In this week's rural property update: Fattore Farms heads to online auction, Riverland vineyard giants hit the market as Talia Farms goes into administration and Broken Hill grazing country draws strong bidding at online auction.
Size: 107ha (Lot 1: 48.5ha/ Lot 2: 58.8ha)
Location: South Hay, NSW
Sale method: AuctionsPlus online auction at 2pm on June 24.
Price guide: N/A
A rare Riverina lifestyle property boasting more than 3km of Murrumbidgee River frontage, private sandy beaches and a potential pathway to a future homesite is attracting buyer interest from across multiple states ahead of its online auction later this month.
Known as Fattore Farms, the 107ha (264-acre) holding at Hay South is being offered as two separate titles via AuctionsPlus online auction at 2pm on June 24.
The properties combine productive agricultural land with some of the most accessible river frontage to come to market in the district.
Located just 4km from the edge of Hay, the property includes about 37ha of arable country with a proven grazing and cropping history, extensive timbered areas, cleared camping sites, stock infrastructure, a river pump with water access, cattle yards and a 500sq m machinery shed.
Nutrien Harcourts Deniliquin agent Jake Freshwater said the property's combination of recreation, productivity and location made it unlike anything else currently available in the region.
“The lifestyle attributes available at Fattoria Farms are significant and truly unique to the Murrumbidgee area and the Riverina,” he said.
The larger 58.8ha holding features about 2km of river frontage, private sandy beaches, a cleared camping area and around 17ha of productive country.
The adjoining 48.5ha property offers a further 1.2k of river frontage, a private camping area, machinery shed, water infrastructure and a motocross track.
Mr Freshwater said one of the property's standout features was the quality of access to the river itself.
"It's got this beautiful synergy of open, productive country where you could either graze or reintroduce the irrigation that's already there. One of the blocks also has a river pump for water access,” he said.
"Between the open, cleared country, the timbered lifestyle areas and that sandy access to the Murrumbidgee, it's not just sheer cliff faces, there are extensive cleared camping areas and really easy access to the river.
"And it's only 4km from the edge of the Hay township."
The listing also highlights future potential, noting that “there are viable pathways to securing a dwelling entitlement (STCA) - opening the door to a future home overlooking one of Australia's most iconic river systems”.
Mr Freshwater said interest had already emerged from Victoria, Queensland and regional NSW with the property being marketed nationally through AuctionsPlus.
He said the online auction format was helping broaden participation beyond the local market.
“I've had interest out of Queensland, Melbourne, from the Mallee, and obviously quite a lot of local interest,” he said.
He said the online platform allowed interstate and absentee buyers to inspect the property and participate in the auction without making a return trip to Hay.
“It really allows people, absentee buyers, interstate buyers to come and inspect, and then if they want to engage, they do not have to travel back on site for the actual auction,” Mr Freshwater said.
“We've had interested parties who have been holidaying who may be able to engage in the auction whilst away.”
Fattore Farms will be auctioned as two separate holdings online via AuctionsPlus on June 24, with buyers able to purchase either one or both lots.
Size: 961ha (Talia Farms) and 389ha (Woolpunda Vineyard)
Location: Lyrup and Wigley Flat, Riverland, South Australia
Sale method: Talia Farms - best offers closing July 16/ Woolpunda Vineyard - EOI closing June 29 at 12pm (ACST)
Price guide: Not disclosed
Two significant Riverland horticultural assets have hit the market within days of each other, offering buyers the chance to secure large-scale vineyard and table grape operations in one of Australia's most productive irrigation regions.
Leading the campaign is Talia Farms, one of Australia's largest table grape enterprises, which has been brought back to market following the appointment of administrators, McGrathNicol.
Located near Lyrup in South Australia's Riverland, the property spans about 961ha and includes about 200ha of established table grape plantings, a recently developed packing and cold storage facility and a substantial adjoining greenfield development site.
Colliers National Director Jesse Manuel said the sale presented a rare opportunity for investors and operators to acquire a large-scale horticultural asset with significant capital investment already completed.
"Opportunities of this scale and sophistication are seldom presented, particularly where an incoming purchaser can step directly into a near-mature production profile,” he said.
The operation includes proprietary table grape varieties and infrastructure designed to support same-day pick, pack and dispatch, helping preserve fruit quality for export markets throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Colliers National Director Tim Altschwager said the vertically integrated nature of the business was a major advantage.
"The vertically integrated nature of the business, from vineyard through to packing, cooling and export readiness, is a key differentiator in an increasingly demanding global supply chain,” he said.
Mr Altschwager said the adjoining Pondi development site also offered future growth opportunities.
The property is being offered through a best offers campaign closing on July 16.
Meanwhile, Colliers has also launched a standalone sale campaign for Woolpunda Vineyard after previously marketing the property as part of the broader Thomson Vineyard Portfolio.
Situated at Wigley Flat on the Sturt Highway, Woolpunda Vineyard comprises about 389ha, including 216ha of developed vineyard planted to a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Gordo, Rubired and Tempranillo.
The property benefits from direct access to the Murray River and is supported by extensive irrigation infrastructure, operational shedding and two residences.
Mr Altschwager said the decision to offer Woolpunda separately was designed to target buyers seeking immediate scale and flexibility.
"Woolpunda represents a compelling opportunity to secure immediate scale in the Riverland, underpinned by established infrastructure and flexibility for future use,” he said.
"Bringing the asset to market as a standalone holding allows us to more directly engage with buyers seeking a large-scale acquisition, as well as those who identified Woolpunda as a key component during the earlier portfolio campaign."
Mr Manuel said the Riverland continued to attract strong interest from commercial agricultural operators.
"The Riverland continues to attract interest from commercial operators due to its scale and potential for alternate crops supported by its water availability."
Woolpunda Vineyard is being offered for sale via an Expressions of Interest campaign closing on June 22.
Location: Broken Hill, NSW
Size: Connors (10,890ha), Connors Extension (4,197ha)
Sale price: Connors $3 million, Connors Extension $1.2 million
Two productive grazing paddocks south of Broken Hill have sold for a combined $4.2 million at an online AuctionsPlus auction, with local buyers competing strongly for quality livestock country backed by reliable water and a solid seasonal outlook.
Offered through Nutrien Harcourts Broken Hill, the adjoining properties Connors and Connors Extension were auctioned via AuctionsPlus on June 12.
Connors, a 10,890ha cattle paddock, sold for $3 million, while the neighbouring 4,197ha Connors Extension made $1.2 million. The properties were purchased by separate buyers.
Nutrien Harcourts Broken Hill agent Troy Hartman said eight parties registered for the online auction, all of them locally based, with three bidders actively competing on the day.
Located on the Silver City Highway south of Broken Hill, the certified organic holdings attracted interest due to their proven grazing performance, reliable water infrastructure and strong feed reserves following early-season rainfall.
Mr Hartman said Connors was particularly sought after as a cattle operation.
“Connors is an extremely handy paddock. It lends itself to running cattle year-round, which is not that common in the Broken Hill region,” he said.
“It’s a very strong grazing property with a proven history of carrying cattle even through dry periods.”
The 10,890ha holding benefits from the Pine Creek system flooding out onto Mitchell grass plains and carries a mix of native grasses, herbages and salines.
Infrastructure includes two bores, an earth tank and steel cattle yards.
Mr Hartman said favourable seasonal conditions had further enhanced the property's appeal.
“The property has also benefited from some early rainfall this year, receiving around 170mm so far. That has set it up with an excellent body of feed,” he said.
Connors Extension was offered as a complementary sheep enterprise, featuring extensive bluebush country and a history of carrying and fattening lambs.
“Extension is a very good open sheep grazing paddock, carrying a strong stand of bluebush and offering productive grazing country,” Mr Hartman said.
The property includes open areas of bluebush, copper burr and winter herbage, along with sandy rises suited to lambing ewes.
Water is supplied via a bore and earth tank connected by a poly pipe.
“The paddock has been well managed by the vendor and has not been overgrazed,” Mr Hartman said.
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.