Four exceptional rural properties across NSW, Victoria, and the Riverina have hit the market, presenting opportunities for grazing, cropping, and renewable energy projects. Meanwhile, Ferrero Rocher’s former ‘Dellapool’ aggregation has been snapped up by an Aussie buyer.
READ MORE: Rural property review: the hits, the misses and what's going to happen next
Size: 4246ha
Location: Ashford
Sale method: EOI closing 12pm (AEDT) October 17
Price guide: N/A
A three property aggregation in the highly sought New England region of NSW has hit the market, offering a prime opportunity for grazing and dryland cropping, as well as scope to diversify income via a soil carbon project, biodiversity offsets and renewable energy.
Gunn Agri Partners’ ‘Rosehill Aggregation’ comprises 4,246ha, located 56km northeast of Inverell.
Currently leased for the breeding and backgrounding of Wagyu cattle, the aggregation is made up of Rocky Creek (3,499.58ha), Hodges (488.01ha) and Leeton (258.39ha).
The annual rainfall of 725.8mm is underpinned by fertile soils and native and improved pastures, supporting a carrying capacity of 17,527DSE, with a further 1,043.63ha of arable land, which is suited to fodder production and cash crops in winter or summer.
A soil carbon project has been developed, and is ready for registration with the Clean Energy Regulator.
An ecological analysis report undertaken in 2022 also identified areas of significant biodiversity value on the aggregation, providing scope for a potential biodiversity stewardship agreement.
In its current format, the 1,466ha carbon project would operate for 25 years, with the aim of building soil carbon through best practice management, which is detailed in an existing land management strategy.
The property is in the New England Renewable Energy Zone and is transected by an existing high-voltage 330kVA power line. The vendor has received proposals from two solar project developers and one wind project developer, and preliminary due diligence has been undertaken.
LAWD Senior Director, Col Medway, said the ‘Rosehill Aggregation’s’ flexibility and strategic location presented a unique opportunity for buyers.
“The ‘Rosehill Aggregation’ presents a number of opportunities for the successful purchaser to retain and expand the livestock and cropping interests but also pursue options for renewable energy, carbon offsets and biodiversity credits,” Mr Medway said.
“Further enhancing the holding is its strategic location, central to numerous feedlot facilities, livestock selling centres, processors and grain handlers in New England and South East Queensland.”
The topography of the aggregation ranges from undulating arable land and open and timbered grazing to timbered hills, with tree species including Yellow Box, Apple Box, White Box, Grey Box, Red Gum, Stringy Bark, Iron Bark, Kurrajong and Pine.
A combination of self-mulching red and black basalt soils, granite and New England trap soils feature mainly native perennial grasses, with the addition of 44ha sown to Premier Digit grass and 776.9ha sown to Drover oats.
Secure stock water is sourced from numerous permanent and semi-permanent creek and river systems, 48 dams, a bore which is solar pumped to a 22,000L header tank, two wells and a spring-fed dam supplying reticulated water systems via an additional 22,000L header tank.
Accommodation is provided by the recently renovated manager’s residence and a three-bedroom weatherboard cottage at Rocky Creek, plus staff quarters at Hodges.
Other key infrastructure includes 160 tonnes of grain storage, cattle yards and sheep yards, a woolshed, workshop and machinery shedding.
‘Rosehill Aggregation’ is for sale by expression of interest closing 12pm (AEDT) October 17.
Size: 2681ha
Location: Narrandera
Sale price: N/A
Australian agricultural investment firm GO.FARM has acquired the prominent Riverina horticultural aggregation, ‘Dellapool’, in a deal believed to be worth about $80 million.
GO.FARM bought the 2681ha development asset near Narrandera, which was once owned by Ferrero, the manufacturer of Nutella, Ferrero Rocher and Kinder Surprise.
CBRE’s John Harrison, Matt Childs and James Auty negotiated the sale of the aggregation, which offered substantial water entitlements, modern infrastructure and enormous agricultural potential.
While a sale price for the property has not been made public, when ‘Dellapool’ was listed it was expected to attract offers in excess of $80 million.
“The sale of ‘Dellapool’ attracted significant interest from both national and international parties,” Mr Childs said.
“Given the quality of the infrastructure, the scale of the land, and the volume of water entitlements, this was a rare opportunity.”
Mr Harrison said the competitive campaign reflected the strong demand for large-scale irrigation properties in Australia.
“Aggregations of this calibre rarely come to market, and we’re pleased to have secured the sale to GO.FARM, whose commitment to responsible agriculture and transforming under-utilised assets aligns perfectly with the future of this property.”
GO.FARM focuses on land-use change, investment in technology, and sustainability.
Mr Harrison noted that the acquisition of ‘Dellapool’ represented the latest milestone in the firm’s mission to enhance Australia’s agricultural productivity.
GO.FARM has previously purchased properties such as Sandmount North, as part of a $150 million expansion.
Size: Mia Mia Aggregation 3,372.2ha/Landale Park Stud 12.14ha
Location: Purlewaugh, NSW/Ballan, Victoria
Sale method: EOI closing November 8 at 2pm/Sale by deadline ending October 16 at 4pm
Price guide: $22 million/$950,000 to $1.05 million
They might be marketed at vastly different price points but two “value for money” mixed grazing and farming enterprises have hit the market in NSW and Victoria.
Elders Gunnedah selling agent, Ian McArthur, said the ‘Mia Mia Aggregation’ was “one of the finest mixed grazing and farming enterprises in the renowned Purlewaugh Valley”, which is 25km east of Coonabarabran.
He said the 3,372.2ha aggregation has a mix of mainly black/chocolate heavy, self-mulching, rich basalt soils and quick responding red and sandy loams, along with 700mm rainfall, which provided an opportunity to grow a range of crops and pastures.
“It will show very good value compared to other areas of similar country and production, given that you can summer crop a lot of the cropping country, the soil types, the rainfall and its central location to markets,” Mr McArthur said.
Mr McArthur said the property was being sold via expression of interest, closing November 8 at 2pm, with a price guide of $22 million.
Other features include potential to run 1200 to 1300 cows and calves, with ongoing pasture development, three electric bores, large tanks and numerous troughs, along with the spring fed Baby Creek.
Quality improvements include two main homesteads, a cottage, large steel shedding, elevated silos, three sets of cattle yards and new fencing.
Similarly, ‘Landale Park Stud’, near Ballan, is being marketed as “possibly the best value for money ‘country lifestyle farm’ on the market in Victoria right now”.
For sale by deadline, ending October 16 at 4pm, the 12.14ha stud has a price guide of $950,000 to $1.05 million.
Ray White Rural Victoria Director Jason Hellyer and Ray White Rural Victoria Macedon Ranges Shire agent Aaron Leask have the listing.
“Tidy and in need of some TLC, this farm including the solid four-bedroom brick veneer home, some of the outbuildings and farm infrastructure will require an upgrade but the foundation for significant upside is easy to see,” the listing states.
Zoned farming, the property features four paddocks, four livestock dams, including three that are spring fed.
Annual rainfall for the region is about 815mm, while DSE is in the vicinity of 17DSE to the hectare, depending on pasture management programs and weather.
The farm features serviceable steel cattle yards, a well-lit workshop with a concrete floor and power, and there’s a large Nelson silo for livestock feed storage.
Size: 732ha
Location: Wymah, NSW
Sale method: EOI closing November 7 at 4pm
Price guide: N/A
A highly productive and versatile broadscale landholding in the south-eastern Riverina has hit the market.
‘Warragai’, which comprises 732ha and is ideally positioned between Albury-Wodonga and Holbrook, is suited to a range of agricultural endeavours, including cattle, wool, prime lamb and cropping.
The property offers expansive views over Lake Hume and features a five-bedroom, three-bathroom home surrounded by established gardens.
Elders Real Estate sales agent Henry Mackinnon has listed the property alongside Nick Myer.
“The property boasts ongoing pasture improvement, an excellent balance of topography that is supported by an optimal balance of highly productive soil profiles and abundant natural water supply via multiple ground and surface sources,” Mr Mackinnon said.
‘Warragai’ boasts top-tier infrastructure, including a five-stand shearing shed, cattle and sheep yards, and ample hay, machinery and sundry shedding.
There are established ryegrass, sub clover and clover pastures, along with fertiliser history, and multiple dams, seasonal creeks and more than 400,000L water storage.
Historically, ‘Warragai’ has operated as a mixed-farming enterprise, carrying about 400 cows and 800 sheep, in addition to fodder production.
Its fertile soils and 800mm average annual rainfall make it suitable for cattle, wool, prime lamb, and cropping ventures.
Expressions of interest close on November 7, at 4pm.
