THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of interesting recent listings across Victoria and South Australia, and separate articles on new listings in other regions and recently completed sales of note.

• Victorian grazing & farming portfolio tipped to exceed $150 million
• Victorian Wagyu aggregation Moyhu lists with $16m guide
• KMM Angus’ Coonaburra Gums heads to auction
• Di Georgio family offers Western District grass factory

Hereford cattle on Mt Fyans

Victorian grazing & farming portfolio tipped to exceed $150 million

In one of the biggest listings for the year, a south-west Victorian grazing and farming portfolio spanning more than 12,140ha and rated to carry 200,000 DSE is expected to attract more than $150 million.

The six-property offering near Mortlake in the Western District is described as the region’s largest mixed grazing and farming opportunity, with country suited to beef, prime lamb, wool and cropping.

The holdings are close to the Western Victoria Livestock Exchange saleyards, and centrally located to Geelong, Ballarat, Warrnambool and Hamilton.

The portfolio comprises:

• The 5946ha Mt Fyans Aggregation neighbouring the 1426ha Manooka, a 240ha block and the 1244ha Kielli.
• A nearby 1599ha holding forming part of the Mt Fyans Aggregation.
• The 1805ha Mondilibi and an adjoining 359ha block.

Elders agent Rob Rickard said the offering presents an unprecedented opportunity to buy at scale in reliable 609mm (24 inch) rainfall country.

“The portfolio has amazing soil types. From highly regarded red volcanic soils on the southern end to basalts and some volcanic rises on the most northern end of the property,” he said.

“The water quantity and quality for livestock is also outstanding. It has exceptional underground water from bores and springs,” he said.

Mr Rickard expects the portfolio, offered as a whole or in separate holdings, to attract institutional investors and corporate buyers.

With more than half the country arable, the offering could also appeal to large cropping organisations seeking high-yielding winter cropping land.

Renewable energy offers potential for diversified, passive income. The Mt Fyans Wind Farm project has received Victorian government development approval, with 15 turbines allocated to Mondilibi and Manooka within a larger 81-turbine development.

Read more about the sale of Mondilibi and Manooka in this earlier Beef Central story.

Mt Fyans Aggregation

The portfolio’s largest holding, the Mt Fyans Aggregation, is being offered by New South Wales Merino stud breeders Ian and Camilla Shippen.

Spanning 7545ha near Dundonnell, 21km north of Mortlake and 44km north-west of Camperdown, the aggregation has an estimated carrying capacity of 100,000 DSE.

The Shippens, through Banyandah Pastoral, paid $37 million for the then 5946ha Mt Fyans in December 2018. During their eight-year ownership, they have added 1599ha of nearby country.

They have also invested heavily in pasture improvement, soil amelioration and a strategically designed farm layout, including more than 100km of new fencing, laneways and all-weather access roads. Water is supplied by a spring, three bores and dams.

Infrastructure includes an historic nine-bedroom bluestone homestead, built in the mid-1880s to a design by local architect Andrew Kerr, as well as guest accommodation and four staff residences.

Other infrastructure includes original and newly built shearing quarters, a shearing shed expanded from four to 14 stands, sheep yards, numerous sheds and 9250 tonnes of grain storage.

The Mt Fyans Aggregation is being offered as a whole or in separate holdings through an expressions of interest campaign closing on December 9.

Elders agents Nick Myer and Rob Rickard are handling the sale.

Shippens

In September, the Shippens also listed their North Tahara Aggregation in the Eastern Riverina of New South Wales, with price expectations of around $55 million.

The 4805ha mixed farming portfolio lies 18km east of Wagga Wagga and 25km south-east of Junee. It comprises the adjoining 2023ha The Pinnacles, 2516ha Valima and 266ha Wheel of Fortune holdings.

The two listings (Mt Fyans and North Tahara) follow the Shippens’ May purchase of the Wanganella and Boonoke Merino sheep studs and properties, which are regarded among Australia’s best-known Merino genetics assets.

Sold by Australian Food & Agriculture, Wanganella and Boonoke formed part of the original FS Falkiner & Sons aggregation. They were included in AFA’s Deniliquin portfolio alongside Warriston, Peppinella, Zara and Barratta.

Cattle and sheep in the Mt Fyans yards

Victorian Wagyu aggregation Moyhu lists with $16m guide

Showcase Victorian Wagyu enterprise Moyhu Aggregation has returned to the market with a $16 million bare price guide, three and a half years after its purchase by Stone Axe Pastoral.

The Western Australian-based Wagyu supply chain paid around $25 million for the aggregation in March 2023 to expand its eastern Australian footprint. The walk-in, walk-out sale included the remaining Fullblood Wagyu herd and extensive plant and equipment.

Today, the aggregation is being offered as a whole or as separate properties through an expressions of interest campaign closing on December 16 by LAWD’s Danny Thomas.

Spanning 847ha of high rainfall country near Meadow Creek, the enterprise lies at the foothills of the Victorian Alps, near the King Valley. It is 30km south-east of Wangaratta and 70km south-west of Albury–Wodonga.

Four properties within a 10km radius are managed as one integrated operation – the 243ha Leatarn (4625DSE) and the neighbouring 372ha Handcocks (4275DSE), and the adjoining 176ha Sampsons (2150DSE) and 56ha Bartons (900DSE).

The premium beef breeding, backgrounding and finishing enterprise supports a fullblood Wagyu production system.

Across the aggregation, around 700 cows graze improved phalaris, clover and ryegrass pastures, alongside native perennial species, backed by a sound fertiliser history.

Average annual rainfall is 910mm, with water supplied by dams, seasonal creeks and bores.

Infrastructure includes three dwellings, cattle yards and numerous sheds. A main feed-mixing complex comprises silos, a mill and containment feeding facilities with both shedded and open pens.

Moyhu was previously offered for sale in 2022, after less than a year of ownership by Roger Shore of Victoria’s Bonnie Doon Wagyu.

Mr Shore acquired the land and original Moyhu herd from Emeritus Professor Bob Officer, a former Australian Wagyu Association director who developed the enterprise over 25 years.

Wagyu cattle on Moyhu

KMM Angus’ Coonaburra Gums heads to auction

South Australia’s KMM Angus, formerly known as Kerina MM Angus, has listed its turnkey finishing and fodder property in the Murray Mallee region.

The 774ha Coonaburra Gums sits halfway between Coonalpyn and Culburra and fronts the Dukes Highway.

Trent Walker and Robert Swinton are selling after five years of ownership as they consolidate the business and pursue new opportunities in Victoria.

KMM Angus also operates at Tintinara and Lameroo.

The gently undulating property features sandy loam soils alongside heavier red-brown loams over clay and limestone, transitioning to stronger red-brown loams. Around 200ha is suited to cropping or fodder production.

Pink gum-studded paddocks carry improved pastures of lucerne, clover, barley, vetch, rye and veldt, with capacity to commercially run 300 breeders.

Ray White Rural agent Sam Krieg said the well-developed mixed farming holding offers buyers the chance to capitalise on the vendors’ significant investment of time, capital and passion in the property.

“Coonaburra Gums provides a genuine opportunity to take advantage of the current strength in the beef, sheep and wool sectors,” he said.

“It is already attracting locals and producers from South Australia and New South Wales looking for a finishing block, as well as other stud owners looking to expand their operations.”

Coonaburra Gums receives a long-term average annual rainfall of 450mm. Water is supplied by an equipped solar bore, with SA mains water available as a backup.

Recent infrastructure investment includes an extensive replacement program for cattle and sheep fencing, along with a well-planned laneway system.

A four-bedroom home, steel cattle yards and numerous sheds complete the improvements.

Coonaburra Gums will be offered at auction on December 10.

The 774ha Coonaburra Gums sits halfway between Coonalpyn and Culburra and fronts the Dukes Highway.

Di Georgio family offers Western District grass factory

South Australia’s Di Georgio family has listed the 967ha Karrara Aggregation in Victoria’s renowned Western District, with an asking price of around $20 million, after two years of ownership.

The family purchased the property from Excel Farms in November 2024 to complement its existing operations and is now selling as part of a consolidation.

The asking price is similar to the figure paid in 2024.

Located near Ecklin South, about 30 minutes from Warrnambool, the aggregation comprises two highly improved and well-developed properties – the 558ha Karrara Farms and the 408ha Acacia Downs.

Described as a ‘grass factory,’ Karrara is used to breed and finish cattle and is also suited to sheep, with a carrying capacity of 20,000 dry sheep equivalents.

Once traditional dairy country, the gently rolling arable land features highly fertile soils, mostly basalt over clay, established to perennial and annual pastures.

Water is supplied by six bores, supported by 890mm of rainfall.

Infrastructure includes six homes, an undercover yards complex, sheep and cattle yards, a shearing shed, numerous sheds and substantial grain storage.

LAWD and JLL Agribusiness are handling the sale.

The Kararra aggregation comprises two highly improved and well-developed properties – the 558ha Karrara Farms and the 408ha Acacia Downs.