THIS week’s property review includes this wrap up of recently completed sales, and a separate article on interesting recent listings across the country.
- Maranoa calf factory makes close to $20m
- NT’s Ford family expands with Enryb Downs
- Longreach’s Darriveen makes $6.2m
- NSW Hay Plains country changes hands
- Charters Towers’ Glenkirk Station makes $5.3m
Maranoa calf factory makes close to $20m
A calf factory in southern Queensland’s Maranoa has sold to a Wallumbilla family for around $20 million.
The 8381ha Stratton, 60km south of Roma, was offered by Walgett’s Michael and Annie O’Brien after six years ownership. After purchasing the block in 2018 for grass, the family will now consolidate their northern New South Wales holdings.
Nutrien Ag Solutions Clemson Hiscox & Co agent Russell Hiscox was unable to disclose the buyer or the price paid, but during the marketing campaign indicated the property would make around $20 million.
Described as a well-appointed and presented property, Stratton has been home to 900 breeders and conservatively stocked with spring calving weaners trucked south in April/May.
In the past, Stratton operated as a backgrounding operation turning off 2400 feeder weight cattle annually.
The heavy belah country has improved pastures and was growing a tremendous body of feed following 180mm of rain in March and early April.
Around 170ha of the soft, loamy soils that extend toward the fertile creek flats have been developed to cultivation with the intention of growing sorghum for silage.
Most of the property is exclusion fenced, with the exception of the northern boundary.
Stratton benefits from 10km of double frontage to the Muckadilla Creek, permanent and semi-permanent waterholes, two bores and 26 dams.
Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom home, steel cattle yards and numerous sheds.
NT’s Ford family expands with Enryb Downs
The Northern Territory’s Ken and Leigh Ford and family, Tennant Creek Station, have paid a district record for Enryb Downs in north-west Queensland.
The 16,998ha Corfield district property is in a tick-free area, 95km north-east of Winton and 190km south-west of Hughenden, and was sold by the Warren family.
The Fords, who also own country between Richmond and Hughenden are expanding with Enryb Downs, which has been running 3149 adult equivalents. While the price paid is undisclosed, it is believed they paid the asking price.
Described as 100 percent usable and productive, the Mitchell/Flinders grass undulating open downs country produces high weight gains at a low cost, Brodie Agencies agent Tom Brodie said.
“Enryb Downs has been enjoying a good season with excellent summer rain – so far 319mm for 2024 and 392mm in 2023 – presenting with a good body of feed,” he said.
The long-term Corfield district average annual rainfall is around 415mm.
Enryb Downs has 13 dams, five bores (three of which are new) and 38 troughs, and can be monitored 24/7 worldwide.
Mr Brodie describes the improvements as a standout.
“Water infrastructure installed over the past five years has been designed to ensure a beast will find itself within 1.5km of water, no matter where they are on the property.”
Since 2019, 22km of new fencing has been installed, including 9km of exclusion fencing.
Improvements include a three-bedroom home, a two-bedroom cottage, steel cattle yards and numerous sheds.
Longreach’s Darriveen makes $6.2m
Darriveen in western Queensland has made $6.2 million ($648/ha) at auction, selling to Greg and Belinda Terry from Muttaburra for expansion.
Located 75km north of Longreach and 80km south of Muttaburra, the sale of the 9569ha fully exclusion fenced property ends around 70 years of ownership by the Hetherington and Cameron family.
The productive breeding and finishing property boasts heavy carrying, open Mitchell grass downs country capable of running around 1000 backgrounders or 8000DSE.
Situated in a 425mm average annual rainfall region, the property is watered by a solar equipped artesian bore, two dams and numerous waterholes.
Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom Queenslander homestead, a two-bedroom cottage, steel cattle yards, two sheep yards, sheds, a six-stand shearing shed and a shearers’ quarters.
Resolute Property Group agent Ben Forrest handled the sale.
NSW Hay Plains country changes hands
The multi-generational ownership of Mutherumbung Station in south-western New South Wales will continue following its sale to a family member.
Pat and Sharon Bunyan were seeking offers of around $10 million for their Merino sheep and cotton country near Booligal, 110km north of Hay.
Instead, their son and daughter-in-law, Simon and Sarah Bunyan, have sold their prime Riverina breeding and backgrounding country Clancy’s (see references below) to secure the 5771ha grazing and irrigation holding.
The Hay Plains country is typically open with grey and red soils growing saltbush and cotton bush, native grasses and clovers and is renowned for growing and finishing livestock in addition to wool production.
Historically running a self-replacing Merino flock, Mutherumbung is currently running 1500 mixed age ewes with lambs at foot, and 600 weaners.
When the Bunyans added two irrigation bores, 304ha of country was laser levelled into a bankless channel and pond irrigation layout to grow cotton in rotation with barley and pasture for sheep feed.
Situated in a 300mm rainfall region, water is supplied by a stock and domestic bore and an open channel system from the Merrowie Creek.
Attached to the sale of Mutherumbung Station was a 1043ML Lower Lachlan Groundwater irrigation licence.
Infrastructure includes a six-bedroom home, a six-stand shearing shed, sheep yards, shearers quarters and numerous sheds, with most of the fencing replaced within the last two years.
Clancy’s
Meanwhile as part of their transition, Simon and Sarah Bunyan sold their 4630ha Clancy’s recently to the Morphett family of Alma Station as an add-on to their adjoining sheep enterprise.
The low input pastoral country is situated in the heart of the Hay Plains and 50km north-west of Booligal.
Offering a mix of native pasture and herbages, the property is suited to breeding and backgrounding sheep, goats and cattle.
Clancy’s is watered by 3km of dual frontage to the seasonal Merrowie Creek and a bore which feeds a network of tanks and troughs.
Infrastructure includes a modern five-stand shearing shed, steel sheep and cattle yards, a 2800 head containment area, an original crutching shed and a significant amount of renewed fencing.
Elders agent Matt Horne handled the sale of Clancy’s together with Inglis Rural Property agent Sam Triggs.
Charters Towers Glenkirk Station makes $5.3m
The Lund Family of Clermont has paid $5.3 million for reliable breeder country in Central Queensland including more than 500 head of cattle.
The 5454ha Glenkirk Station is located near Reid River, halfway between Charters Towers and Townsville, and was offered with 500 breeders, followers and 14 bulls.
Ray White Geaney Kirkwood agent Liam Kirkwood said the property’s size and location appealed to a wide range of people.
“Glenkirk is situated in a tightly held area where there have been few sales. It attracted good inquiry from southern Queensland and New South Wales producers, as well as locals. On a bare basis it made $900/ha or $6125/breeder area.”
The well grassed, open to lightly timbered country has some improved pastures with sandy loam frontage soils along the Fourmile Creek, red soil ridges and some granite outcrops.
Estimated to run 800 breeders and followers, Glenkirk has run up to 1000 breeders in the past. With further pasture improvement and additional waters, it could carry more.
The property is watered by four bores, numerous creeks, gullies and shallow waters which supply stock water for six to eight months of the year, supported by 900mm of annual average rainfall.
Improvements include a three-bedroom home, staff quarters, near new steel cattle yards and numerous sheds.
Great property sales summary