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

• Stewart-Moore family lists NQ’s Burlington Station
• Mungallalla’s Mt Lonsdale returns to the market
• EOI for Coventry’s northern NSW eastern fall grazing
• Qld Western Downs grazing attracts strong enquiry
• $40m+ for Qld wool industry pioneer property
• Blue ribbon grazing close to Adelaide listed for $20m+
• Gaden family lists Dunedoo holding for $15m
• Neighbouring NSW Southern Tablelands properties offer scale
• High rainfall cattle grazing in Slim Dusty country
• Historic Glen Innes property passed in at $31m
• Snowy Mountains station offered for $6.5m

 

Stewart-Moore family lists NQ’s Burlington Station

Offers are being sought for a well-watered North Queensland breeding and backgrounding enterprise that has returned to the market after four years of ownership.

The 46,000ha Burlington Station is located 50km north of Mt Surprise – centrally located between Cairns, Charters Towers, Normanton and Hughenden.

It was purchased in August 2020 by Hughenden’s Stewart-Moore family from Dunluce Station.

Since that time, significant improvements have been made including 82km of new fencing, more paddocks and laneways and renovated cattle yards.

Burlington is being offered on a walk-in, walk-out basis including 3200 joined females, 100 bulls and between 1000 and 1200 weaners.

Stockplace Marketing agent Ashley Naclerio said the listing has generated inquiry from across Queensland, as well as producers from New South Wales and Victoria.

“The cattle breeding and backgrounding powerhouse, which includes 4000 head of cattle, offers highly regarded basalt grazing suitable for both breeding and backgrounding – a rare combination,” he said.

The soil types include productive black basalt soils along the Fossilbrook Creek frontage, black soil frontage on both the Saltwater Creek and Lynd River and large areas of red basalt country.

Water is a feature with 6.5km of double frontage to the Lynd River, 14km of double frontage to Fossilbrook Creek and 12km of double frontage to Saltwater Creek.

Burlington is bisected by two permanent creeks, along with Tommys Springs and the seasonal Lynd River. There are also numerous smaller creeks and tributaries supported by 14 dams and nine bores.

There is a 144ML water licence from Fossilbrook Creek which presents the incoming purchaser with an opportunity to diversify into cropping or horticulture, in conjunction with a cattle breeding enterprise.

Improvements include a home, staff quarters, a cabin, numerous sheds, a butcher shop and three cattle yards.

 

Mungallalla’s Mt Lonsdale returns to the market

After four years of ownership, Chinchilla’s Peter and Shari Knudsen, Coondarra have listed the fully exclusion-fenced Mt Lonsdale in Queensland’s south-west.

The 8147ha holding, 14km north of Mungallalla and 150km west of Roma, is being sold 12 months after the couple secured the neighbouring Auburn Station on Queensland’s western downs.

The open downs and undulating country on Mount Lonsdale features mostly soft bottle tree, belah and brigalow scrub soils growing a variety of pastures including buffel, curly Mitchell, blue grass and natives, with medics and salines in season.

During their tenure, the Knudsens have improved and increased productivity of the country, including 23km of new fencing.

Situated in a 550mm average rainfall region, Mount Lonsdale is watered by two artesian bores supplied to tanks and troughs, supported by nine dams and the Mungallala Creek which runs through the property.

Infrastructure includes two five-bedroom homes, steel cattle yards, a fully cemented air-operated race and crush, a calf race and cradle and numerous sheds.

Nutrien Harcourts GDL agent Russell Jorgensen will auction Mt Lonsdale on March 27.

 

EOI for Coventry’s northern NSW eastern fall grazing

Charlie and Dorianne Coventry are selling their eastern fall grazing country in New South Wales’ New England which they have held since 2015.

Formerly owned by radio and television personality Dr James Wright, Sunnyside comprises 967ha of undulating prime New England trap soil with some basalt.

Located 44km east of Armidale, the property is anticipated to make between $7.6 million ($7900/ha) and $8.2 million ($8400/ha).

Despite being bordered by gorges to the east and west, much of Sunnyside is ‘park-like’ capable of running 6000DSE or more than 400 cows.

Currently run as a beef cattle grazing operation, the fencing on Sunnyside is described as excellent, with each of the 40 paddocks serviced by at least one dam.

There is a balance of improved pastures, native pastures and an area in the process of being developed, with pockets of native timber along gullies and low ridges offering natural shelter belts.

Situated in an 934mm average annual rainfall district, Sunnyside is benefitting from widespread storms following a slow start to the season, marketing agent Graham MacDougall from MacDougall Rural Property said.

“Good inquiry is coming from neighbours, locals and away, with some potential buyers keen to secure the holding as two separate lots,” he said.

Infrastructure includes three homes, three sheds, a grain silo, a three-stand woolshed with sheep yards, steel cattle yards and a smaller set of cattle yards.

Sunnyside is being offered for sale by expressions of interest closing on February 15.

Meantime, Mr MacDougall has been appointed to sell close to 4000ha of breeding and backgrounding country offered to market by different branches of the Cameron family.

The historic 2390ha Fassifern and the adjoining 1573ha Inverinate have been listed for separate sale. Both properties are situated in the Chandler River Valley on the eastern fall, north of Wollomombi and 50km east of Armidale.

 

Western Downs grazing attracts strong inquiry

Nutrien Harcourts Dalby agent Ross Murray is reporting strong interest in prime grazing country on Queensland’s Western Downs.

The 1123ha Kendall Park, situated near Hannaford, 28km from Meandarra and 135km from Dalby, is being offered by Ron and Coralie Austin after nine years of ownership.

Mr Murray said he has fielded inquiries from neighbours, interstate producers and some from north and central Queensland.

“After purchasing Kendall Park in 2015, the owners upgraded water security, removed and controlled regrowth, and improved pastures and fencing where needed,” he said.

After recent rains, the property has an abundance of grass for breeding or backgrounding.

Around 80 percent is brigalow, belah, flat clay plains growing a balance of established native and improved pastures divided into 10 paddocks, each serviced by a trough or dam.

Kendall Park is traversed by the Forks Creek, with water secured by 10 dams and 130,000l of rainwater storage supported by 600mm of average rainfall.

Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom home, three steel sheds (one new), two silos, two molasses tanks and cattle yards.

Kendall Park will be auctioned on February 15.

 

$40m+ for Qld wool industry pioneer property

Around $40 million is anticipated for a southern Queensland property with a distinguished position in Australia’s pastoral history.

Situated between Goondiwindi, Warwick and Stanthorpe, the 14,435ha Warroo Station is located 40km from Inglewood.

It was offered to the market in October last year via an expressions of interest process but failed to sell, with Colliers Agribusiness agents Rawdon Briggs and Phillip Kelly now considering offers above $40 million.

Warroo Station has been under single family ownership since it was settled by wool industry pioneer Frederick Bracker in 1849 – credited with being the first man to start stud breeding in Queensland.

Current vendor, the Goodrich family, is selling to pursue other interests.

Mr Briggs said the opportunity to secure a large-scale premium sheep and beef cattle enterprise on Queensland’s southern downs was unique.

“Warroo has an industry leading sheep and wool reputation and under the Primerino program produced the first sub-12 micron wool in history. Production of quality sheep and wool continues at the station today,” he said.

Beef cattle have, since settlement, played an important role, with the station today producing high quality Red Angus cattle.

Mr Kelly said Warroo offers purchasers scale of operation, supported by good infrastructure and established, proven production.

“The property has been a generational grazing enterprise since settlement and it is rare to have such a large-scale, quality and proven asset come to the market in southern Queensland.”

Most of the country is open and lightly timbered natural grazing with expansive alluvial flats rising to soft low hills.

Warroo is watered by more than 70 dams supported by more than 20 permanent and seasonal springs.

Bracker Creek (double frontage) provides seasonal flows and contains a number of larger waterholes along with the ability to bring underground streams to the surface via excavation.

Improvements include a five-bedroom circa 1800s homestead, a manager’s residence, three staff cottages and shearer/backpacker accommodation.

There are three shearing sheds, three sheep yards, three cattle yards and numerous storage sheds.

The successful purchaser can secure Warroo’s high-quality sheep flock and cattle herd along with full station plant and equipment.

 

$20m+ for blue ribbon grazing close to Adelaide

A blue-ribbon grazing enterprise close to Adelaide has returned to the market for more than $20 million after failing to sell following an expressions of interest campaign.

The 1158ha Mount Beevor is located 9km north-east of Nairne and 45km from the Adelaide CBD.

Since 1949, the property has been held by the Downer family, with owners Jim (a second cousin to former Foreign Minister Alexander) and his wife Ally selling to enable family succession.

When Mount Beevor was listed for sale in October last year, it was expected to command between $25m and $30m.

There was strong local and interstate interest to divide the holding (which sits on 21 certificates of title) into separate parcels, however the vendors have chosen to relist Mount Beevor as a whole.

The name Mount Beevor originates from Captain Beevor, the first European settler to the district in 1839.

The productive grazing platform benefits from an average annual rainfall of 605mm.

The sandy loams over clay and sections of loam over clay are growing a mix of pastures including Mount Barker clovers, medics and annual grasses.

Rated to run 11,670 dry sheep equivalents, the Downers are currently running 2500 ewes and 275 cows which are available by negotiation, along with plant and equipment.

Mount Beevor has four homes, a shearing shed, machinery sheds, multiple dams, single-phase power and mains water supply on a restricted line.

CBRE Agribusiness agents Phil Schell and Angus Bills report good interest, particularly from people seeking a commercial grazing enterprise and lifestyle investment.

 

Gaden family lists Dunedoo holding for $15m

Renowned Dunedoo livestock breeding and finishing property Lockerbie has been listed for $15 million after passing in at auction late last year.

Described as one of the longest held and largest holdings in the district, the central western New South Wales property is being offered to the market by the Gaden family after 97 years ownership.

In an average season, the 3389ha holding can carry up to 3200 breeding ewes, 1500 wool cutting wethers and up to 350 cows. In optimum seasons, numbers have reached as high as 18,000DSE.

Today, much of the livestock operation is managed under cell grazing.

The rich basalt and loam soils are complemented by 550ha of highly productive arable country mainly along the Merrygoen Creek flats which produce cash or fodder cropping and high-performance pastures.

Lockerbie is watered by a 9.5km mostly double frontage to the permanent Merrygoen Creek, complimented by six bores, 19 dams and numerous permanent and semi-permanent creeks.

The sale of Lockerbie is being handled by Meares & Associates principal Chris Meares who said the property has potential to generate biodiversity offsets.

 

Neighbouring NSW Southern Tablelands properties offer scale

Two neighbouring, high rainfall grazing properties on New South Wales’ Southern Tablelands have returned to the market giving purchasers the opportunity to aggregate or secure them as single holdings.

LAWD agent Col Medway said the assets would suit a range of investors, from entry level families wanting to start their farming journey to experienced managers seeking scale.

“Infrastructure on both properties is excellent and they are conveniently situated within easy reach of selling and business centres, enabling the purchasers to walk straight into an income-generating enterprise.”

Here’s a summary of the two holdings.

Rosemont

The 825ha Rosemont is a well-appointed livestock breeding and grazing opportunity being offered by the Seaman family for $8.9 million.

Located 8km from Golspie and 36km from Crookwell, it is suited to pasture and crop production.

The enterprise is currently growing improved and native pastures and running a 5200 head self-replacing Merino flock producing 18.5 micron wool, in addition to 60 cows and progeny.

Rosemont is renowned for its prize-winning fine wools that feature regularly in the Australian Fleece Competition, with the Seamans being the only commercial producers in 21 years to win Grand Champion Fleece against national stud and commercial entries.

The country rises from fertile creek flats through to arable slopes and grazing hillsides and is watered by dams and double frontage to two creeks.

The fit-for-purpose operational improvements to support sheep and cattle enterprises include a four-stand shearing shed, steel sheep and cattle yards, a shed and two silos with 60 tonnes of grain capacity.

Clovelly

Next door, the 408ha Clovelly is a livestock breeding and finishing platform rated to run 3900DSE.

Located 5km from Golspie and 25km from Crookwell, it features creek flats rising to arable slopes and grazing hillsides.

Developed over ten years by former NRL chief executive Neil Whittaker and wife Liz, Clovelly has been listed for $4.95m.

The couple is running a self-replacing Merino flock with ewes joined to Merino rams and a portion of the progeny joined to Border Leicesters for first cross ewes, which are then joined to Poll Dorsets for prime lamb production.

Equally, Clovelly could be converted to a beef enterprise or provide agistment for cattle.

Water is supplied by dams and double frontage to the Bolong River and Mianga Creek.

Improvements include a three-bedroom home, 15km of new fencing, a two-stand shearing shed, three sheep yards, numerous sheds and a 30-tonne silo.

 

High rainfall cattle grazing in Slim Dusty country

Productive, high rainfall cattle breeding country in the mid north coast region of New South Wales has returned to the market.

The 2121ha Pee Dee Creek is situated near Bellbrook, 60km north-west of Kempsey and 110km north-west of Port Macquarie, in a 1167mm average annual rainfall area.

Owned by Doug Thompson, the improved and native pastures are capable of running 500 cows and calves.

Rural Property NSW agent Michael Guest said Pee Dee Creek combines the best of rural living with prime beef production, water security and quality improvements.

Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, modern steel cattle yards, quality fencing, machinery sheds and a workshop.

The adjoining 307ha Arrowdell is also listed for sale. Run in conjunction with Pee Dee Creek, it is situated on the Nulla Nulla Creek and runs 150 cows and calves.

 

Historic Glen Innes property passed in at $31m

The McIntosh’s historic New England property Clarevaulx Station has passed in at auction for $31 million.

Originally settled by Captain Phillip Ditmas, the 3548ha holding is situated 10km north of Glen Innes and 64km from Inverell.

Offered for the first time in 123 years, Ray White Rural agent Geoff Hayes said Clarevaulx Station boasts quality and scale.

“It is an established, easy to manage property with low labour input required and with capacity to expand,” he said.

The country comprises 1550ha of open grazing running 24,000DSE, 1000ha of premium deep basalt and alluvial cultivation and 1000ha of gently undulating cultivation suited to fodder cropping and further development.

Situated in a 900mm annual average rainfall region, Clarevaulx is well watered by the Reddestone, Reedy and Five Mile Creeks, as well as a number of dams.

Infrastructure includes a circa 1860s four-bedroom homestead with some original features, three machinery sheds, a workshop, 600 tonnes of grain storage, a six-stand shearing shed, two sheep yards and two cattle yards.

 

Snowy Mountains station offered for $6.5m

The historic Boloco Station in New South Wales’ Snowy Mountains has been listed for $6.5 million after failing to sell at auction.

Described as one of the largest mixed grazing and farming operations close to all major New South Wales snow resorts, the 1613ha property is located near Dalgety, 17km south-east of Jindabyne.

It is being sold by Trynie and Glyn Owen after eight years ownership. Previously, Boloco Station was held by members of the Rose family over 140 years.

Kirshner Mackay Property & Livestock agent Nick Kirshner said during their ownership the Owens had taken Boloco to the next level.

“They have improved soils, upgraded infrastructure, installed 6km of internal fencing and erected exclusion fencing around 75 percent of the boundary to increase carrying capacity,” he said.

Featuring creek flats, gently undulating rolling hills and some steeper terrain, the eastern fall country offers some shelter for livestock during the colder times of year.

Traditionally, Boloco has run around 2800 ewes and followers, 500 replacement sheep, as well as 80 cows and calves.

Today, it is carrying 2100 ewes and lambs, 650 hoggets, 500 replacement sheep, as well as rams.

Soils range from granite to shale with some heavy alluvial soils along the creek flats growing 80ha of lucerne, 75ha of canola and oats, 80ha triticale, 45ha of oats and 16ha of wheat.

The property is watered by 42 dams and two creeks, including more than 7km of Beloka Creek frontage (a main tributary to the Snowy River), ensuring year-round water supply, as well as a 100,000 litre inground rainwater tank.

Infrastructure includes three homes (including a circa 1900s homestead, a circa 1870 settlers’ cottage and a shearers’ quarters), a four-stand shearing shed, steel sheep yards, steel cattle yards, five sheds and four silos.

Boloco Station also comes with an established farm stay and accommodation business.