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

• Tasmanian property owned by Foster family could raise $30m+
• Rapisarda Enterprises offloads NQ breeding country
• Dawson Valley grazing powerhouse
• High rainfall New England grazing
• Gwydir Park’s offers value in NSW’s New England
• Breeding & finishing country in northern NSW
• NT’s Rocktear Park lists for $15m
• Baldry’s The Wattles offers breeding, finishing & fodder cropping
• NSW Western Land Lease offered for $3.3m

Grazing on Mineral Banks, Tasmania

Tasmanian property owned by Foster family could raise $30m+

A grazing, cropping and native forest opportunity in Tasmania’s north-east, expected to raise more than $30 million, is being offered for sale by the Foster family after more than 90 years of ownership.

The 1236ha Mineral Banks is located in the tightly held Ringarooma district, 25km from Scottsdale and 58km from Launceston.

Around 781ha have been developed for grazing, with 55ha for intensive cropping and 400ha of native forest.

Colliers Agribusiness agent Duncan McCulloch said the rich red loam and alluvial soils growing improved pastures support both beef cattle and fat lamb production.

“Mineral Banks also offers an incoming purchaser the ability to capitalise on higher value farming operations including dairying, further intensive cropping and development of irrigation infrastructure for fattening operations,” he said.

Agent Connor Dixon said significant volumes of hardwood timber in the native forest offer diversified forestry opportunities and potential for biodiversity stewardship and carbon farming.

Mineral Banks boasts extensive river frontage with the Dorset River and New River traversing the property supported by 1200mm of annual rainfall. It also benefits from 420ML of irrigation water from the Upper Ringarooma scheme.

Infrastructure includes multiple homes, numerous sheds, three cattle yards and a three-stand shearing shed, as well as recently upgraded fencing and internal laneways.

Mineral Banks is being offered to the market by expressions of interest closing on March 20.

The sale is being handled by Colliers agents Duncan McCulloch, Connor Dixon and Rawdon Briggs.

Rapisarda Enterprises offloads NQ breeding country

After 30 years of ownership, North Queensland’s Rapisarda family is selling its Burdekin River breeding country on a walk-in walk-out basis, including 6530 head of cattle.

The 30,284ha Woodhouse Station is located near Clare, 50km south-west of Ayr and 100km south of Townsville in the Burdekin Shire.

Owned and operated by Rapisarda Investments since 1996, the well-known family has been growing sugarcane and cucurbits in the region for more than 50 years.

Woodhouse Station comprises 29,617ha of grazing land running 6800 adult equivalents and 659ha established to irrigated horticulture and sugarcane.

The station was once part of the historic Queensland Stations portfolio.

Queensland Rural agent Troy Trevor said it was an exceptional opportunity for corporate investors, cattle producers, sugarcane and horticulture growers.

“Located in one of the state’s highly productive regions, the property offers the incoming purchaser opportunities for further pasture and farming development.”

Situated near the Clare Weir, 3404ML are accessed via the Burdekin Haughton channel which traverses the property, supplemented by 430ML of underground water.

Historically, 100 percent of the available allocation has been accessible during the growing season.

Woodhouse is watered by 26 dams, 16 bores and numerous permanent and semi-permanent creeks and waterholes.

There is significant fencing and water infrastructure, as well as three cattle yards and extensive laneways.

Woodhouse is being offered for sale by expressions of interest as a part of the family’s succession planning and includes around 6530 head of quality Red Brahman cattle comprising 3123 breeders and followers, 126 bulls, 600 branded calves, 1112 yearling steers and 1599 yearling heifers.

The property is available on a WIWO basis including livestock, plant, and machinery. The EOI campaign for Woodhouse Station closes on March 18.

Woodhouse is watered by 26 dams, 16 bores and numerous permanent and semi-permanent creeks and waterholes.

Dawson Valley grazing powerhouse

A grazing powerhouse in the heart of Queensland’s Dawson Valley is being offered for sale by the Attard brothers after 27 years of ownership.

Peter, Charles, John and Michael Attard are dissolving the partnership to allow them to retire.

The 1368ha Shingle Hut, located 19km north of Moura and 68km west of Biloela, is suited to breeding, backgrounding and finishing.

Described as prolific, heavy carrying soft wood scrub and melon hole country, the property has been conservatively stocked with 450 cows and calves and grazed on a rotational basis for the past 25 years.

Hourn & Bishop Qld agent Brad Hanson said properties of this calibre and substance are rarely offered in the heart of the Dawson Valley.

“Shingle Hut offers unrivalled grazing capacity with the vendors breeding a high quality Angus herd, which in Central Queensland is unique. The quality of stock is second to none and are highly sought after.”

Mr Hanson said the property has been well managed and boasts a mountain of feed.

“It is one of those places that never runs out of feed. It boasts outstanding soil health and highly improved pastures and legumes including 627ha of leucaena with dense inter-row pastures.”

Watered by five dams and supported by 627mm of annual rainfall, the infrastructure includes a fully-furnished, three-bedroom home, sheds and cattle yards.

Shingle Hut will be auctioned with plant, but bare of livestock, on March 20.

High rainfall New England grazing

Around 1595ha of high rainfall New England grazing is being offered for sale by the Coventry family after 30 years of ownership.

Abberley is a productive grazing property running a 750 to 800 cow self-replacing beef herd, 24km south of Walcha.

The undulating country has a significant portion of arable land, which Ray White Rural agent Andrew Starr described as ideal for pasture development and fodder cropping.

“Select paddocks are planted with well-established perennial pastures and fodder crops designed to maximise weight gain of yearling cattle,” he said.

Water is secured by double frontage to the MacDonald River and Bald Creek, the Cobrabald River and numerous dams.

Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom cottage, a shed, a four-stand shearing shed, two sheep yards and two cattle yards.

Abberley will be auctioned on March 28.

Gwydir Park’s offers value in NSW’s New England

Meantime, Ray White Rural is offering what it describes as a genuine New England value proposition, centrally located between Armidale, Uralla and Inverell.

The 864ha Gwydir Park, currently being operated as a commercial beef operation, is suited to both breeding and backgrounding.

Mr Starr believes there is an opportunity to further drive the level of grazing production on Gwydir Park.

“The gently undulating arable grazing land lends itself to pasture development, fodder cropping and ground spreading of fertiliser,” he said.

The property boasts Gwydir River frontage and is watered an equipped bore and numerous dams in a 750mm average annual rainfall region.

Infrastructure includes a five-bedroom home, steel cattle yards, a two-stand shearing shed, sheep yards and numerous sheds.

Gwydir Park will be auctioned on March 20.

Breeding & finishing country in northern NSW

After 117 years of ownership, the Smith family has listed its breeding and finishing country in northern New South Wales’ Mole River Valley.

The 2499ha Trenayr is located 60km west of Tenterfield, within a 100km radius of several major feedlots.

Over the family’s tenure, Trenayr has been used for wool production and lamb growing, and most recently for cattle breeding.

Rated to run 5000DSE, the property is currently home to a quality Brangus cow herd that APL Tenterfield agent Ben Sharpe said regularly produces progeny keenly sought by backgrounders and lotfeeders.

The property features river flats and undulating open hills, framed by steeper mountains.

Over the years, the alluvial, loamy, well-drained river flats have grown lucerne for hay and winter fodder crops, such as oats, to graze steers out to feedlot weights.

Trenayr benefits from 7km of Mole River frontage (4.4km double frontage) and a 146ML water allocation. Water is also secured by a bore, numerous catchment dams, spring fed gullies and creeks in a 650mm average annual rainfall region.

Trenayr will be auctioned on March 14 by Mr Sharpe together with APL Birch Rural agent Bruce Birch.

NT’s Rocktear Park lists for $15m

One of the Northern Territory’s leading hay suppliers has been listed for sale with a $15 million price guide including this year’s fodder crop.

The 5340ha Rocktear Park is owned by the New Zealand-based Rohan Group and managed by Melbourne-based African Mahogany Australia.

The cropping enterprise is situated in the fertile Venn region, 6km from the Stuart Highway (with year-round access for road trains) and 35km south of Katherine.

Elders agent Alison Ross said with more than 2800ha cleared, Rocktear Park provided a base for expanding crop or livestock ventures.

“Designed for high-volume hay production, it is suited to diverse agricultural endeavours including livestock backgrounding and lotfeeding.”

Currently, 2100ha are dedicated to hay production, yielding 18,000 to 25,000 bales annually.

Characteristic of the region, the soil profile ranges from well-maintained deep red earths (optimised for premium hay) to yellow and grey earths.

Future income from high value timber production is offered with 600ha of professionally managed, 10 to 15-year-old African Mahogany which offers the option of carbon revenue.

Mr Ross said these trees have been fertilised and a good grass body is growing which can be grazed by cattle.

The remaining native bushland is agisted by neighbours for cattle, but Ms Ross said this area may also appeal to those interested in developing a natural capital investment portfolio.

Water is sourced from a number of bores and the infrastructure includes accommodation and two sheds.

Expressions of interest for Rocktear Park close on February 26.

Baldry’s The Wattles offers breeding, finishing & fodder cropping

A mixed farm in the central west region of New South Wales offering breeding, finishing and fodder cropping with opportunities for further improvements, has been listed with a $6.7 million to $7.2 million price guide.

After five years of ownership, the Mason Family Rural Holdings Trust is selling the 1178ha The Wattles due to a change of direction.

Located 8km from Baldry and 45km from Parkes and around 77km from the Forbes saleyards, the property has experienced a good spring and summer and is carrying a substantial body of feed.

Belle Property agent Rob Nevins reports steady interest from a number of genuine, out of area, buyers seeking geographic diversity and expansion.

The country is mostly flat to slightly undulating with some steep timbered hills with some semi-permanent creeks. Along the creek flats there are heavier alluvial soils rising to granite loams.

Around 80 percent is arable with up to 700ha developed for summer and winter grazing around 8000DSE on mostly native pastures.

Mr Nevins said over recent years, The Wattles has undergone significant structural improvements and soil enrichment programs.

“Zero and minimum till practices have been used with lime application, and the results have been amazing. There are further opportunities for new owners to establish more improved pastures.”

Situated in a 700mm rainfall area, The Wattles is watered by a bore and 21 dams, two of which have been recently constructed.

Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom home, 170-tonnes of grain storage in nine silos, a three-stand shearing shed, new steel cattle and sheep yards, around 10km of new steel fencing including new laneways and numerous sheds.

NSW Western Land Lease offered for $3.3m

There has been good inquiry for a grazing property neighbouring the Gundabooka National Park in north-western New South Wales.

Owned and improved by Clark Concreting and Excavation over 15 years, the 10,462ha Western Land Lease Bookaloo Station is located near Gunderbooka, 90km from Bourke and 130km from Cobar.

Interest is believed to be coming from a wide range of producers, and would no doubt include the NSW Department of Environment and Heritage who is on the hunt to expand existing national parks and protect critical habitats.

Listed for $3.3 million, Bookaloo has views of Mount Gunderbooka and offers potential for carbon sequestration.

Boasting a good body of feed on mainly red loam soils, the property is timbered with mulga, box, belah and leopard wood and can carry 2500 Dorper sheep. Additional income is sourced from goat harvesting and seasonal cattle.

Bookaloo is situated in a 300mm annual rainfall region and watered by 10 dams.

Infrastructure includes a recently renovated three-bedroom home, sheep and cattle yards and numerous sheds.

Gain Realty agent Clem Gribble said 80km of fencing has been replaced over the last 10 years.