The 3234ha Melaleuca is located 30km north-west of Gogango and 95km west of Rockhampton in Central Queensland.
THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of recently completed sales, and a separate article on interesting recent listings across the country.
- Fitzroy River grazing opportunity makes $16m+
- $10m+ for breeding & scale in Tasmania
- New England blue chip asset sells to near neighbours
- Moonie’s Minna Billa purchased for expansion
- The Browns pay $6m for Qld open downs country
- Tasmanian livestock & irrigation holding makes $10m
Fitzroy River grazing opportunity makes $16m+
A local family is believed to have paid more than $16 million for Lisa McKinlay’s Fitzroy River grazing holding.
The 3234ha Melaleuca, pictured above, is located 30km north-west of Gogango and 95km west of Rockhampton in Central Queensland.
Ray White Rural agent Richard Brosnan was unable to disclose the buyer or the price paid, but earlier this year, the property was passed-in at auction at $16 million.
The river frontage country on Melaleuca rises to undulating and heavily grassed higher areas comprising mostly mixed scrub.
The property has 3.2km of Fitzroy River frontage and 5km of Melaleuca Creek frontage. Permanent natural water is supplied by both and supported by five dams.
The newly constructed Riverslea Bridge allows all year access to the Rookwood Weir which is under construction and due to be operational early next year.
During the marketing campaign, Mr Brosnan told Beef Central Melaleuca was traditionally a grazing property, but its access to water could generate interest for its future potential.
“Melaleuca lends itself to further development. An area of rich alluvial scrub soils could be placed under irrigation to grow a variety of high value crops or pastures,” he said.
“The development of the Rookwood Weir is changing the local landscape with investment committed for a large-scale macadamia plantation and a proposal for a large feedlot.”
$10m+ for breeding & scale in Tasmania
A well-rounded breeding property in Tasmania producing grassfed lamb and beef and fine Merino wool has sold to a local producer for more than $10 million.
The 2880ha Rotherwood, owned by James and Tahnee McShane, is located near Lower Marshes, one hour from Hobart, in Tasmania’s tightly held Central Highlands.
AWN agent Cade Ebdon said the property sold in just six weeks following good interest from local and interstate producers.
“Rotherwood’s potential for expansion was the main drawcard. With further pasture and fertility improvements, it has the potential to carry up to 10,800DSE or 1353AE,” he said.
Boasting a strong history of sheep production, the enterprise has been running around 7000DSE or more specifically, 2900 breeding ewes, 1200 wethers, 3500 Merino hogget ewes, 900 Merino hogget wethers and 760 first-cross lambs.
The country on Rotherwood comprises 1350ha of open grazing land, 500ha of bush runs for grazing, a 110ha hardwood plantation (ready to harvest), a 12.5ha softwood plantation (ready for harvest) and 800ha of native forestry (due for selective harvesting in five years).
Water is supplied by a dam and a bore supported by a 622mm average annual rainfall.
Rotherwood also offers potential for carbon projects in both forestry and soil.
Infrastructure includes a five-bedroom home, a three-bedroom cottage, a five-stand shearing shed, steel sheep yards, shearers quarters and cattle yards.
New England blue chip asset sells to near neighbours
A highly developed, blue-chip asset in the New England region of northern New South Wales has sold to near neighbours, Jim and Josie Knox who run a commercial high-marbling, self-replacing Angus herd.
Located near Llangothlin, 11km north of Guyra and 50km north of Armidale, the 1119ha Glenmorgan was home to the Glenmorgan Angus Stud, which was dispersed earlier this year by vendors Nicholas and Karen Morgan.
Ray White Rural agent Andrew Starr was unable to disclose the sale price but described the result as strong.
“It achieved $25,000 a cow area which was a strong endorsement for blue ribbon country in that area boasting high rainfall and reliable production. Glenmorgan was very well improved, and the market recognised that,” he said.
The property features a combination of strategic paddock preparation and development and management efficiencies.
Water security has been extensively developed with a trough network, more than 80 dams, a bore and frontage to the Georges Creek.
Improvements are described as superior – boasting first-class livestock handling facilities with extensive fencing and strategically developed central laneways and tree lines.
Infrastructure includes an historic five-bedroom homestead (circa 1903), a manager’s home, a cottage, two cattle yards, a three-stand shearing shed, sheep yards and numerous sheds.
The sale of Glenmorgan was handled by RWR’s Andrew Starr together with Birch Rural agent Bruce Birch.
Moonie’s Minna Billa purchased for expansion
A Queensland family is expanding with southern Queensland’s Minna Billa Aggregation.
The 7473ha backgrounding operation, owned by Fred and Rita Giltrow, comprises two neighbouring holdings, Minna Billa and Ballymena, located 44km south of Moonie and 75km north of Goondiwindi.
Adcock Partners Property and Livestock agent Andrew Adcock was unable to disclose the buyer or the price paid, but said it was a good result following strong inquiry and seven offers to purchase.
During the marketing campaign in April, Minna Billa was experiencing an exceptional season.
The holding produces strong weightgains on the brigalow, belah and melon hole country growing diverse improved pastures and, in most seasons, can run between 3500 and 4000 adult equivalents.
In recent years, 52km of exclusion fencing has been constructed which means the entire property is now vermin free.
Most of the country is arable, offering an opportunity to expand the current 485ha farming area that is growing forage crops.
Water is described as plentiful and is sourced from a bore, 12km of Weir River frontage as well as numerous dams.
Infrastructure includes two homes on Minna Billa, two cottages on Ballymena, numerous sheds, steel cattle yards, a four-stand shearing shed and sheep yards.
Browns pay $6m for Qld open downs country
Near neighbours Matthew and Lou Brown have paid $6 million bare for low maintenance backgrounding and finishing country in Queensland’s central west.
The 10,578ha Westward Ho (not to be confused with Boulia’s 50,000ha Westward Ho which sold at auction in 2016) is located halfway between Winton and Longreach in a tick free area.
The sale ends three years’ ownership by Winton’s Ogg family from Ayrshire Downs.
The gentle undulating Mitchell, Flinders and buffel grass open downs country has a mix of sweet summer herbages growing on the chocolate self-mulching fertile soils, after experiencing a good seasonal start to the year.
In an average season, Westward Ho can comfortably carry 1200 backgrounders through to feeder weights.
When Westward Ho was listed for sale in March, Brodie Agencies agent Tom Brodie said the easy-care property was able to produce high weight gains for a low cost.
While it is prickly acacia free, there is a small infestation of Parkinsonia which is currently being controlled.
Situated in a 400mm rainfall region, Westward Ho is watered by three sub-artesian bores, three dams and some seasonal waterholes along the Darr River channels.
Infrastructure includes steel cattle yards, but there is no home or buildings on the property.
Cattle on Westward Ho
Tasmanian livestock & irrigation holding makes $10m
A productive and versatile irrigation asset in northern Tasmania has sold to an existing dairy farming company for around $10 million.
The 1501ha St Patricks Run (incorporating the 563ha Bullocks Hunting Ground) is situated at Nunamara, 17km east of Launceston and 28km north-east of Evandale.
Elders Real Estate agents Nick Myer, Henry Mackinnon and Laurens De Wit were unable to disclose the buyer or the price, however, during the marketing campaign, the property was anticipated to make around $10 million.
Situated in a reliable 1043mm average annual rainfall area, St Patricks Run was carved off the Dunedin Aggregation owned by Samantha Hogg and Marcus Griffin.
Underpinned by highly fertile volcanic red and black basalt soils, the property is suited to cattle, sheep, cropping, horticulture and potential carbon opportunities.
It has 2000ML of irrigation entitlements, a 2100ML storage dam and excellent irrigation infrastructure including 250ha under centre pivots with significant scope for further development.
St Patricks Run also enjoys an 8km frontage to the St Patricks River and a 2.6km frontage to the North Esk River.
The Bullocks Hunting Ground block has been managed under a cell grazing system running 11,300 dry sheep equivalents, however with further development, numbers could be lifted to 14,400 DSE.
Improvements include a shearing shed and sheep and cattle yards.
Situated in a reliable 1043mm average annual rainfall area, St Patricks Run was carved off the Dunedin Aggregation owned by Samantha Hogg and Marcus Griffin.