‘Dorisvale Station,’ along with its 15,000 head cattle herd, has been listed for sale after more than four decades of ownership under the Harrower family.
The 67,500ha cattle station is located 350 km south-west of Darwin NT, and has been listed with a price guide of $18m, with an additional $750/head for all cattle over 100kg.
‘Dorisvale Station’ is a productive cattle breeding enterprise, with the included 15,000 head cattle herd consisting of predominantly Brahman cattle, of which 6,700 are breeders.
The property possesses strong opportunity for dryland cropping pursuits, with an average annual rainfall of 1,100ml with a rich black and Kandosol soil combination.
320ha has been sown to Jarra and is being used for stock feed.
The region is renowned for receiving the first and last big rains of the wet season. Developed water infrastructure includes the expansion of water points and the transition to solar bores across the property.
Natural surface water sources include Bradshaw Creek, the Daly River, numerous springs and creeks throughout, as well as the Oolloo, Tindal and Jinduckin aquifers.
It has potential for further operational expansion with the potential to lease neighbouring properties (previously leased by current owners), which would provide an additional 108,500 ha.
The property is close to the new cotton gin facility at Katherine and the live export market at the Port of Darwin, supporting multiple farming ventures.
Structural improvements include a homestead, large workshop and accommodation for management and staff, as well as improved fencing and laneway systems as well as upgrades to the main cattle yards.
Olivia Thompson of LAWD is handling the sale.
AAM Investment Group Sells $90M+ Sunshine Farms Aggregation in NSW Central West
Substantial capital was invested into enhancing the property, including a comprehensive irrigation upgrade. Pic: Supplied.
One of Australia’s largest agricultural investment entities, AAM Investment Group, has completed the sale of a five-farm aggregation totalling to 14,074ha near Forbes in NSW Central West.
The ‘Sunshine Farms Aggregation,’ was put on the market by AAM last August and is understood to have met the projected sale price of $90 million plus.
The purchase was made by Nuveen Natural Capital, a branch of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America and College Retirement Equities Fund, one of the world’s largest global investors in farmland.
This acquisition expands Nuveen's substantial $2.3 billion portfolio in Australia, which already includes over 70 properties spanning more than 860,000 ha of farmland. The investor primarily runs leased cropping country such as cereals, cotton and oilseed.
The aggregation is spread throughout a 25km radius, across the holdings: Bergen Park (2,835ha), Warili (1,111ha), Glencoe (3,666ha), Sunshine (4,820ha), and Round Cowal (1,643ha).
‘Sunshine’ and ‘Round Cowal’ were purchased by AAM in 2020, with an inclusive 925ML river water licence for a total price of $16m.
Over the course of four years under AAM's ownership, substantial capital was invested into enhancing the property, including a comprehensive irrigation upgrade.
The developments included the laser-levelling of over 2,100 ha for flood irrigation, supporting the cultivation of cotton, wheat, barley, faba beans, and various fodder crops used in beef, wool, and prime lamb production.
The property was well resourced with 11,556ML of general security water from the Jemalong Irrigation Scheme, 2,050ML from the Lachlan River, 1,160ML of Upper Lachlan Alluvial groundwater, and 300ML of on-farm storage capacity.
Garry Edwards, AAM's managing director, noted that the farm operations would proceed with most of the current workforce retained.
Kinross legacy in new hands
The Weekly Times reports that 1,300 ha of the once historic 28,300 ha Kinross Station, near Holbrook, has been purchased by another farming family with interests in beef.
The 1,307 ha 'Stonehaven Station' was put on the market in June last year by David Gittoes of Elders, with an estimated price tag of $20 million.
Stonehaven spans more than 1300ha, located in the southern NSW Riverina. Pic: Supplied
The current price has not been disclosed and title records show the sale took place on 19 February.
Located 14 km from Holbrook, Stonehaven was marketed as having 675-700 mm of rainfall, with 22 large surface dams and a fully reticulated trough system. It sits on alluvial creek flats, gentle rising red loams, to a low granite hill.
It has a carrying capacity of 1,000+ breeders, with covered modern cattle yards, feed containment yards, a new machinery shed, and eight silos. It also includes a seven-stand woolshed with fully concreted sheep yards.
A feature of the property is the six-bedroom 1920s fully renovated homestead.
According to The Weekly Times, the sellers were dairy farmers Travis and Julia Cox, who bought Stonehaven for $11m in 2019 after selling their Bembaala Farms aggregation in Katunga to GoFarm for $7.1m.
$30m ‘Fattening-Factory’ for sale in New England’s Golden Triangle
'Lakeside' Walcha, is being offered by Armidale-based beef producers Jackson Agriculture. Pic: Supplied.
The ‘Lakeside’ property located 30km south-east of Walcha, has been listed for sale with expectations of $30m plus for auction next month.
Regarded as one of the premier livestock holdings along the east coast, Lakeside spans 1,504 ha and is positioned within the coveted "golden triangle" southeast of Walcha.
The property is located 30km south-east of Walcha, 93km from Armidale and 120km from Tamworth.
Situated in the St Leonards Creek/Brackendale district, ‘Lakeside’ has been developed into a high-performance beef cattle fattening operation.
The holding’s carrying capacity is 30,000 to 35,000 DSE with estimates of carrying 1,500 to 1,750 cows, fattening 3,000 steers/year, or backgrounding 4,500 steers/year.
‘Lakeside’ is being offered by Armidale-based Jackson Agriculture, who pride themselves on their pasture quality, producing 100% grass fed beef across their New England holdings.
“The quality of our pasture helps us grow cattle from 350kg to 625kgs within a 12-month period, given a good season,” according to Jackson Agriculture.
‘Lakeside’ pastures support weight gains of approximately 0.8-0.9kg/day support annualised gains of 300kg/head.
Notable property attributes include elevation of 4,000 ft above sea level, fertile black basalt soils, with predominantly fescue-based pastures.
The holding is watered by spring-fed creeks travelling through 19 paddocks and 60 dams in a 1000mm rainfall region.
The property is subdivided into 57 main paddocks with three laneway systems all leading to the main undercover ‘all steel’ stock yards.
Improvements include a four-bedroom home, steel cattle yards, a near new six-stand shearing shed and sheep yards. Pic: Supplied.
Chris Meares, Chief Executive for selling agency Meares & Associates, stated "Lakeside is undoubtedly one of the prime fattening holdings of the Niangala/Walcha region”
“Whilst many fatteners in the area have concentrated on backgrounding steers mainly to feed lot weights the owners of Lakeside have purchased heavier steers and with the addition of a further 300 kg over 12 months have supplied their premium beef outlets.”
Chris Meares and Sam Meares of Meares & Associates will be handling the sale.
Lakeside is to be offered for sale via Meares Online Auction 23rd April 2024, closing 12noon 24th April 2024 if not sold prior.
Multi-million Monaro property to change hands after six decades
‘Whinstone Valley,’ a 961ha mixed grazing property, nestled in the high rainfall region of North-Eastern Monaro, NSW has entered the market with price expectations of $5m plus, with estimates of over $5,202/ha.
Purchased in 1964, the property has been conservatively operated. ‘Whinstone Valley’ ran full-time until 2008, when the vendor chose to semi-retire and concentrate solely on their cattle business.
The landscape is undulating with timber shelter belts ideal for breeding. Pic: Supplied.
The property is supporting 400 agistment merino ewes in addition to 75 cows and calves. Prior to the semi-retirement of the vendor, the property supported a 1500-head Merino sheep flock and a self-replacing cattle herd comprising 30 cows in a spring calving system.
The landscape is undulating with timber shelter belts ideal for breeding. Elevation varies from 1,010m -1,270m Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL).
The pastures consist of a mix of improved perennial species covering 500 ha, including phalaris, cocksfoot, and clover, alongside native grass and clover pastures.
Before 2008, both the improved and native grazing areas were annually treated with 110 kg/ha of single superphosphate, indicating potential for increased carrying capacity.
With an annual average rainfall of 718 mL, water is secured and reliably sourced across infrastructure including 33 dams, a bore, and a reticulated water system supplying a network of nine water troughs, with additional natural creek systems and water courses.
Operational infrastructure includes 100 tonne in total silo grain storage, sheep and cattle yards, three-stand raised board wool shed, machinery shed and workshop. The property is well fenced for sheep and cattle.
Previously serving as a post office, the homestead (circa 1890), undertook renovation in the early 1990’s, and has two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Expression of Interest for ‘Whinstone Valley’ is closing Thursday 7 March 2024. Col Medway and Tim Corcoran of LAWD, are handling the sale.
Victorian Dairy Fund Manager Acquires 700ha Tasmanian Farmland from Controversial Chinese Billionaire
A Victorian dairy investment firm has successfully acquired 700 ha of historic farmland in north-west Tasmania, in a deal reportedly valued at $15m.
Prime Dairy, the dairy farming division of Melbourne-based investment company Prime Value Asset Management, has finalised the deal with the Chinese-backed enterprise Van Dairy Group, securing a portion of the renowned Woolnorth aggregation.
The portion of the Woolnorth aggregation is marked “the final asset in the $230 m unlisted fund, promising investors total returns over the medium to long-term of more than 12 per cent,” the Financial Review reported.
This marks the second occasion that Prime Value Asset Management has acquired assets from Van Dairy Group, following a previous transaction in 2021, where they acquired 11 properties, including 5000 cows and 2200 ha of land in Circular Head for $62.5m.
After three years, Prime Value Asset Management now have a dairy portfolio spanning 5000 ha across north-west Tasmania and south-west Victoria, sufficient to meet its objective of supporting 10,000 dairy cows, as stated by Kirsti Keightley, the General Manager of Dairy Investments at Prime Dairy.
Legacy on the Market: 'Toora Station'—112-Year Family-Owned Darling Anabranch grazing and cropping enterprise up for sale
'Toora Station' has been held within one family for 112 years and consists of three Western Land Leases (WLL's), comprising a total land area of 8,429ha.
The property is on offer by Collin Andrews, who determined that they lacked the necessary time and resources to effectively manage the property moving forward.
The property is priced with a guide of $3m plus, with estimates of approximately $374/ha.
The property is located 50 km north of Wentworth, 70 km northwest of Mildura, 85 km southwest of Pooncarie, 317km km northeast of Adelaide, with primary access from Silver City Highway or Anabranch Mail Road.
The estimated carrying capacity is 2,600 DSE under average seasonal conditions, suitable for breeding merino sheep, dorpers or cattle.
The property is subdivided into 21 main paddocks and 6 holding paddocks. The land system and topography is flat to slightly undulating, with soft red loam soil types. Pic: Supplied.
Property highlights include the broadacre cultivation license for 1,000ha of cleared arable land suitable for dry land cereal cropping or pasture improvement for livestock, complimented with a 62MLgeneral security water license for irrigation.
Water is secured through the pressurised Anabranch water supply, as well as a private internal pipeline system, suppling water to receiving tanks and troughs throughout the property.
Additionally, the property has dual frontage to the Great Darling Anabranch Creek, draining into Lake Toora in high rivers, where further water can be sourced.
Pastures consist of open grass plains with scattered blue bush, pearl bush, copper burr, cannon ball, abundant short grasses, annual forbs, and medics. Timbered with Belah, Rosewood, Cabbage Bush, Neila, Box and Mallee.
Agent Michael Fernandez, of Nutrien Harcourts Mildura said 'Toora Station' “represents a generational and unique opportunity to purchase a livestock breeding and grazing enterprise with broadacre cropping capabilities if desired,” Mr Fernandez said.
Accommodation includes a four-bedroom plus office homestead and three-bedroom cottage. The complex holds a machinery shed/workshop, crutching shed with adjoining yards.
For sale by Expressions of Interest closing 11.00am on Friday 26th April. Michael Fernandez, Nutrien Harcourts Mildura is handling the sale.
Established Beef Farmers buy Gippsland farm for over $37,000/ha
Penny Gandar has sold her Gippsland farm at Catani, in a deal worth more than $37,000/ha . Pic: Supplied.
Penny Gandar, Dairy Producer and owner of ‘Caldermeade Farm & Cafe,’ has successfully sold her Gippsland farm in Catani, fetching a price exceeding $37,000/ha, totalling over $5.7m reports The Weekly Times.
The Catani farm, spread across three titles, was put on the market last October and has been purchased by established beef farmers from South Gippsland, Jonathan Koolstra and family.
The 156ha property is located 4km east of Catani and just 77km from the Melbourne CBD, with an average annual rainfall of 861mL.
Mr. Koolstra operates a mixed beef and lamb venture across nearby Poowong, Loch, and Yannathan farms, with the Catani farm complimenting their existing landholdings in the region.
Mrs Gandar and her late husband, John, purchased the farm in 2019. The property served as a backup for their dairy herd, accommodating a cattle herd of 280-340 head, alongside stocking goats to support their goat milk production.
The Catani farm pastures consist of perennial rye-grass, divided into 47 main paddocks, and featured a 50-unit rotary dairy equipped with Milka-Ware milking machines.
The sale was facilitated by Colliers Agribusiness national director Duncan McCulloch and Thomas Quinn.