The 671,277ha Balladonia Aggregation in Western Australia’s Goldfields–Esperance pastoral region has been placed under offer.

THE 671,277ha Balladonia Aggregation in Western Australia’s Goldfields–Esperance pastoral region has been placed under offer by agent, Greg Smith from Elders.

The lease aggregation includes four stations known as Balladonia, Nanambinia, Woorlba and Noondoonia is rated to run 6300 cattle units and was advertised earlier for $8.5 million, walk-in, walk-out, with 5300 cattle, representing $1350 per cattle unit.

The group of properties, all located in the Shire of Dundas, was the largest pastoral lease on the WA market in the past 12 months.

The holdings are located about 200km east of the town of Norseman on the Eyre highway.

Land types range from open saltbush and bluebush grass plains to eucalypt woodlands and low granite rises. An extensive plant list included in the deal included an R22 Helicopter, D9 equivalent dozer, 50 tonne excavator, tri drive prime mover with 100 tonne low loader.

Improvements include the main homestead complex at Balladonia, plus homesteads at Nanambinia, Woorlba and Noondoonia. There has been significant works done to the water infrastructure and 180km of cattle fencing done in the last few years. The country has a good reputation for high fertility, good growth rates and a mild climate. Average rainfall over the last 30 years has been 300mm per annum.

Western Australia has had rain events in some agricultural regions recently, after a dry start to the year.

In its latest monthly property review, Herron Todd White lists a series of sigificant sales across the region this year:

In January, Minni Downs near Varley was purchased for $8.9 million. This property was formerly three farms known as Fretwells, Mini Downs and Rockwater that were aggregated into one. The property has a total land area of 7556ha and is serviced by two sets of structural improvements including houses and sheds. That sale price reflects $1178/ha improved.

In May, the Green Range district property Kangaroo Valley sold for $5.2 million. The 1375ha property developed for cropping and grazing has with structural improvements including a four-bedroom house, a number of sheds and good yards and water infrastructure. The property is reasonably close to Albany on the South Coast and has highway frontage. Analysis of the sales price indicates $3780 per hectare improved.

“There have also been a number of other transactions this year in WA, and the ‘confidence needle’ continued to lean towards the positive side of the scale, Herron Todd White reported.

A notable off-market sale in the state’s pastoral region late last year was Cooralya and Boologooro Station near Carnarvon. Owned by the Wright family, the 231,885ha property sold for $8 million.