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

• Top Wagyu holdings on NSW Mid-North Coast come to market
• NT’s Benmara returns with $40m price tag
• Kimberley cattle station lists for $16m
• Dyer family lists CQ country after $22m purchase
• Local inquiry for CW Qld background & finishing blocks
• Vendor prices two New England grazing properties

The Erasmus family’s Gateway Wagyu will offer their two NSW Mid North Coast holdings, totalling about 2150ha at auction in April

Top Wagyu holdings on NSW Mid North Coast come to market

Two choice NSW Mid North Coast grazing assets operated as part of a large, highly-regarded Wagyu seedstock enterprise are coming to market in April.

Following a decision to disperse their respected Gateway Wagyu herd in an upcoming sale of about 1350 Fullblood and Purebred cattle, Carl Erasmus and his extended family are selling their two grazing holdings totalling about 2150ha (5300ac) of highly productive grazing land in the Gloucester district and Upper Manning region.

There are two holdings involved are Three Pines (1171ha or 2893ac) in the Gloucester District; and Kerriki & Number One (1015ha or 2500ac) in the Upper Manning Valley.

The properties are home to one of Australia’s best known Wagyu seedstock breeding operations. For more than a decade, the Erasmus family has been committed to breeding elite Wagyu cattle, crafting a genetic legacy that has left a lasting imprint on the industry. The sale allows family members to move in new directions.

Three Pines

Three Pines, between Gloucester and Krambach, provides ideal conditions for breeding, with improved pastures of Rhodes, kikuyu, and clover. Wagyu calves are weaned at approximately seven months of age. The property is held in four titles and features Creek flats, open grazing to clean steep grazing.

Three Pines includes a double frontage to Bakers Creek, 12 dams and 19 troughs around yards. All fencing has been renewed over the last eight years, with a laneway system in place to simplify cattle movements.

Infrastructure includes an excellent set of cattle yards (Arrow and Red river with  scales) and six large sheds. Sub tropical pastures comprise kikuyu, Rhodes and clovers. Carry capacity is estimated by the vendor at 650–700 breeders.

The main homestead was built in 2017, comprising three bedrooms plus study. The manager’s residence is an original, renovated weatherboard dwelling with five bedrooms. There’s also a comfortable three bedroom workman’s cottage.

Kerriki & Number One

Kerriki & Number One, covering some 1015ha, has undergone significant development, including 18km of new fencing and extensive roadworks.

Boasting 6.5km of river frontage and high annual rainfall, the property has good potential for future breeders, comfortably supporting 500 breeders with room for expansion.

Held in 36 titles, including road enclosures. Country is a mix of river flats, open grazing to steep timber ridges.

There’s extensive frontage to Rowleys River, numerous dams and seasonal creeks + WAL from Rowleys River.

Extensive new fencing has been installed over the last 15 months, all stock proof.

New road infrastructure has been installed throughout the property, upgraded alongside fencing. Two sets of stockyards are used across both holdings, one timber, one steel.

There’s a weatherboard homestead, and brick/stone cottage with shedding. Native pastures include kikuyu, clovers and paspalum.

Boasting 6.5km of river frontage and high annual rainfall, Kerriki and Number One have good potential for future breeders, comfortably supporting 500 breeders with room for expansion.

Combined, the Gateway properties offer premium breeding conditions, ideal for large-scale cattle operations.

Both properties will be offered bare, with the respected Gateway Wagyu Fullblood Purebred herd being sold separately

More details about the Gateway Wagyu herd and property dispersal on Beef Central next week.

Marketing agents are Ray White Manning Valley and Gloucester, with Rob Chapman the primary contact.

Property auctions: Ray White Sydney office, Wednesday 16 April at 10am.

NT’s Benmara returns with $40m price tag

Northern Territory cattle station Benmara has returned to the market, with Hartree Partners hoping to raise $40 million from the sale.

Situated in the Barkly Tablelands region, the 451,176 hectares are east of Cresswell and Newcastle Waters and 100km west of the Queensland/Northern Territory border – making it well located to service both the northern live export market, as well as processing works on the eastern seaboard.

In May 2023, Sam Mitchell from Sydney-based Wealthcheck paid $40m bare for Benmara from prominent Mungindi-based producer Malcolm Harris, who had paid $12m bare for Benmara back in 2016.

When Wealthcheck was placed into liquidation a year later, Hartree Partners (a global energy and commodities firm) who had partnered with Mr Mitchell to run an HIR carbon project on Benmara, took over.

See today’s separate story on Benmara’s carbon uncertainty issues created by delays in the rollout of a new carbon farming methodology.

Benmara has diverse landscapes and pasture types, including lateritic and sandstone plains, alluvial floodplains, granite plains, clay plains and sandstone hills.

The open Barkly Downs and forest country has benefited from good rainfall and pasture growth.

Offered with an estimated carrying capacity of 17,500 Adult Equivalents, Benmara has been largely destocked over the past 18 months, however clean skin cattle will be offered as part of the “as is, where is” sales process.

CBRE Agribusiness agents John Harrison and Andrew Loughnan are anticipating interest from institutions, overseas investors, and high-net-worth domestic investors and large family farm operators, particularly those seeking a large-scale breeding operation to support a broader domestic supply chain.

They said Benmara also offers significant potential for further development and expansion, as well as income diversification.

Water infrastructure includes 20 bores supplying 90 tanks and troughs (most of which have been developed within a 2km grazing radius). Additional water is supplied by 19 dams, numerous watercourses and eight springs which provide seasonal waterholes.

Infrastructure includes three homes, staff quarters, cattle yards and numerous sheds, as well as new and upgraded fencing.

Expressions of interest for Benmara Station close on May 1.

Brahman cattle in a set of yards on Benmara

Kimberley cattle station lists for $16m

Kimberley cattle station Country Downs has returned to the market for offers above $16 million.

Situated 90km from Broome, on the West Kimberley’s Dampier Peninsula, the 169,106ha have a potential carrying capacity of 9355 cattle units, with more than 6500 cattle included in the sale.

Elders agent Greg Smith described Country Downs as the best value cattle country in the world and is anticipating interest from carbon groups and producers chasing expansion, flexibility and diversity.

Developed by Kurt Elezovich over 20 years, Country Downs enjoys an average annual rainfall of more than 950mm.

Despite experiencing the driest wet season in living memory last year, the vendors report Country Downs has proven to be drought resilient.

Portions of the land are dedicated to pasture improvement and production, with permission to cultivate 233ha for hay production and 17,000ha of improved pastures.

Country Downs is watered by 16 equipped bores and two dams. There is also an irrigation bore (not currently in use) and two irrigation bores.

Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, a three-bedroom quarters, cattle yards, sheds and extensive plant and equipment.

Cattle on Country Downs

Dyer family lists CQ country after $22m purchase

The Dyer family is auctioning its versatile grazing country in Central Queensland after 40 years of ownership.

The 5110ha Malanbar is located 83km north-east of Alpha and 116km west of Clermont.

Last month, the Dyer family paid more than $22 million, including 1250 head of cattle plus followers, for the nearby 8765ha Rocklea and Prior Park – breeding and finishing country, 42km east of Alpha.

RBV Rural agent Matt Beard said Malanbar would work well as an additional area or stand-alone enterprise that can run 800 breeders or 1200 backgrounders.

“With its secure water sources and abundant pastures, surrounded by some excellent neighbours, the easily managed country will continue to look after the new owners well beyond the next 40 years.”

Malanbar sits on the eastern rim of the renowned Belyando River grazing area, with a mix of bauhinia, brigalow, gidgee and coolabah country running up to pasture covered ironbark ridges.

The property has been lightly stocked since late last year and, with recent rain, is displaying an impressive stand of buffel, seca, wynn cassia, forest Mitchell and native pastures.

Water is supplied by six dams, five bores and seasonal water, supported by a reliable rainfall area.

Infrastructure includes good fencing and timber and steel cattle yards.

Malanbar will be auctioned on March 28.

Local inquiry for two CW Qld background & finishing blocks

Two freehold backgrounding and finishing blocks in Queensland’s central-west are attracting good interest from locals, near neighbours, downsizers and local business owners.

The 3225ha Randwick is located 13km north-east of Winton and adjoins the airport and the Motorsports Park.

Offered after 35 years ownership by retiring and absentee vendors, Lester and Mary Hardwick, it could achieve above $2.5 million (given other recent sales in the area) when it is auctioned on a walk-in walk-out basis on April 30.

Tom Brodie from Brodie Agencies said Randwick is well positioned as a depot to hold northern or western cattle on their way to the southern markets, feedlots or meatworks.

The pebbly open downs country is growing a good mix of Mitchell and Flinders grasses, as well a large variety of edible summer fattening herbages.

De-stocked in mid-December, Randwick is capable of running up to 450 adult equivalents, season dependent.

Mr Brodie said extensive alluvial flood-out Mills Creek channels (around 2000ha) make it an ideal property to background or finish cattle.

“Recently, there was a moderate flood across parts of the alluvial floodplains and as a result, buffel, summer herbages and vines are growing very well.”

While there are some Parkinsonia trees, as well as a solid infestation of prickly acacia, across all paddocks, control spraying is having some impact.

Randwick is watered by an equipped bore, a dam and numerous seasonal waterholes in the channels that usually last for three to nine months – depending on the timing and amount of rain that has fallen along the catchment for the channels.

It is support by 414mm of average annual rainfall. To date, Randwick has received just over 200mm.

Infrastructure includes a one-bedroom hut, portable steel cattle yards and a shed.

River frontage on Randwick

Meantime, the 1619ha Lonesome Dove, 13km west Richmond, is being offered for private sale for $2.85m by Kevin Bawden after more than 20 years of ownership.

Although the property is located in the tick zone, Mr Brodie said cattle can be cleared on the property without any chemical treatment, or presentation to the dip yard.

The gently undulating Mitchell, Flinders and buffel grass open downs country has a good mix of summer herbages.

There is a 190ha permit to occupy (PTO) of well grassed (buffel grass and sweet summer herbages) land, mostly on the O’Connell Creek channels.

Lonesome Doves grows 10ha of irrigated (rhodes grass) hay producing up to a 1000 bales a year. Other fodder crops are periodically grown to fatten livestock.

Lonesome Dove is basically prickly acacia free, with the vendors poisoning any small seedlings.

Lonesome Dove is situated in a 460mm rainfall district. Since January it has received 287mm. Water is also supplied by a bore and a 22ML irrigation licence.

Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom home, a one-bedroom cottage, steel cattle yards and several sheds.

The walk-in walk-out sale includes 60 cows and calves, one bull and an extensive list of plant and equipment.

Brahman cattle on Lonesome Dove

Vendor prices two New England grazing properties

The Ogilvie family has priced two picturesque grazing properties spanning 4232ha in the highly regarded New England region of northern New South Wales.

Located near Wongwibinda, the 2809ha Te-Angie and the 1423ha Forest Lodge are 12km apart but are operated together by Richard Ogilvie and family.

After failing to sell via an expressions of interest process, Te-Angie has been listed for $22.5 million, while Forest Lodge has been handed an $11.5m price tag.

Situated near the top of the Clarence River catchment, the properties are 1000m to 1250m above sea level, in a 909mm average annual rainfall area.

Te-Angie

Located 33km west of Ebor and 50km east of Guyra, the 2809ha Te-Angie focusses on commercial beef production with the breeding enterprise supported by the nearby Forest Lodge where progeny are backgrounded for the feeder cattle market.

Previously, the Te-Angie Hereford cattle stud operated alongside a prime lamb enterprise running 1000 ewes.

Today, the property runs more than 1000 cows on improved and native pastures. Mr MacDougall said the carrying capacity can be increased with further improvement and fencing.

The landscape is largely shaped by watercourses, creeks and gullies, supported by frontage to the Copes, Fishington and Dead Horse Creeks, as well as several dams.

Infrastructure includes two homes, a cottage, two sheep yards, two cattle yards and numerous sheds.

Forest Lodge

The 1423ha Forest Lodge, 28km west of Ebor and 55km east of Guyra, is operating as a cattle backgrounding operation but would be equally suited to run breeders.

It is running cattle on undulating country featuring mainly loamy trap soils, before being finished on highly improved pastures for slaughter or delivery to feedlots.

Some licensed clearing has been undertaken in recent years, further opening the property up to increased production.

The Ogilvies have invested in water storage development, with water supplied by three creeks and several dams.

Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, a cottage, a shed and two cattle yards.

MacDougall Rural Property agent Graham MacDougall is handling the sale.