Property

Property Roundup: $40m Cunnamulla Aggregation for sale

Written by Alex McLaughlin | Mar 13, 2024 1:00:00 PM

 

The 80,887ha ‘Talbalba Aggregation’, that straddles the border between QLD and NSW, is on the market for $40million, or about $494/ha, and is expected to appeal to buyers interested in investing in natural capital. 

LAWD Director, Simon Cudmore, said the size and improvement of properties within the aggregation would make it appealing to natural capital groups looking to develop future projects.  

“Significant investment by the Grimwade family over the past five years has developed ‘Talbalba’ into a substantial turnkey livestock aggregation and holdings of this size, scale and level of development are rarely offered to the market,” Mr Cudmore said. 

The ‘Talbalba Aggregation’ is 195km southeast of Cunnamulla and consists of five freehold titles and four grazing homestead perpetual leases, under the four holdings; ‘Talbalba’, ‘Barrygowan’, ‘Mintaka’, and ‘Dunsandle Station’.  

Owned by Will Grimwade, the aggregation also comes with the opportunity for the successful buyer to buy the current herd of 50,000 goats. 

The Grimwade family have undertaken extensive property development with recent infrastructure developments including the exclusion fencing of the aggregations boundary to control feral pests which has “boosted the productivity through being able to lock up and spell paddocks”, Mr Grimwade said. 

The aggregation has a combined carrying capacity of 40,000DSE with the western part of the aggregation running Dorpers, as well as 50,000 rangelands goats with the potential to take on agistment cattle.  

The sale is being handled by LAWD Senior Director Col Medway, who stated the “strategic position of the aggregation between the two major east coast goat processors at Charleville and Bourke provides flexible marketing options”. 

The properties have all-weather access providing reliant access to both goat processing facilities. 

The average annual rainfall is 397mm, with dual frontage to the Noorama and Widgeegoara creek systems.  

The successful buyer will have the option to purchase the herd of approximately 50,000 goats. Pic: Supplied

The aggregation has a diverse profile of dry feed including Mitchell, Flinders and Buffel grass, with flood plains that provide highly productive herbage. 

The ‘Talbalba Aagregation’ offers a mix of 34,452ha of wooded alluvial plains, 13,431ha of brigalow, 13,745ha of mulga sandplains, 13,949ha of mulga, 4,679ha of gidgee, 472ha of poplar box woodlands and 149ha of open alluvial plains. 

The primary residence is the ‘Talbalba’ homestead, 195km south-east of Cunnamulla. The complex contains a modern four-bedroom home, new governess accommodation and a seven-bedroom shearers’ quarters, as well as a workshop and large shearing and machinery sheds. 

Additionally, there is a manager’s residence situated at ‘Barrygowan’, 135km south-east of Cunnamulla, which has a four-bedroom homestead, school room and additional accommodation for staff. ‘Barrygowan’ has an airstrip and hangar a well as various sheds, with new sheep and goat yards. 

The ‘Talbalba Aggregation’ is being offered for private sale via Col Medway and Simon Cudmore of LAWD. 

9,573ha Lachlan River aggregation hits the market

The Woorilla Homestead is a well-maintained five-bedroom residence. Pic: Supplied.

The Woorilla Aggregation has entered the market after more than a century of ownership under one family. The aggregation consists of three pastoral estates spanning over 9,573ha situated along the banks of the Lachlan River. 

Located 38km from Hillston on the Riverina Plains, the parcel has dual frontage to both the Lachlan River (5km) and Merrowie Creek (10km). 

The property trio consists of: ‘Woorilla’ 4,577ha, ‘Tarrawonga’ 2,904 ha and ‘Walkers’ 2,092 ha, with a combined figure of 9,573ha.  

The aggregation’s conservative management practices have resulted in maintained native grasslands.  

With an estimated carrying capacity of 3,500-4,000 Merino ewes and followers, and history of strategic cattle trading and fattening, the property offers a solid foundation for agricultural productivity.  

It’s positioned adjacent to irrigated cotton and wheat fields, almond orchards, and intensive cropping operations, so there is ample scope for further development. 

Secure water infrastructure includes six wind and solar-powered bores. Additionally, the property holds an 8ML stock and domestic water license, as well as a 972ML General Security River Lachlan River water license, along with approval for 221ha of cultivated irrigation. 

The soil profile consists of red loams and clay-rich vertosol cracking soils.  

Accommodation includes the Woorilla Homestead, a well-maintained five-bedroom residence, as well as renovated shearers’ quarters. 

Working infrastructure includes a five-stand shearing shed equipped with Heiniger gear, multiple sets of steel sheep yards, modern cattle yards and a large machinery shed with a concrete floor. 

The selling agent is Sam Triggs for Inglis Rural Property and will be interfaced through AuctionsPlus.

Consolidated Pastoral Co snaps up 15,347ha station in central west QLD

One of Australia’s largest privately owned cattle companies has purchased the 15,347ha ‘Linamar Station,’ in QLD central west.

The CEO of the Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) Troy Setter announced that the firm was “excited to add Linamar Station in the Isisford/Blackall region to our portfolio.”

The 15,347ha ‘Linamar,’ is located 47km south of Isisford and 120km south-west of Blackall. The property was listed as two freehold titles within the Longreach Regional Council area. It will add toa portfolio that stretches across 3.2m ha.

The acquisition of ‘Linamar,’ “will strengthen the business adding more growing land to cater for the increasing fertility in Northern Australian breeding herd and our growing natural capital business.” Mr Setter said in a social media post.

Listed with Nutrien Harcourts GDL agent Andrew McCallum, ‘Linamar’ was previously passed-in at $10.1M in October 2023. The recent sale price is currently undisclosed. Listed with Nutrien Harcourts GDL agent Andrew McCallum, ‘Linamar’ was previously passed-in at $10.1m ($660/ha) in October 2023. The recent sale price is currently undisclosed.

Linamar has cattle yards, sheep yards and a new set of pastoral panel sheep and goat yards. Picture: Supplied.

The property is conveniently located within the same district as CPC’s renowned ‘Isis Downs,’ secured by the company in 1987.

After subsequent acquisition of nine surrounding properties, ‘Isis Downs’ consists of a 246,057ha aggregation capable of running 21,000 cattle in favourable seasons.

Just 70 km down-the-road, ‘Linamar’ is conducive to breeding, growing, and finishing around 800 breeder cattle or sheep and/or goat equivalents.

Historically, ‘Linamar,’ has been utilised as a primary holding for the Will and Marcelle Chandler’s wool-growing enterprise, where over 3.6M was contributed towards exclusion fencing on both ‘Linamar’ and ‘Oma’ stations, under ownership of the Chandler family.

However, ‘Linamar’ may follow suit to ‘Isis Downs,’ where in 2004, CPC decided to operate the property solely for cattle.

The flexible grazing enterprise is well supported by the developed water infrastructure, with recent developments including the recent introduction of a bore in 2021 which supplies water to troughs and tanks across the property, with backup water sourced from sub bores, dams, and semi-permanent waterholes in creek channels.

Further property highlights include a six-bedroom home, separate cattle, sheep, and goat yards with drafting and loading facilities, and is well located to take advantage of Blackall cattle selling centre and Longreach.

The sale was handled via Andrew McCallum, Nutrien Harcourts GDL, Dalby.

Rare Macquarie River property up for grabs

'Bowen Park' represents a tightly held and much sought after farming and grazing operation with 3.4km of Macquarie River frontage. Pic: Supplied

The listing of ‘Bowen Park’, located at Gin Gin 75km north west of Dubbo, marks a rare opportunity for prospective buyers in the Macquarie Valley region.  

Situated along the Macquarie River, the 3,250ha property is equipped for cotton and cereal cropping as well as grazing with 3.4km of river frontage and further irrigation water entitlements.  

Owned by the Miller family since 1952, brothers Anthony, Mark and Stephen anticipate upwards of $40M for the property. 

With at least 95% of the land considered arable, the sale of ‘Bowen Park’ is a significant event in the local real estate landscape, with few comparable properties being offered in recent years. 

Water sustainability is a key feature, with significant entitlements including: 

  • 3,888 MgL of General Security Macquarie River entitlements. 

  • 296 MgL of supplementary water. 

  • 86 MgL per year of Flood Plain Harvesting entitlements. 

  • On-site storage facilities with 703 MgL capacity. 

  • Eight equipped bores and 14 major dams. 

Further highlights of the property include: 

  • 457ha of flood irrigation primarily used for cotton and wheat rotation with an additional 972 ha of dry land cropping country. 

  • The balance currently is rated to carry up to 330 breeding cows or 6,000 sheep. 

  • A further 80% of the grazing country (1,505 ha) could be farmed and is suitable for irrigated cotton, cereal and oil seed crops. 

Farming facilities include 470 tonne on-farm grain storage, a large set of steel cattle yards, a five-stand woolshed alongside various hay and machinery sheds. 

Accommodation includes a well-maintained original four-bedroom brick homestead, with established gardens and a swimming pool. There are two recently renovated, three-bedroom homes also on the premises. 

Storage facilities throughout the property service underground, river and rainwater supplies. Pic: Supplied

Located about 470 km from Sydney and 75km from the regional city of Dubbo, ‘Bowen Park’ is close to cotton gins and grain receival facilities as well as a major airport, and livestock exchange. 

The property will be auctioned via Meares Online Auction on May 1st, and concluding on May 2nd, unless sold prior. Chris Meares and Sam Meares of Meares & Associates are handling the sale.  

Adjoining historic Southern Tableland holdings sell to Sydney-based investor 

A Sydney-based investor has recently acquired two neighboring properties in the NSW Southern Tablelands, covering a total of 1337ha, with an estimated price tag of about $20M. 

Last year, the recently departed chair of Farmers for Climate Action, Charlie Prell listed historic family property ‘Gundowringa’, 865ha, alongside the adjoining ‘Pejar’, 472ha, owned by Sam and Alannah Gordon, on the market with anticipated offers of $11-12M and $6.5-7.5M, respectively. 

‘Gundowringa’ is located 17km from Crookwell, 121km from Canberra, and 227km from Sydney. The sale marked the end of four generations of farming history, spanning nearly 120 years. 

The Prell family concluded a significant chapter in the sale of ‘Gundowringa’, home to a high-performing Corriedale stud and Angus herd, with a carrying capacity of 9000 to 11,000 dry sheep equivalent, while also offering $226,800 per annum income from 13 wind turbines via a 30-year lease agreement.  

The property features a 1905 stone homestead. Pic: Supplied

The adjoining property ‘Pejar’ previously owned by the Gordon family, was listed as an “ideal rural property” with versatile C3 zoning allowing for a multitude of agricultural or lifestyle pursuits.  

Prominent land features included 6km of frontage to Pejar Dam and 3ML water access license.  

Centrally situated 25km from Crookwell, 26km from Goulburn, 115km from Canberra CBD and 220km from Sydney CBD, the productive and fertile country consisted of mostly cleared, undulating grazing country with a history of fertiliser investment and an estimated carrying capacity of 5,500 DSE. 

'Pejar' has been lightly-stocked since 2017 and previously only ran 120 joined Angus cows, 80 steers and heifers, and 1,500 ewes. Pic: Supplied

Both sales were handled by Inglis Rural Property agent Sam Triggs. No further comment has been disclosed regarding the recent sales.

 

QLD property set to turn heads in upcoming sale 

’Delmar’, a 10,5712ha located 55km south west of Bollon QLD, and acquired in 2021 by Steve Booth, is now for sale and set for auction on April 12.  

The property includes 6475ha of reasonably level land with gilgais and shallow channels. Pic: Supplied

Farmonline reports the south west Queensland property has been lightly stocked to encourage pasture regeneration following development efforts and has been supporting about 450 cows with their offspring sold as weaners, along with a fluctuating population of 1000 to 3000 goats. 

Located 55km south west of Bollon, ‘Delmar’ is held under a single freehold title with enhanced wet weather access of 20km of bitumen road leading to the property. 

It features 6475ha of reasonably level land with gilgais and shallow channels.  

In January 2022, 4855ha underwent development, being pulled and seeded with Buffel grass and Silk Sorghum. Predominant pastures include Buffel and Mitchell grass, complemented with native varieties. 

The property also has 4050ha of undulating red mulga country, eucalyptus swamps and watercourses. The boundary is well-fenced, with exclusion fencing on two sides.  

‘Delmar’ prioritises water infrastructure, with a share flowing bore equipped to feed 23 poly tanks supplying 27 cement stock troughs as well as three dams, two wells, swamps and creeks. The watershed extending from the Western edge to north of the Balonne Highway provides overland flow for 60% of the property. 

Additional infrastructure includes cattle yards, a shearing shed and shearers quarters. The property's main residence is a four-bedroom home with a workshop and storage shed. 

‘Delmar’ effectively combines Mulga terrain with level, heavier open country, ideal for backgrounding or fattening livestock. No price guide was offered for the property. 

Rob Wildermuth of Ray White Rural QLD is handling the sale.