Size: 590ha
Location: Mukatah, Victoria
Sale method: EOI (no closing date yet)
Price guide: N/A
A Northern Victorian property that’s embracing the future of dairy farming has hit the market, offering rural investors a unique turnkey operation.
The 590ha dairy farm at 132 McPherson Rd, Muckatah, features a state-of-the-art, 12-month-old, purpose-built milking shed with 14 DeLaval robots in operation.
For sale via expression of interest with Nutrien Harcourts Cobram, agent Andrew Gilmour said the long-term family owned and developed dairy farm was offered for sale on a complete walk-in, walk-out basis and, if the buyer desired, included current management staying on to ensure continued increased productivity.
“It’s almost a one-off (opportunity), with the way it’s set up with the robots and automatic milking,” he said.
“In terms of labour, it’s the future. It’s the future of dairy.
“That’s because labour is getting so hard to get and (it’s good for) cow management.”
The dairy is currently milking about 1100 cows in various stages of location and about 900 replacements.
The milk storage vat holds up to 54,000L, there’s two new 1200-cow feed pads broken into four pods and various concrete laneways, washdown drains, allied equipment and air-conditioned office.
Other features include a 44-stand rotary dairy with auto draft and ID system, plus a 700-cow yard, six residences, full farming plant and well-developed irrigation setup.
Mr Gilmour said as yet there was no closing date on the EOI, and the property had already “attracted a few nibbles” of interest.
“It’s a turnkey operation and the guys that currently own it are prepared to stay on and manage it if the investors want that,” he said.
Size: 433ha
Location: Kanimbla Rd, Holbrook, NSW
Sale price: $10 million-plus
A mixed farming enterprise north of Holbrook has sold to local buyers for what’s believed to be in excess of $10 million.
Comprising 433ha (1,069 acres), ‘North Broadway’ attracted both local and national interest.
While the final sale price remains undisclosed, a pre-sale price guide of in excess of $10,000 per acre was quoted.
Elders Nick Myer and Henry Mackinnon sold the property, which is located 10km north of Holbrook.
“‘North Broadway’ was a highly productive and versatile farming investment opportunity offering absolute frontage to Billabong Creek,” Mr Myer said.
He said the property was suitable for mixed farming, with the vendors specialising in small seed production, winter cropping, prime lamb, wool and cattle.
In addition to creek frontage, Mr Myer said an attractive attribute of North Broadway was its natural water supply with several natural catchment dams, solar bore and well, trough network and 40,000L of water storage.
“It also had highly productive and versatile soil profiles,” he said.
Other improvements include cattle and sheep yards, and grain storage.
Size: 66.41ha
Location: 419 Vasse-Yallingup Siding Rd, Marybrook, WA
Sale method: EOI closing 1pm (AWST), January 23
Sale price: N/A
A prime 66.41ha property in Western Australia’s South West is on the market, offering potential buyers access to one of the state’s premier agriculture and tourism regions.
Conveniently located 235km from Perth and near Vasse, Busselton, Dunsborough, and Margaret River, ‘Marybrook’ is perfectly positioned for those seeking a rural lifestyle with city connectivity.
LAWD Director Simon Wilkinson said ‘Marybrook’s’ access to secure water supplies opened up a range of possibilities for future use.
“While the property is currently used for cattle breeding, backgrounding and finishing, it has potential for a range of uses, from horticulture to viticulture, equestrian, or hay and silage production,” he said.
“Marybrook’s access to water is a highlight, with the property holding a 138 megalitre groundwater licence, and potential to access an additional 57 megalitres annually from the Carbanup River on its western boundary.”
The gently sloping land features original timber of Marri, Peppermint, and Paperbark, complemented by fertile Marybrook soils.
Fertiliser applications have maintained productive pastures, with the property configured into 12 paddocks featuring a mix of fencing and a central laneway for livestock and machinery.
Additional infrastructure includes two brick homes, sheds for machinery and hay, a workshop, and cattle yards.
Electricity is supplied via an underground network with provision for three-phase power.
Marybrook is for sale by Expression of Interest, closing at 1pm (AWST) on January 23.
Size: 225,405ha
Location: NSW
Sale price: $780 million
The Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) has approved the $780 million sale of Australian Food and Agriculture’s (AFA) 225,000ha NSW property portfolio to Agriculture & Natural Solutions Acquisition Corporation (ANSC).
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers confirmed the government had no objection to the sale, which was signed in August 2024.
AFA is a large-scale, diversified agricultural business established by the late Colin Bell in 1993, with the acquisition of ‘Burrabogie Station’.
The AFA owned 18 properties across the Riverina and central-west NSW, totalling 225,405ha, including the iconic ‘Boonoke’, ‘Burrabogie’, ‘Wanganella’ and ‘Wingadee’.
The NSW portfolio supported more than 100,000 commercial and stud Merino sheep and 15,000 head of cattle.
When it announced the deal in August, ANSC said it sought to acquire AFA due to its uniquely attractive fundamentals, including its geographically diverse and integrated land portfolio, extensive water entitlements ensuring flexibility and security, and strong revenue diversification mitigating climate and market risks.
Additionally, AFA's premium Merino genetics, consistent 16% annual returns, and potential for significant growth in agribusiness, carbon credits, and renewable energy made it a compelling investment opportunity.
David Leuschen, Chairman of the board of directors of ANSC, said the corporation was thrilled to combine with AFA.
“We view Australia as a leader in the application of new techniques to meaningfully decarbonise agriculture and we believe that AFA represents a once in a generation chance to combine with a major Australian agriculture company, operating three marquee aggregations including some of Australia’s most iconic properties,” he said.
ANSC is publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Kylie Dulhunty is a journalist with more than 20 years experience covering everything from court to health. Today, Kylie loves nothing more than turning market trends, industry insights and epic property sales - residential, rural and commercial into captivating stories.