THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of recently completed sales in New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania, a separate story on recent sales in Queensland, and another covering interesting recent listings across the country.
- McBride’s Wyoming Station finally sells
- Renowned Coonamble property splits two ways
- Murrumbidgee’s Carraman Station sells locally
- Victorian institution pays $8.5m for Sydney newsreader’s property
- Iconic Tasmania property sells after two years
- Rob Woodward pays $8.5m for SA’s Orlunda Downs
- 120 years of ownership ends with sale of SA’s Rundles
McBride’s Wyoming Station finally sells
After a marathon sale process, Robert McBride’s Wyoming Station in New South Wales Western Division has sold to a Mildura family for expansion.
The 42,716ha holding (over two western land leases) is located near Moorara, 55km north-east of Pooncarie, 130km south of Menindee and 240km south-east of Broken Hill.
It was sold by Adam Chilcott from Elders and while unable to disclose the buyer or the price paid, he said the property met vendor expectations.
Wyoming was offered by the prominent landholder in January 2023 to enable infrastructure development of his nearby holding, Tolarno Station.
It failed to sell for the $7 million to $8 million price guide that included 4000 Merino ewes and around 3000 feral goats. It is now under contract subject to western lands approval and likely to raise around $5m on a bare basis.
Suited to those seeking expansion into goats and Dorpers, Wyoming was also marketed to investors considering sustainable or regenerative land improvement initiatives given three adjacent properties have registered HIR projects.
Wyoming grows a mix of spinifex, spear grass and copper burr. Timbers include belah, oaks, wilga, native pine and mallee, with parts of the station featuring flood out plains.
Fenced into eight paddocks with holding yards, it is currently agisting cattle.
A shared permanent water pipeline supplied from the Darling River is a key feature of the property, along with 12 fenced dams and a water licence for Regulated River High Security Water for extraction from river, lake or surface water.
Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, a four-stand shearing shed and sheep yards.
Wyoming grows a mix of spinifex, spear grass and copper burr. Timbers include belah, oaks, wilga, native pine and mallee, with parts of the station featuring flood out plains.
Renowned Coonamble property splits two ways
The renowned Coonamble district property Trewilga in north-western New South Wales has been split up and sold two ways.
The 5671ha versatile, blue-ribbon farming and grazing country was offered for sale by Julia Creek beef producers Philip and Tania Curr, Arizona.
While contracts were exchanged 12 months ago, settlement was delayed due to a boundary realignment.
The cultivation country, spanning 1800ha, is underpinned by heavy black self-mulching soils that typically grow wheat, barley and oats. It is understood to have sold to a neighbour for around $2000/ac.
The balance, heavy carrying capacity grazing country suited to cattle and/or sheep, was sold to producer from the central west.
Previously, Trewilga produced first cross ewes, however under the Curr family’s management, it had been backgrounding and finishing around 4000 weaners in conjunction with their Queensland country.
Trewilga is watered by the Nedgera Creek plus an artesian bore.
The infrastructure is described as first class and includes a five-bedroom home, two cottages, numerous sheds, steel cattle and sheep yards, a four-stand shearing shed and five silos with 416-tonnes of grain storage.
Elders agents Brian McAneney and Chris Malone handled the sale but were unable to disclose the buyers or the prices paid.
Murrumbidgee’s Carraman Station sells locally
After more than a year on the market, the Murrumbidgee’s Carraman Station, situated in the heart of New South Wales’ Riverina region, has sold to a local farming family.
The 1327ha, 8km east of Narrandera and 65km north-west of Wagga Wagga, were offered for sale with an estimated carrying capacity of 7500 dry sheep equivalents.
Colliers Agribusiness agent Adrienne Harvey and Isaac Hill from Wagga Regional Livestock, who handled the sale, were unable to disclose the buyer or the price paid.
The productive river country features soils that are mostly red and brown and grey medium to heavy textured alluvial clays growing some irrigated and dryland crops.
Boasting 9km of Murrumbidgee River and 7km Bundidgerry Creek frontages, Carraman Station was offered with 360ML of water entitlements.
Infrastructure includes a home, a cottage, steel cattle yards, sheds and silos. The irrigation infrastructure includes a bore and two centre pivots.
The property is also home to abundant native wildlife, potentially offering opportunities for further biodiversity conservation and environmental projects.
Victorian institution pays $8.5m for Sydney newsreader’s property
After more than a year on the market, Sydney Channel 7 newsreader Mark Ferguson and his wife Jayne, a non-executive director of Commonwealth Games Australia, have sold their picturesque sheep and cattle property to a Victorian institution for $8.5m or $10,932/ha.
The 775ha Hazeldean is located 33km from Crookwell and 72km from Canberra and is suited to any combination of store lamb, fine wool and cattle production.
Purchased by the couple in 2015, the Fergusons have invested significantly in improvements to pastures, fencing and water supply. They also upgraded livestock handling facilities and renovated the historic Hazeldean homestead.
Last year, Mr Ferguson said it would be tough to say goodbye to the property.
“I have loved the journey over the past ten years but family priorities change, and it is time to hand Hazeldean over to someone new. I am very proud of the improvements we have undertaken resulting in a very productive block.”
Capable of running 7650 Dry Sheep Equivalents, the property has a history of carrying 3000 Merino ewes joined to terminal sires for store lamb production and can run 150 cows on agistment in a weaner production system.
Complementing the high annual rainfall of 783mm, Hazeldean is securely watered by 1.3km of double frontage to Phils River and 2.7km of single frontage to Berrells Creek supported by 25 dams.
Infrastructure includes an historic, fully renovated four-bedroom home, a four-stand shearing shed, steel sheep yards and numerous sheds.
The sale was handled by LAWD’s Col Medway.
Capable of running 7650 Dry Sheep Equivalents, Hazeldean has a history of carrying 3000 Merino ewes joined to terminal sires for store lamb production and can run 150 cows on agistment in a weaner production system.
Iconic Tasmania property sells after two years
An iconic property in Tasmania’s Central Highlands has sold to a high-net-worth Tasmanian family for around $30 million.
In 2023, the 4353ha Hermitage near Waddamana, 17km from Bothwell, was offered for sale after 32 years of ownership by Melbourne businessman John Rose.
Two years down the track, Elders agent Rob Dixon and Knight Frank agent Mark Ranicar said following a successful expression of interest campaign, the property has settled based on the commercial terms of the contract.
During the marketing campaign, Mr Ranicar said the Hermitage offered a significant land offering in an area synonymous with farming, shooting and fishing.
“Hermitage is of such a size that it was gazetted as a locality of its own in 1966. While it is run as a mixed grazing operation, the infrastructure on the property means it could transition to other sectors, including some limited cropping due to seasonal patterns.”
Historically operated as an intensive grazing and cropping enterprise than can run 30,000DSE, the property has been producing beef cattle and wool.
Water is sourced from 38km of frontage to the Shannon River and River Ouse, with a five-span centre pivot and flood irrigation tapping into 17km of the Shannon River.
Infrastructure includes a double-storey, five-bedroom Georgian sandstone homestead (circa 1822), a three-bedroom manager’s dwelling, a one-bedroom cottage (circa 1823), an historic hunting lodge, a shearing shed, a shearers quarters, sheep and cattle yards, stables and numerous sheds.
Rob Woodward pays $8.5m for SA’s Orlunda Downs
Swan Hill’s Rob Woodward has paid $8.5 million for a well-established grazing and farming enterprise in South Australia’s Coorong.
Listed by the Scobie family after 60 years ownership, the 2650ha Orlunda Downs (including 45ha of leased scrub area) is located near Salt Creek and 50km south of Meningie.
After failing to sell at auction in October last year, it was eventually sold by Elders agents Grant Schubert and Mike Lind.
Orlunda Downs focusses on prime beef and lamb production alongside an annual cropping program.
Offering potential for further growth, the Scobies had been conservatively running 500 ewes and lambs, 550 dry ewes, 400 cows and calves and 280 cattle for finishing.
The diverse soil types range from sand over clay to red and brown fertile loams suited to growing malt barley, canola, peas, triticale, lucerne seed, oats and vetch for hay.
During their ownership, the family planted thousands of trees and shrubs, with the late Mark Scobie explaining, “the main goal was to achieve a regenerative effect and leave the land in better condition than we found it for future generations, all while still maintaining a profitable business.”
Water is supplied by SA water mains, a dam, an equipped bore and three rainwater storage tanks, supported by 480mm of average annual rainfall.
Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, a four-stand shearing shed, cattle and sheep yards and numerous sheds. Orlunda Downs was also offered with feedlot approval for 480 standing cattle units.
120 years of ownership ends with sale of SA’s Rundles
For Peter and Jill Rundle, 120 years of family ownership has ended with a neighbour securing their grazing property in the heart of South Australia’s Southern Mallee.
The 2039ha Rundles is 14km south of Lameroo and was purchased for $8.5 million on a walk in walk out basis by the adjoining landowner for grazing and seed potatoes.
The well-known couple were early adopters of Dorper breeding in the district and had been running a 2220 head commercial sheep operation and cropping 400ha of triticale or feed grains.
The country also lends itself to cattle backgrounding on veldt grass.
During the marketing campaign, Elders agent Adam Chilcott said Rundles offered scope to further increase the arable black soil flats for intensive cropping, while maintaining an optimum flock or herd.
Water is supplied by two equipped bores and seven dams, supported by 355mm of average rainfall.
During their ownership, the Rundles carried out extensive capital improvements to fencing, yards and water connectivity, with the infrastructure including a home, additional quarters, sheep yards and numerous sheds.
The 2039ha Rundles is 14km south of Lameroo and was purchased for $8.5 million on a walk in walk out basis by the adjoining landowner for grazing and seed potatoes.