THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of recently completed sales, including some properties that were passed in, and a separate article on interesting recent listings across the country.

• North Queensland water snapped up for around $9.5m
• Western NSW country secured for expansion
• Substantial goat operation sells in NSW’s far north west
• Central QLD feedlot fails to sell
• Rangeland goat enterprise withdrawn

North Queensland water snapped up for around $9.5m

An exceptionally well-watered grazing enterprise in North Queensland has been snapped up for around $9.5 million – just six weeks after being offered to the market.

The reliable breeding enterprise Burlington Station spans 46,000ha and is located 50km north of Mt Surprise and 380km north west of Charters Towers.

When Queensland Rural listed the operation at the end of June it received strong interest from local producers due to its substantial water and quality cattle.

Situated in a reliable rainfall area with an abundance of quality fodder, the property presents an opportunity for diversification into cropping and horticulture, in conjunction with a cattle breeding enterprise.

The country on Burlington Station consists of red basalt running into open granite ridges into steeper granite hills at the western and southern boundaries.

Water is without a doubt a major feature. The operation is bisected by two main permanent creeks, along with Tommys Springs and the seasonal Lynd River. There are also numerous smaller creeks and tributaries supported by 14 dams and nine bores (including six which are brand new).

There is a 144 MGL water licence from Fossilbrook Creek which enhances the ability to successfully grow crops.

Burlington Station can carry 3500 breeders and was being offered on a walk-in walk-out basis, including 1500 predominately polled Grey Brahman breeders, 80 sires, plus substantial plant and equipment.

Scott Hart from Queensland Rural was responsible for both the marketing and the sale.

Western NSW country secured for expansion

A Griffith family seeking to expand their current operations has secured Windella, a mixed grazing and farming operation in western New South Wales.

Located 60km north of Nyngan or 16km north of Girilambone, the 7947ha property was offered to the market for only the second time in 90 years.

Windella was sold for an undisclosed sum, but Richard Gemmell from Elders Real Estate said it met the vendor’s expectations.

The property features red and grey clay loams running to heavier gilgai country and is suited to sheep, wool, cattle and cropping.

The grazing country can support 2500 breeding ewes or 4000 DSE and around 300 goats per annum.

Most of the fencing is in very good condition, with 30km renewed in recent years.

Fronting the Bogan River for 5.5km, Windella is also watered by 18 dams.

Recently, considerable capital has been invested into land development and infrastructure, with the potential to further progress.

The expressions of interest campaign and sale were handled by Mr Gemmell, together with Shaun McHugh from Carter Lindsay & Weber.

Substantial goat operation sells in NSW’s far north west

A Tamworth-based group of buyers has paid $2.42 million ($76/ha bare) for a substantial goat breeding and backgrounding operation in New South Wales’ far north west.

The group owns other pastoral interests south east of Cunnamulla and will expand their existing goat operation on the 31,745ha Wyuna and Neverfail at Eulo, 120km south west of Cunnamulla and 225km north west of Bourke.

Two other registered bidders, who participated in the auction, were an entry level party from the New South Wales-Victorian border and a local grazier from Bourke also seeking expansion.

The country on Wyuna and Neverfail comprises 2025ha of Werai Watercourse flood country from the Paroo River, with the balance mulga, box and caingrass flats.

Wyuna and Neverfail are well-watered by five bores, 27 troughs and 10 dams. Over 50km of poly pipe has been installed in the last four years.

Equipped with steel cattle yards and goat handling facilities, the aggregation is rated to carry 7000 dry sheep equivalents, or around 8000 mature goats.

The vendors, Joe and Kylie Baty from Batmore Goats, operate four goat depots (The Cato at Enngonia, Moolakar at Wanaaring, Terramia at Hungerford and Wilcannia at Wilcannia) and recently purchased adjoining land to consolidate their holdings.

The sale of Wyuna and Neverfail was handled by Greg Seiler from Nutrien Harcourts Bourke.

Passed in: Central QLD feedlot fails to sell

Despite solid inquiry, the Iker family’s 2507ha Vandyke feedlot at Springsure in Central Queensland was passed in on a vendor bid of $7.5 million at auction recently.

The operation has now been listed for sale through Nutrien Harcourts Emerald.

Located 28km west of Springsure and 95km south of Emerald, the feedlot is licenced for 8640 standard cattle units and is tenanted by grainfed supply chain managers Allied Beef.

Vandyke consists of 36 pens, two hospital pens and cattle yards including separate double deck loading, unloading and drafting and induction facilities.

The feedlot and smaller surrounding paddocks are currently leased for a 10 year period.

The country features 290ha of brigalow scrub country, 130ha of black soil coolabah grazing country, 540ha of creek flat grazing country and 875ha of light sandy soils to rocky escarpments.

Vandyke is watered mainly by bores and a 125 and 30 megalitre irrigation licence. There are permanent waterholes along the Vandyke creek, as well as a 1000 cubic metre dam.

Vandyke sits alongside the Vandyke Creek and has 340ha of highly fertile black soil coolabah creek flats of cultivation.

The feedlot infrastructure includes nine silos with a total capacity 1750 tonnes, a 130 tonne poly molasses tank, an 80 tonne steel liquid supplement tank, two silage pits, a commodities shed, a 12 tonnes per hour capacity roller mill, an 80 tonne concrete weighbridge, a generator shed, a hydraulic vet crush and a four-way undercover draft with lights.

Withdrawn: Rangeland goat enterprise

Nuffield scholar Christine Ferguson has decided to retain Myrnong, the 24,864ha rangeland goat enterprise in New South Wales’ far north-west and has subsequently withdrawn it from the market.

Located 60km south west of Wanaaring and 250km west of Bourke, Myrnong is a Western Lands lease holding comprising soft red Mulga country running into some harder Mulga stone country in the south eastern corner.

The property is watered by three bores, six ground tanks and 12 main watering points servicing 17 paddocks.

Ms Ferguson purchased Myrnong in 2001 and during that time the principle enterprise has been goat production, with some trading of sheep and cattle.

Rated to carry just under 5000 DSE, the property has been running 4500 breeding does and followers, 2000 to 3000 mixed trade goats and sheep, as well as cattle in season.

Two years ago, Ms Ferguson and her partner decided to relocate to a grazing property at Grenfell, in New South Wales’ central west and took Myrnong to the market. After it failed to sell at auction, Myrnong was offered for $2 million bare.

 

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