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.

• $25m asked for large scale weaner factory in northwest QLD
• Exceptional water on CQ’s Dartmoor
• Wagyu offered with Beaudesert’s Shamrock Vale
• Well known poll merino stud for auction
• CQ breeding, backgrounding and fattening
• Mixed farming on southern QLD’s Warra Warra
• Carbon income on Thargomindah’s Wombula
• Low maintenance western QLD block
• North QLD’s weed free Maranie
• Scenic Mary Valley cattle country
• EOI for NSW Southern Tableland’s Pejar Park
• High $5m for NSW’s Rosary
• Good mulga reserves in south west QLD
• Yarrimbah listed for $4m

$25m asked for large scale weaner factory in western QLD

There has been strong interest in Western Queensland’s large-scale weaner factory Strathpark Station that has returned to the market with an asking price of $25 million.

The 159,700ha breeding property, pictured above, is located 14km north of the Norman River Crossing and 140km north of Richmond and has an annual 650mm rainfall.

Strathpark has been held in the same family for more than 25 years, with the vendors, Greg and Jan Gibson consolidating their assets.

Last year, the couple offloaded their 16,592ha backgrounding and fattening downs property Ardbrin, 100km south-west of Richmond and 590km west of Townsville.

Strathpark is watered by 44 dams, a turkey’s nest and 26 bores. It has numerous creeks and is dissected by the Norman River.

The country is slightly undulating forest grazing than can run between 8000 to 10,000 mixed breeding cattle.

A guaranteed 8000 head of branded cattle are included in the sale, as well as a large inventory of plant and equipment.

Matthew Kennedy from Kennedy Rural said there had been strong inquiry particularly from southern buyers looking for breeders and grass.

Strathpark has had an excellent wet season and the cattle are in great condition.

“There is plenty of feed, water and cattle on the large breeding operation providing potential buyers with excellent economies of scale. The high-quality cattle and bulls have been selected from three main Grey Brahman studs with a focus on conformation, large frame and doing ability,” he said.

Kennedy Rural has two sizeable breeder properties that are available for sale in an off-market capacity. One spans around 40,500ha and the other more than 80,000ha and are believed to be valued at between $5m and $10m.

Exceptional water on CQ’s Dartmoor

The Kenny family is offloading its large-scale breeding operation with exceptional water in Queensland’s Whitsunday region.

The 22,450ha Dartmoor Station is 87km from Collinsville and 110km from Bowen.

A feature is the 8km double frontage to Bowen River which provides permanent water supported by nine bores and 18 dams.

The country on Dartmoor is predominately open undulating hills lightly timbered with ironbark and bloodwood that can run more than 2000 breeders plus progeny.

In July last year, the Kenny family paid more than $10 million (including 600 females) for the large-scale breeding and fattening property Develin, in Queensland’s tightly held Marlborough district.

The 13,776ha of semi coastal country on Dartmoor is capable of running around 3250 head of cattle. The Kennys use Develin to grow out weaners, as well as fatten cull heifers and cows.

Virgil Kenny from Elders said after 16 years, the family was consolidating its assets.

“There has been solid inquiry from producers who have good fattening country but are seeking quality breeder country,” Mr Kenny said.

Dartmoor is being auctioned on June 30 with 1000 breeders plus followers and station plant.

Wagyu offered with Beaudesert’s Shamrock Vale

Shamrock Vale Station in the picturesque Kerry Valley of south east Queensland’s Scenic Rim will be sold with its world-class Wagyu cattle operation.

The commercial farming operation spanning 1857ha is situated on the Albert River, eight minutes from Beaudesert.

The country ranges from alluvial cultivated river flats to undulating ridges and gullies, interspersed with plateaus of sheltered grazing.

The pride of Shamrock Vale is its Wagyu breeding herd. Under the Goshu brand, the owner, Robert McVicker has established a Wagyu operation originating from the Japanese Tajima high-marbling genetics and recognised as one of the purest outside of Japan.

The sale will include the Goshu Wagyu herd, the Shamrock Vale Wagyu herd, a commercial herd, embryos and semen straws, plus an extensive inventory of plant and equipment.

During his eight-year tenure, Mr McVicker has also made significant upgrades to the farm, with particular attention paid to sustainability and farm management practices.

The infrastructure improvements include multiple hay sheds, fencing, covered embryo transfer area, inline crushes, silos, rainwater harvesting tanks and multiple PV solar systems.

Shamrock Vale is watered by four irrigation licences, two water harvesting licences, 13 bores, four large lagoons for water storage, two dams and multiple smaller stock dams.

Around 215ha is under irrigation (primarily corn silage, sorghum, barley and lucerne) and used in the production of cattle fodder.

Danny Bukowski from C1 Realty said the inquiry has been widespread, mostly from Queenslanders, and established Wagyu interests.

“It is exceptionally well watered and is situated an hour and half from the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Shamrock Vale is the biggest parcel of land closest to the coast to hit the market,” he said.

Shamrock Vale Station will be auctioned on June 18.

Well known Poll Merino stud for auction

A sale of interest is Errol and Candy Brumpton’s 1036ha Well Gully in Queensland’s Maranoa region.

The modern, high production, highly-developed property is situated 24km from Mitchell and 108km west of Roma.

Founded in 1974, Well Gully was once home to the renowned Well Gully Poll Merino Stud which developed highly profitable wool and meat sheep.

Along the way Well Gully amassed a number of remarkable achievements including producing the world’s lightest woollen cloth at 150 grams per lineal metre.

In August last year, after more than 40 years, the stud breeders sold their 1806 elite Merino ewes to buyers in Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and Kangaroo Island.

In November, the Brumptons sold the adjoining 1554ha East Lynne for $4.1 million ($2638/ha).

Well Gully is fully boundary fenced and suitable for feeding, fattening, a stud or an operations base for 500 steers or 2500 breeding ewes.

The country is developed brigalow, belah, Bottletree and wilga soils improved with buffel, bisset creeping blue, purple pigeon and native grasses. Around 210ha can be cultivated.

Water is secured by high-capacity shallow sub-artesian water, four bores and two earth dams.

Darryl Langton from Nutrien Harcourts said it will be an interesting sale from a value standpoint.

“East Lynne set a record price for the Mitchell district, and while it was a larger block, Well Gully features significant structural improvements.”

Mr Langton reports solid local interest and from producers in southern Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

Well Gully will be auctioned on June 03.

CQ breeding, backgrounding and fattening

Producers from across Queensland are showing good interest in two Central Queensland breeding, backgrounding and fattening properties.

After more than 40 years, Frank and Judy Manwaring from Aramac are selling Ballygar and Formoye and will retire to Toowoomba.

Located 20km from Aramac and 87km north of Barcaldine, the 21000ha of country is carrying a big body of fresh feed.

While mostly destocked, the properties are capable of running up to 2500 breeders.

Featuring diverse country types, Ballygar and Formoye have prolific buffel grass pastures, as well as Mitchell grass and spinifex.

There is unlimited shallow good quality bore water supply.

The sale of Ballygar and Formoye are being handled by Keith Richardson, Dick Allpass and Tim Salter from Elders. The properties will be auctioned on June 16.

Mixed farming on southern QLD’s Warra Warra

After four years ownership, Mike and Margot Black are selling their blue-chip grazing, irrigation and dryland farming opportunity on Queensland’s western Darling Downs.

Straddling the Condamine River, 7km south west of Warra, Warra Warra spans 3073ha and holds significant water assets.

It has a 10,878ML water entitlement from the Condamine River and the Cooranga Creek, a 520ha overland flow licence and an interconnected 5400ML farm storage that irrigates 978ha.

Warra Warra has consistently grown high yields of cotton, sorghum, corn, wheat, barley, chickpeas and mungbeans.

The holding can comfortably run 200 cows and calves on 1540ha of grazing and improved river country. In addition, it operates a 300 head EU accredited feedlot.

Currently boasting a full moisture profile, the property has 3500ML in storage, as well as plenty of cattle feed.

Warra Warra is for sale through Broc Winten from Winten and Co.

Carbon income on Thargomindah’s Wombula

Thargomindah’s well improved 74,905ha Wombula Aggregation has been listed for $7.1 million on a walk-in, walk-out basis including plant and equipment, but bare of livestock.

The 38,500ha Wombula and 35,800ha Yenloora, 85km east of Thargomindah and 170km west of Cunnamulla, are suited to sheep and/or goats, with a cattle and carbon enterprise on the balance of the property.

The aggregation features sweet, high-weightgain country with access to drought fodder (such as mulga and other edible shrubs) that can carry 2500 adult equivalents.

The 4000ha of flood-out channel country is lightly stocked and is currently presenting with good fattening feed.

Tom Brodie from Brodie Agencies said the country was best described as opportunity stocking.

“The incoming purchaser will need to work with the seasons – run large numbers in the years of above average seasons and reduced numbers in the low rainfall years.”

“The Yenloora Carbon Project (on the Yenloora lease) generates around $180,000 net per year extra income for vendors, which is beneficial during light rainfall years,” Mr Brodie said.

Vendor Dick O’Connell, who is retiring after 37 years on Wombula, has spent around $2 million on the property.

Improvements include a new second house, 48km of exclusion fencing, blade ploughing and buffel seeding, extensive use of 63mm poly pipe, tanks and troughs, as well as half share in Patterson’s bore. The Wombula Aggregation has access to nine capped artesian bores and 13 dams.

There’s been a mix of interest to date from South Australia, western and southern Queensland.

Low maintenance western QLD block

Meantime, the 11,473ha Westward Ho, located halfway between Winton and Longreach in western Queensland, is attracting local interest for expansion and feed.

Held by the Johnson family since 2004, owner Barry Johnson from Hughenden has listed the property for $407/ha or $4.67 million, bare.

Westward Ho features gently undulating Mitchell, Flinders and buffel grass open downs that has had a mixed season.

Following patchy storm rain, one third of the country is experiencing a light season, one third is average and the balance is very good.

The property is presently lightly stocked with 126 cattle, however during an average season, Westward Ho could run 1200 head. For the remainder of the year, the operation could run between 750 to 800 backgrounders or 500 breeders.

Westward Ho is watered by three sub-artesian bores, five turkey nests, three dams and seasonal waterholes along the Darr River.

Tom Brodie from Brodie Agencies said the property was a low maintenance, easy care, backgrounding or fattening property that can be run remotely.

North QLD’s acacia-free Maranie

Western Queensland’s Maranie is enjoying a late finish to an ordinary summer season that had limited rainfall and was hit hard with grasshoppers.

The 12,120ha block, 20km east of Stamford and 82km south of Hughenden, has been listed for sale by Barb Davison from Moondah for $5.5 million.

Presently destocked, there has been good pasture growth after beneficial rainfall (between 25 to 80mm) over the Easter weekend and a further 10 to 20mm more recently.

The low maintenance, fattening and backgrounding operation features gentle undulating Mitchell and Flinders grass downs country with the Dingo, Coolibah and Shanty creek systems running through the property.

There is very little to no prickly acacia with the vendor, Barb Davison diligently spot spraying any fresh outbreaks.

Maranie can run 1200 mixed cattle in an average season, with the vendor estimating the block could comfortably carry 750 to 800 weaners until the end of the year.

The country is watered by nine dams, as well as several short-term waterholes along the creeks.

Maranie is being offered bare of livestock, plant and equipment. The sale is being handled by Bill Schaefer from Brodie Agencies.

Scenic Mary Valley cattle country

Around $3.5million is anticipated for the 3C Cattle Co property in Queensland’s scenic Mary Valley.

The 509ha of country has been held by Damien and Catherine Holloway since 2017, when Shane and Sandra Bishop relocated the Garglen Brahman Stud to Bauhinia’s Old Delargum in Central Queensland.

Located 48km from Gympie and 77km from Noosa, the picturesque country ranges from alluvial creek flats along Kandanga Creek to open valleys and flats rising to steeper scrub country.

There is an abundance of natural and improved waters, including double and single creek frontages, springs plus ten dams and troughs.

The 3C Cattle Co is capable of running 300 breeders plus dry cattle.

Garry Martin from Elders said inquiry was coming from locals, western Queensland and Brisbane.

“It is difficult to find a block of that size in the Mary Valley because most have subdivided into lifestyle properties,” he said.

The 3C Cattle Co property will be auctioned bare on June 15.

EOI for NSW Southern Tableland’s Pejar Park

A signature offering of highly improved pasture country in New South Wales’ Southern Tablelands is being offered for sale after just three years ownership.

In 2018, Rob Topfer purchased Pejar Park (the property, not the homestead), near Woodhouselee village, 25km from Crookwell and Goulburn.

Mr Topfer has now decided to consolidate his holdings after recently purchasing a property near Wagga Wagga.

The 473ha on Pejar Park comprises gently undulating rolling hills and a 6km frontage to the major water storage, Pejar Dam.

A mix of red basalt and granite derivative soil types supporting productive phalaris and clover pastures are capable of carrying 5500 dry sheep equivalents or 11.6 DSE per hectare.

Water is secured from multiple sources including a three megalitre stock and domestic water licence from Pejar Dam, 23 dams, multiple springs and two creeks.

Col Medway from LAWD said Pejar Park would be a perfect bolt-on to an existing enterprise.

It is expected to command considerable interest given its proximity to Sydney, Canberra, Goulburn, Crookwell and the Southern Highlands.

Pejar Park is being offered for sale by expression of interest closing on May 27.

High $5m for NSW’s Rosary

Meantime, the mixed farming and grazing operation Rosary, in the renowned South West Slopes of New South Wales, is being offered for sale via expressions of interest.

Located at Galong, south west of Boorowa, Rosary is well located 90 minutes from Canberra and three hours from Sydney.

Owned by Newcastle-based David McCormack, the property has been held by the family for three generations and is currently leased to a local family operator until April next year.

Expected to raise more than $5.5 million, the 476ha operation is suited to livestock breeding and fattening, together with dryland cropping.

The country is gently undulating to rolling grazing hills, with the well-established improved pastures supporting around 4800 DSE.

Rosary benefits from reliable water from multiple sources including the spring-fed Rocky Ponds Creek supporting two large dams, two bores and an additional nine surface dams.

Tim Corcoran from LAWD said there had been good local interest from mixed operators, and inquiries from regional and metropolitan investors.

EOIs for Rosary close on June 17.

Good mulga reserves in south west QLD

Andrew and Kathy Wall are asking $3.2 million (bare of stock and plant) for south west Queensland’s Moama and Bundawaugh which are currently boasting good reserves of mulga.

Located 94km north west of Eulo or 212km south east of Quilpie, the 42,905ha aggregation has a good grazing balance of gidgee and mulga country suited to cattle, sheep or goats.

Watered by two capped artesian bores, a system of creeks and watercourses, Moama and Bundawaugh are estimated to carry 700 cows and followers or 7000 dry sheep equivalents.

After four years ownership, the Wall family is planning to relocate to Bollon.

Brendan Devine from Elders said interest is coming from Roma producers and from carbon traders.

Yarrimbah listed for $4m

A 569ha block overlooking Lake Wivenhoe in Queensland’s south east has been listed for offers over $4 million after it was passed in auction.

Yarrimbah is located at Dundas, 20 minutes from Fernvale and one hour from Brisbane and can run 150 breeders plus young cattle.

Situated in an 850mm rainfall district, Yarrimbah is watered by six dams with the Northbrook Creek running through the property into Lake Wivenhoe.

The property adjoins two leasehold blocks – 32.5ha of Lake Wivenhoe frontage and 34.2ha of Northbrook Creek frontage – rented until 2052.

John Galloway from Ray White Rural said Yarrimbah attracted good inquiry from locals, interstate and overseas producers.

 

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