainfall.

Kintyre meanders through a wide, fertile valley and features 7km of dual frontage to the Henry River and 15km of frontage to the Mann River.

LAWD director Simon Cudmore said water security is near unparalleled.

“The property offers reliable water from a variety of sources, making it a safe and proven opportunity for livestock producers,” he said.

Kintyre has 12 megalitres of unregulated water entitlement, 29 dams, numerous natural springs, and a reticulated trough system for year-round water supply.

In recent years, the vendor has installed more than 37km of new boundary and internal fencing.

Infrastructure includes two homes, two machinery sheds, a workshop, cattle yards, horse stables and a grain silo.

Kintyre is being offered for sale by expressions of interest closing on September 28.

Berry family divides prime northern NSW country

Mark and Angie Berry have carved off more than half of their prime breeding and backgrounding country on New South Wales’ Northern Tablelands and listed it for sale at $12.6 million.

In February, the couple offered the historic 3026ha Emu Creek which had been held by members of the Gill family for 155 years but when it failed to sell, announced a change in direction.

The Berrys are now selling the 1815ha Spring Hills portion of the holding for the equivalent of $6942/ha.

The property is 13km north-east of Walcha and 76km from Armidale, in a high rainfall grazing district on the south-eastern side of the New England Tablelands.

Held by five generations of the Gill family, both Spring Hills and Emu Creek were purchased at auction in 1868 by George Robert Gill for one pound per acre.

In its heyday, the property was a superfine wool growing operation spanning 32,400ha.

Today, the productive and well-appointed mixed grazing opportunity is suitable for any combination of beef, lamb or wool production.

The country on Spring Hills rises from gently sloping alluvial creek flats to undulating low grazing hills and timbered ridgelines underpinned by fertile basalt and trap soils supporting 10,700DSE.

Recently, the vendor has been conservatively running a mix of late spring calving cows, replacement heifers and 2000 Dorper ewes lambing on a nine-month cycle.

The sale of Spring Hills is being handled by LAWD and McCulloch Agencies.

Both report the price and scale are attracting good local inquiry.

“The smaller parcel of land is appealing to a wider buyer audience, ranging from small to medium farming families. With the majority of infrastructure on Emu Creek, Spring Hills is viewed as good value in comparison to other local properties,” Mr Cudmore said.

The agents claim there is significant potential for further development and expansion of operational scale.

“The country is highly responsive to pasture development with the areas sown to improved perennial grass and clover pastures sustaining 15DSE, representing a 75 percent uplift in carrying capacity from the native perennial grass and clover pastured land.”

Situated in a 709mm average annual rainfall area, Spring Hills is watered by 3.9km of double frontage to the permanent Dog Trap Creek, 6.2km to the permanent Brookmount Creek, nine dams and two bores.

Fit-for-purpose operational improvements include a two-stand shearing shed and cattle and sheep yards.

Spring Hills is located 13km north-east of Walcha and 76km from Armidale, in a high rainfall grazing district on the south-eastern side of the New England Tablelands.

Southern NSW grazing returns to the market

Close to $19 million is expected for productive, high rainfall grazing country on New South Wales’ Southern Tablelands.

The Warradale Aggregation is located 22km from Yass and 90km from Canberra.

It is being offered as one line – the 1342ha Warradale for $18.9m ($14,080/ha), or as two separate assets – the 817ha Warrawee for $12.4m ($15,175/ha) and the 525ha Oakdale for $6.5m ($12,376/ha).

Warradale has returned to market after three years ownership by Alex and Angus Metcalfe after they secured neighbouring country at Galong.

LAWD agent Col Medway said selling Warradale wasn’t on the agenda, with the vendors recently constructing a brand new four-stand shearing shed and yards.

Equally suited to any combination of beef, lamb or wool enterprises, the undulating country can comfortably support 840 late winter calving cows or more than 13,000DSE.

The highly improved property is well-appointed with fit for purpose operational improvements for both enterprises.

Warradale benefits from significant investment in the pasture base that includes 790ha of highly improved native perennial grasses and clovers.

Situated in a reliable non-seasonal rainfall area of 682mm, Warradale is supported by dams with extensive catchments and two creeks.

The Warradale Aggregation is located 22km from Yass and 90km from Canberra.

Nundle cattle country lists after four years ownership

After four years ownership, Guyra’s Dave Carlon has listed the Nundle district property Tarwarri as he consolidates his New England assets in northern New South Wales.

The 1013ha holding is located in the tightly held Garoo district, described as some of the finest cattle country in the area, 51km south-east of Tamworth.

When Tarwarri was offered to the market in 2019 it sold within six weeks, despite the tough ongoing drought conditions, for $6.15 million($6071/ha) bare, after 82 years of ownership by the Burr family.

Ray White Rural agent Riley Gibson said Nundle was sought-after country, in a renowned region and the sale of Tarwarri will test the market.

“The highest and best use of the versatile block is breeding and finishing, with the operation rated to run around 500 cows,” he said.

Tarwarri is close to a number of markets including the Tamworth regional Livestock Exchange and beef and lamb processing facilities.

The gently undulating basalt property is carrying a body of dry feed. Around 80 percent is arable and growing fodder crops including oats, sorghum and lab lab.

Tarwarri has a history of growing, barley, oats and sorghum and could be sown back to permanent pastures supported by seasonal fodder crops.

The property is serviced by eight bores (four of which are equipped with solar pumps), three windmills and one electric submersible. There are 18 dams, as well as double frontage to both the Sandy and Benama Creeks.

Improvements include a four-bedroom home, two cattle yards, a woolshed, a machinery shed, meathouse, coolroom and two silos.

Tarwarri will be auctioned bare on September 6.

Adjoining blocks close to Tamworth offer versatility

Two neighbouring properties that once formed part of the sprawling Goonoo Goonoo Station in northern New South Wales are being offered for separate sale.

The 405ha Werribee Park Aggregation and the 142ha Hazeldene are situated 20 minutes north-west of Tamworth.

Werribee Park Aggregation vendors Matthew and Calli Kaluder have been running a cattle and sheep trading operation, as well as cropping, for the past seven years.

Around 80 percent of the undulating and productive flats are arable and feature a mix of light to heavier red soils growing native, lucerne and sub-tropical pastures.

It comprises:

• 105ha Werribee Park – featuring the original, federation Goonoo Goonoo three-bedroom homestead with 360-degree district views, a three-stand shearing shed, sheep yards, two machinery sheds and an equipped bore.
• 100ha Ravenscroft – an unequipped bore and three dams.
• 100ha Rose Cottage – a two-bedroom cottage, cattle yards, two machinery sheds, an unequipped bore and one dam.
• 100ha Werribee Downs – a new unequipped bore and four dams.

The Jeffreys family has held Hazeldene for 95 years and once owned the adjoining Werribee Park.

The current owners John and Susie Jeffreys, who are planning to retire, have been running a cattle trading operation and growing some crops.

Like the adjoining Werribee Park, Hazeldene has undulating and productive flats with light to heavier rich red and black soils growing a mix of native pastures.

The country is divided into nine paddocks with a laneway system for ease of mustering and watered by two bores.

The quality infrastructure includes a machinery shed and cattle yards, with most of the fencing replaced in the last five years.

McCulloch Agencies agent George Barton was unable to put a price on the properties due to the number of available purchasing options.

“For instance, interested parties have the opportunity to acquire Werribee Park as a whole, two bare blocks or two blocks with a dwelling on each, each sold separately or as one parcel.”

Mr Barton said inquiry was coming from a range of buyer profiles.

“There has been good interest from producers seeking to aggregate the two properties, as well as lifestylers seeking smaller individual blocks.”

Werribee Park Aggregation and Hazeldene are being offered for sale by separate expressions of interest closing on August 31.

There has been good interest from producers seeking to aggregate Werribee Park and Hazewldene, as well as lifestylers seeking smaller individual blocks

Eyre Peninsula portfolio set to change hands

Around $20 million is expected for the Allen family’s portfolio of properties on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.

Spanning almost 14,000ha across seven holdings, the portfolio comprises two distinct hubs – a 9240ha grazing block and 4572ha of farming land.

Yeltana Station is situated 35km north-east of Kimba and is rated at 970 dry sheep equivalents.

Historically, Jason and Sonia Allen together with Trent and Laura Allen have run a mixed operation of 5500 Dorper ewes plus replacements, 100 cattle and 80 horses.

There is an opportunity for goat harvesting on Yeltana, which features native vegetation with some clearings. The property is well fenced and watered by two dams with solar pumps.

With a 970DSE rating, Yeltana is anticipated to make between $800 and $900 a head.

The cropping country consists of six holdings – Wannamanna, Allen Park, Woolfords, Panitya, Wudinna East and Jasons Block which are located in Wudinna, Kyancutta and Panitya.

Some of the properties have been held by the Allen family for up to six generations, with Albert James Allen purchasing the first in 1911 and the family continuing to acquire properties over the past 110 years.

CBRE Agribusiness agents Phil Schell and Angus Bills are managing the sale via a two-stage expressions of interest campaign closing on September 14. All of the properties are being offered in one line or as individual holdings.

Mr Bills said over recent years, the Eyre Peninsula has benefitted from above average harvests.

“The 2023 crop is off to a good start due to early rainfall and most crops across the district are well established,” he said.

Mr Schell is anticipating interest from local farming families, out-of-district producers and city-based investors.

Yeltana Station is situated 35km north-east of Kimba and is rated at 970 dry sheep equivalents.

Picturesque CQ breeder block must sell

There has been good inquiry for a picturesque breeder block close to Australia’s beef capital that has returned to the market after the contract of sale fell over.

The 744ha Leila Park is freehold, grazing country situated in the tightly held Morinish district, 55km from Rockhampton and 65km from Gracemere in Central Queensland.

The flat, fertile valley country gives rise to undulating foothills which merge into the mountain ridges.

Situated in a 700mm annual average rainfall region, Leila Park is watered by six dams and four bores.

Netty Wendt from Ray White Rural said interest was coming from locals and interstate, including Victorian and Northern Territory producers.

“All of the hard work has been done. In the last 18 months, around one third of the property has either been pulled, stick raked or a combination of both,” she said.

Ms Wendt said the owners of Leila Park have already moved and need to sell to finalise their next settlement.

The infrastructure includes steel cattle yards and a machinery shed.

Leila Park will be auctioned on September 5.

Reduced price for Upper Hunter’s Bundaleer

The remaining portion of the Upper Hunter Valley’s Bundaleer Portfolio has been listed for sale for between $7.5 million and $8 million.

The 764ha Bundaleer (homestead block) was one of three non-contiguous grazing properties offered to the market last year by Sydney-based vendor Dimitri Koureas, with two of the holdings snapped up within weeks of listing.

The remaining block is located at Greenlands, 28km north-east of Singleton. Offered with a $8-$9 million price guide, it is attracting strong interest from families seeking a rural lifestyle property close to Sydney and Newcastle.

Situated in a 700mm to 800mm annual rainfall region, the country ranges from arable valley floor and creek flats to hilly grazing suitable for breeding, backgrounding or fattening 330 cows and calves and replacement heifers.

Fronting both the Campbells and Cross Creeks, Bundaleer has 31 large spring fed dams, two near new cattle yards and 20km of new fencing.

The sale is being handled by Michael Burke from McGrath Upper Hunter.