THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of recently completed sales in the Northern Territory and New South Wales, a separate article on sales in Queensland and a third on recent listings across the country.
- Bathurst family expands with NT’s Dorisvale
- NSW Govt expands national park footprint
- Romeo Roxas secures western NSW grazing country
The 67,500ha Dorisvale is a cattle breeding property west of Pine Creek,
Bathurst family expands with NT’s Dorisvale
The Bathurst-based Schaffer family has paid around $25 million for Top End cattle station Dorisvale, ending 46 years of ownership by Tony and Julie Harrower from Old Mount Bundey Station.
The Schaffers own farmland in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales where they raise and trade sheep and cattle, as well as grow corn under pivots.
Family spokesman Jonathon Schaffer said when the price of land became unviable to expand, they decided to look north.
In 2021, the family bought a 50 percent stake in the Northern Territory’s Mary River West with vendor BRITZ campervan business founder Gunther Gschwenter.
Located one hour from Katherine, the 93,000ha Mary River West holding is undeveloped and growing a variety of native grasses that could carry 6200 adult equivalents.
Mr Schaffer said during their ownership, capital has been invested in erecting fencing, sinking bores and building troughs.
The 67,500ha Dorisvale is a cattle breeding property west of Pine Creek, and adjoining Willeroo and West Mathieson. With a reputation for attracting the first and last big rains of the wet season, Mr Schaffer said cattle on Dorisvale will be trucked to the nearby to Mary River West.
LAWD agent Olivia Thompson, who handled the sale, was unable to disclose the price paid, however Dorisvale was listed with a $25 million price guide including the 15,000 head of mostly Brahman cattle with 6700 breeders.
Dorisvale grows around 320ha of jarra grass for fodder, with the deep red Kandasol and black soil flats providing dryland farming potential.
Mr Schaffer said the family will improve pastures and potentially plant leucaena to increase the property’s carrying capacity.
Situated in a high annual rainfall region (1100mm), Dorisvale overlies Oolloo, Tindal and Jinduckin aquifers. It is also abundantly watered by natural surface water, including the Bradshaw Creek, the Daly River and numerous springs and creeks.
During their long ownership, the Harrowers had significantly invested in expanding the watering points, transitioning to solar bores, improved fencing and laneways, and upgrading the main cattle yards.
Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, accommodation for management and staff and a large workshop.
NSW Govt expands national park footprint
The New South Wales government is continuing to expand its national park footprint paying around $12 million (bare) for western rangeland grazing country.
After 20 years of ownership, the 71,866ha Tasman and Corinya Stations, 68km north of Ivanhoe and 280km north of Hay, were offered to the market by Bryan Milne for $13 million on a walk-in walk-out basis.
It is understood the properties will be added to the nearby Koonaburra National Park purchased by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in 2021.
The country on Tasman and Corinya ranges from semi open pine grazing country adjacent to the Sandy Creek basin, to the Corinya natural lake system with run off from the ranges.
Semi-arid bushland, mallee dune fields and fertile rosewood and belah/wilga country are quick responding and grow native grasses and herbages.
The aggregation is watered by 20 dams, four bores and a natural lake filled by seasonal run off from the ranges.
Improvements include two homes, a four-stand shearing shed, a shed and four steel yards.
In March, the NSW Government paid $2.82m for the picturesque 13,446ha Iona, 100km north-west of Cobar.
The Church’s Hill Ranges provide a backdrop to the rangeland country featuring secluded valleys, caves and aboriginal artifacts.
Both sales were handled by David Russell from Nutrien Russell Property & Livestock.
Philippines’ Romeo Roxas secures western NSW grazing country
Filipino lawyer, businessman and property developer Romeo Roxas, under the banner of Australian Green Properties, has paid $4.3 million ($263/ha) for what was described as one of the best western New South Wales properties to hit the market offering value for money.
The 17,098ha Broadmeadows, 83km west of Cobar, is low-cost heavy grazing country offered by Bill and Julie Rodgers after 20 years of ownership.
In September last year, Mr Roxas sold the 559,500ha Northern Territory Murray Downs Station to Clermont’s Richard and Dyan Hughes and family for $46.5m on a walk-in walk-out basis including 10,000 cattle.
The undulating country on Broadmeadows consists of red loams, semi-open rosewood, pine, belah, yarran, low lying gilgai areas and box swamps.
During the marketing campaign it was growing a large variety of drought fodder and native herbages and grasses, including mulga, wild orange currant bush and wilga.
Broadmeadows has an estimated carrying capacity of 4200 dry sheep equivalents and was running 3100 dorpers, 400 Boer/Kalahari nannies and around 1500 rangeland nannies.
Watered by 14 dams and an equipped bore, Broadmeadows has a 140ha natural lake featuring fertile grey and chocolate soils which seasonally fills from local runoff.
The lake is currently around three quarters full (1.6m) and at times, allows for boating and skiing. Once filled, it should last for up to two years.
Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, a one-bedroom cottage, a six-bedroom workers’ quarters, numerous sheds, a four-stand shearing shed, sheep yards, cattle/goat yards and 200-tonnes of grain storage in four silos.
Last year, Mr Roxas paid $2.5 million ($204/ha) for 12,253ha Shearlegs, 50km south of Cobar.
In the past, Shearlegs operated as a Merino breeding aggregation running 2500 ewes, together with rangeland goats and seasonal cattle. However, the carrying capacity could be increased with opportunity farming.
The fertile grazing country features flat to slight undulating country with soft red loam soils, beneficial box flood out flats and watercourses.
Situated in a 300mm average rainfall region, Shearlegs is watered by 18 dams and has steel sheep yards and a shed.
Both sales were handled by Nutrien Russell Property and Livestock agent David Russell.
Dorper sheep on Broadmeadows