Property

Weekly property review: Properties for sale

Property editor Linda Rowley, 08/02/2023

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

  • Commercial scale in northern NSW
  • CQ’s El Rocco up for grabs
  • Large scale grazing & grain growing in southern QLD
  • High rainfall grazing in southern NSW offers passive income
  • Tightly held breeder block in CQ
  • CQ cattle breeding & cash cropping
  • Southern QLD’s Tabooba offers diversity
  • Winton’s Wando offered separately
  • Two grazing opportunities on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island

The historic 3026ha Emu Creek and the adjoining 2313ha Gleneagles, which once formed part of the Gill family’s Emu Creek, have been listed for separate sale by two agencies via expressions of interest.

Commercial scale in northern NSW

A once in a lifetime opportunity has arisen to secure 5340ha of prime breeding and backgrounding country on New South Wales’ Northern Tablelands.

The historic 3026ha Emu Creek and the adjoining 2313ha Gleneagles, which once formed part of the Gill family’s Emu Creek, have been listed for separate sale by two agencies via expressions of interest.

Emu Creek was once a superfine wool growing enterprise spanning more than 40,498 hectares.

The properties are situated 13km and 17km from Walcha – a high rainfall grazing district renowned for its consistently high production.

The commercial scale assets are suited to a range of grazing enterprises on improved pastures and are likely to attract institutional investors or large farming families.

There is a significant opportunity for further development to increase operational scale.

Emu Creek

Settled in 1868, Emu Creek has been held by five generations of the Gill family and is being sold by Mark and Angie Berry. It is expected to achieve around the mid-$30 million range.

Emu Creek features gently sloping alluvial creek flats to undulating low grazing hills and timbered ridgelines. Soils include fertile red and black basalts through to New England Traps.

The holding has the capacity to run 25,000DSE and is conservatively stocked with a mixture of late spring calving cows, replacement heifers and Dorper ewes lambing on a nine-month cycle.

Water is supplied by a 24km frontage to a number of permanent creeks, 28 dams and six bores.

Emu Creek is being offered for sale by LAWD via an EOI campaign closing on March 9.

Gleneagles

After 12 years ownership, the Cook family is also offloading the neighbouring Gleneagles.

The gently undulating and well-sheltered grazing country is suited to both cattle and sheep.

Well established pastures, with an excellent fertiliser history, cover much of the property that is estimated to carry around 15,000DSE.

Bruce Rutherford from Nutrien Harcourts said Gleneagles was an outstanding enterprise.

Gleneagles is securely watered by a creek, dams, springs, two equipped bores and an extensive reticulation system.

Fencing is a feature with much of it constructed over the past 12 years. Most paddocks have access to a laneway network enhancing management efficiencies.

Gleneagles is being sold by expressions of interest closing on March 23. It is already generating strong interest from locals, northern New South Wales producers and Queenslanders.

 

CQ’s El Rocco up for grabs

Leyland and Karen Sparkes are selling their highly improved, productive beef enterprise in the renowned Rhyddings/Roundstone district of Queensland’s Central Highlands.

El Rocco is 44km west from Moura and 109km west of Biloela in a 658mm rainfall location.

Spanning 2012ha, the property has productive red and brown scrub soils with sections of lighter forest soils.

The gently undulating brigalow, blackbutt and belah scrub country is watered by six dams.

Brad Hanson from Hourn & Bishop Qld said El Rocco is highly developed.

“The vendors have invested time and money developing the property into a weight gain factory capable of running 1000 backgrounders,” he said.

Since 1979, the Sparkes have undertaken extensive timber control. With the exception of creek lines and shade camps, all areas have been cleared and established to improved pastures.

Mr Hanson reports plenty of interest from locals, north Queensland and central-west producers seeking quality backgrounding and fattening country.

El Rocco will be auctioned bare of stock and plant on March 14.

 

Large scale grazing & grain growing in southern QLD

After almost 50 years of ownership, the Carson family is offloading its 18,180ha livestock and cropping portfolio in the Balonne region of southern Queensland.

The mixed farming operation comprises three properties managed as two distinct hubs.

The adjoining 6777ha Ooraine and 5258ha Somerset operate as a single hub and have been developed for both sheep and cattle with an estimated carrying capacity of 15,500 dry sheep equivalents or 1840 adult equivalents.

The country features productive soil types and meandering black/grey soil coolibah floodplains which transition to open woodlands. Water is provided by a shared bore.

The 6144ha Hooloovale, upstream of Cubbie Station, features 471ha of irrigation underpinned by substantial water resources and upgraded pumping infrastructure along with extensive controlled flood out grazing areas suitable for potential dryland/irrigation development.

Situated 35km from Dirranbandi, the three properties are being offered for sale in one line or as separate assets by an expressions of interest campaign closing on March 16.

JLL Agribusiness has been appointed to handle the marketing and the sale.

The adjoining 6777ha Ooraine and 5258ha Somerset operate as a single hub and have been developed for both sheep and cattle with an estimated carrying capacity of 15,500 dry sheep equivalents or 1840 adult equivalents.

 

High rainfall grazing in southern NSW offers passive income

A high rainfall grazing property with a renewable energy income stream in southern New South Wales has been listed after 30 years ownership by Byll and Felicite Swan.

The 884ha Coppa Canyon is located at Berremangra, 20km from Jugiong and 50km from Yass in the South West Slopes region.

The gently undulating to hilly granite country grows improved perennial and native perennial grasses and clover pastures.

Coppa Canyon is currently running a self-replacing Merino flock with an estimated carrying capacity of 3000 ewes and lambs or 6000 dry sheep equivalents. It is also highly suited to beef production.

Vendor Byll Swan said Coppa Canyon was exceptional sheep country that has underscored a profitable lamb and wool enterprise for decades.

“This is, without doubt, wonderful sheep country where we have successfully run a self-replacing Merino flock and made money from it.”

The property is reliably watered by 24 dams, a semi-permanent creek system and a solar powered bore supplying four troughs.

Col Medway from LAWD believes Coppa Canyon will appeal to nearby farming families seeking expansion and high net worth investors drawn by attractive passive income from a renewable energy source.

“The property is a proven parcel of high-rainfall land that has consistently produced high-quality fleece and lambs, that now also benefits from a substantial stream of additional income from the wind farm,” he said.

Significant long term annuity income is generated from 13 wind turbines as part of the Coppabella Wind Farm.

Coppa Canyon is for sale by expressions of interest closing March 9.

The 884ha Coppa Canyon is located at Berremangra, 20km from Jugiong and 50km from Yass in the South West Slopes region.

 

Tightly held breeder block in CQ

A reliable and solid breeder block in Central Queensland will be auctioned on March 10 by Emerald-based RPV Rural.

Held for more than 100 years by the one family, in what is already a tightly held area, Rydan boasts quality breeder country together with good fattening country.

The stand-alone enterprise turns off quality weaners and feeders, but selling agent Matt Beard said the property could also be run as a calf factory complimenting an existing backgrounding or fattening operation.

The 6979ha of country is situated at Rubyvale, halfway between Emerald and Clermont and can run 1100 breeders.

Featuring a good mix of undulating forest country, silverleaf ironbark is interspersed with bloodwood and box running to areas of brigalow scrub, blackbutt and patches of belah.

Rydan is watered by ten dams and three bores and drained by the Carbine, Pidgeon and Cattle Creeks and their tributaries providing useful creek flats with tea tree and gum influence.

Held for more than 100 years by the one family, in what is already a tightly held area, Rydan boasts quality breeder country together with good fattening country.

 

CQ cattle breeding & cash cropping

The Prewett family is offloading its versatile mixed grazing and cropping operation in Queensland’s Central Highlands.

The 3893ha Glendarriwell is situated 16km south-east of Anakie and 34km west of Emerald, close to the Fairbairn Dam.

The bulk of production is sourced from the significant area of cash cropping, underpinned by a sizeable cattle breeding operation on the grass country and crop stubbles.

Run as a cattle enterprise, forage crops could be planted for growing out weaner cattle to feedlot entry weights or taken through to finished slaughter levels.

Matt Beard from RPV Rural said Glendarriwell ticks a lot of boxes.

“It is a blue-ribbon enterprise boasting quality country, in a great location, in a favourable rainfall pocket. It has attracted solid enquiry from locals and from producers across Queensland,” he said.

The country is mostly open to semi open black soil downs country running into developed areas of mixed brigalow scrub and superior flats on the Anakie Creek.

It comprises 1942ha of black soil cultivation which is mainly contoured, 475ha of mixed brigalow scrub country developed to predominately buffel grass pasture and 1476ha of open downs grazing country with scattered small scrub influences.

Glendarriwell is watered by five bores and two dams with seasonal waterholes in the Anakie Creek. It will be auctioned on March 31.

The 3893ha Glendarriwell is situated 16km south-east of Anakie and 34km west of Emerald, close to the Fairbairn Dam.

 

Southern QLD’s Tabooba offers diversity

After 26 years of single-family ownership, Geoff and Virginia Phillips are selling their mixed grazing and farming operation Tabooba in southern Queensland.

The 5674 hectares are located at Talwood, 80km south-east of St George and 130km west of Goondiwindi, close to northern and southern livestock and grain markets.

The Phillips’ have been running Tabooba as a cattle backgrounding business together with a winter grain and forage cropping operation.

The slightly undulating country is suitable for pasture production and grain growing with around 1457ha sown to winter cereal and forage crops including wheat, barley, oats and chickpeas.

The grazing country has been thoughtfully developed with good shade lines and livestock corridors and is currently presenting with an excellent stand of buffel and native grasses with seasonal herbages.

Andrew Jakins from Nutrien Harcourts Goondiwindi is handling the sale under an expressions of interest campaign closing on March 9.

He said interest was coming from local landholders and cattle operators from Queensland and New South Wales.

The 5674ha Tabooba is located near Talwood, 80km south-east of St George and 130km west of Goondiwindi, close to northern and southern livestock and grain markets

 

Winton’s Wando offered separately

Winton-based Brodie Agencies has been appointed to sell two versatile breeding, backgrounding or fattening freehold blocks in Queensland’s central-west.

The 8156ha Wando house block is situated in a tick free area, 18km from the Landsborough Highway and 50km south-east of Winton.

The 4002ha Wando additional area is 45km from Winton and 135km from Longreach. It is 6.5km from the south-west corner of the Wando house block, separated by two neighbouring paddocks.

Wando is enjoying a good start to the summer season after receiving 633mm of rain last year. It is presenting with a good body of fresh Mitchell, Flinders and buffel grass, as well as summer herbages.

The Mitchell grass downs country has rich fertile soils interspersed with many small creek systems. While the lighter carrying, sweet and quick responding creek flats have areas of soft Flinders grass downs growing seasonal winter herbages.

Around 50 percent of the Wando house block has a medium to heavy infestation of prickly acacia.

“Wando is 100 percent usable, productive, low cost and high weight gain producing country,” selling agent Tom Brodie said.

“It has good access to the live export cattle markets in Townsville and Cloncurry, as well as the southern meatworks, feedlots and store selling centres,” Mr Brodie said.

Set up for sheep, cattle and goats, it can comfortably run 600 breeders in an average season. The vendors are currently running 2000 sheep, 400 cattle and 1400 goats.

The property is watered by seven dams, seasonal waterholes and two equipped artesian bores (quarter share ownership).

The 8156ha Wando house block is being offered for sale for $4.15 million bare of livestock but includes an extensive list of plant and equipment.

The 4002ha additional area will be auctioned on March 29.

Set up for sheep, cattle and goats, Wando comfortably run 600 breeders in an average season. The vendors are currently running 2000 sheep, 400 cattle and 1400 goats.

 

Two grazing opportunities on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island

Haines Aggregation

Close to 1600ha of reliable rainfall grazing country is being offered for sale on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island.

The Haines Aggregation comprises the 541ha D’Estrees and the adjoining 367ha Watts and 683ha Sugars. The three blocks are conservatively stocked with 4000 ewes and 80 cattle.

Aggregated by vendor Bruce Dunsdan over 30 years, the portfolio is being auctioned as a whole or in three non-contingent lots on March 3.

541ha D’Estrees – situated 26km to Kingscote and 45km to the Penneshaw Ferry, the 415ha of useable grazing country is running 1350 ewes, 430 wethers and 40 cows on highly productive improved pastures. D’Estrees is watered by interconnected dams, permanent soaks and a portable solar pump system.

The adjoining 367ha Watts and 683ha Sugars are located 27km from Kingscote and 31km from Penneshaw.

Around 40,000 gum trees have been planted and registered as forest plantations. These provide protection from any expansion of the salt lagoons, as well as creek line protection. They are due to be harvested in six years.

Watts – featuring sand over clay, the arable ground is set up for cropping or further improved pastures. Water is supplied to every paddock via 10 dams.

Sugars – 3km of fenced raceway connects Sugars to Watts. Water is secured by a large freshwater soak and 12 dams. Around 386ha of improved pastures is suitable for grazing.

Leo Redden from Nutrien Harcourts said the Haines Aggregation gives interested parties a scalable footprint or existing Kangaroo Island producers an opportunity to expand their businesses.

He anticipates the useable grazing country will achieve between$7400/ha and $8600,ha.

The SeaLink ferry service transports livestock from the island to livestock selling centres on the mainland.

Lake Ada

Well-located and well-managed late finishing grazing country is being offered for sale on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island.

Vendor Malcom Schaefer, who is consolidating his landholdings, said the 715ha Lake Ada has been held by his family for more than 110 years.

“It is an ideal satellite farm for local Kangaroo Islanders or mainland producers looking to grow their business,” he said.

The property is located 41km south-west of Kingscote and 72km west of Penneshaw, in the region known as Hundred of Seddon.

In 2001, Mr Schaefer received an SA Landcare award for land reclamation and improvement. With double fenced shelter belts protecting around 425ha of useable grazing, Lake Ada can run 3900 dry sheep equivalents.

Situated in a reliable rainfall region, the property is well watered by a modern water reticulation from permanent springs and late finishing flood out areas, as well as 16 dams.

Lake Ada presents in good condition with a long history of pasture improvement, a solid fertiliser history and fencing upgrades.

The auction happens on February 24.

Leo Redden from Nutrien Harcourts expects Lake Ada will make between $3.6m ($5140/ha) and $4.2m ($5874/ha).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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