Vandyke Feedlot hits the market in Central Queensland

Vandyke Feedlot hits the market in Central Queensland

Size: 2,231ha

Location: Springsure, QLD

Sale method: EOI closing April 16 at 12pm (AEST).

Price guide: N/A

A large-scale beef production asset in Central Queensland has been listed for sale, offering investors an opportunity to secure a proven feedlot operation in one of the state’s key grain and cattle regions.

Vandyke Feedlot, located near Springsure, has been brought to market after several years of upgrades and operational expansion by its current owner, Allied Beef.

The company first leased the 8,640 Standard Cattle Units (SCU) feedlot and surrounding land in 2017 before purchasing the property outright in 2021.

Since then, it has undertaken a comprehensive refurbishment program aimed at improving efficiency and increasing carrying capacity.

The property spans 2,231ha of leasehold land, including 53ha dedicated to the feedlot, 335ha of dryland cropping and 548ha of grazing, with the remaining area consisting of timbered grazing and support land.

Allied Beef managing director James Maclean said the property would appeal to a broad range of buyers across the beef supply chain.

“Cattle are typically sourced from the North West and processed in Central or Southern Queensland,” Mr Maclean said.

“Vandyke Feedlot turned over 32,000 cattle last year on short-term, 100- and 140-day feeding programs, so it offers significant scale.

“We’ve done short-term feeding for the major supermarkets and have fed a number of Wagyu cattle on long-term programs.

“The site would also lend itself to a purebred or Wagyu operation that could wean cattle onto the property and finish them in the feedlot.”

Backgrounding of store cattle varies depending on seasonal conditions, but up to 1,000 head are typically grazed for two to three months before entering the feedlot.

The cultivation area produces silage for feedlot use, averaging 14 to 15 tonnes per hectare of forage sorghum.

Secure livestock water is supplied through a 155ML groundwater allocation supported by two sub-artesian bores, as well as a 55ML catchment dam, seasonal waterholes and creeks.

In recent years, Allied Beef has expanded the feedlot’s infrastructure, adding 15 new pens that increased capacity by 30 to 40 per cent and upgrading grain processing facilities and storage.

LAWD senior director Danny Thomas said the asset was expected to attract a wide range of potential purchasers.

“We expect Vandyke Feedlot to garner interest from a diverse group of prospective buyers,” Mr Thomas said.

Conjunctional agent Matt Beard of RBV Rural said strong seasonal conditions and growing demand for feedlot assets were supporting buyer interest.

The property is located on a sealed road about 25km west of Springsure and 80km south-west of Emerald.

Vandyke Feedlot is being offered for sale by expression of interest closing on April 16 at 12pm (AEST).

Tightly held Freeling farm fetches $1.64 million at auction

Size: 37.43ha

Location: Freeling, SA

Sale price: $1.64 million

A tightly held parcel of prime cropping land near Freeling has set a new benchmark, with the property known as “Ryan’s” selling for a record $1.64 million for a single block at auction.

Located on Severins Road, about 3km north of Freeling, the 37.43ha holding had been in the same family since 1973 before being brought to market through Ray White Rural South Australia.

Ray White Rural South Australia principal and auctioneer Daniel Schell conducted the auction, which attracted strong interest from local farming families familiar with the district.

Opening at $1 million, bidding quickly gathered momentum as several parties competed for the productive farming block.

The price steadily climbed through $1.1 million, $1.2 million and $1.3 million before continuing higher in smaller increments.

After a series of competitive bids, the property was ultimately knocked down for $1.64 million following spirited bidding between two buyers.

During the auction, Mr Schell highlighted the property’s long history in the district and its reputation as a reliable cropping asset.

He also emphasised the quality of the soil and the flexibility it offers for a range of agricultural enterprises.

“Those renowned dark chocolate self-mulching soils are productive, they’re versatile, and they grow cereals, lentils, oilseeds, legumes and premium export hay,” he said.

“This country gives you genuine flexibility.”

The largely arable holding comprises a single well-fenced paddock with minimal non-productive areas and access to SA mains water, providing a secure water supply.

Mr Schell noted the property also benefits from strong logistical advantages for growers.

“There are freight advantages here with close access to major grain and hay receival sites - a practical benefit that underpins long-term efficiency and profitability,” he said.

Its proximity to Freeling also adds to its appeal for farming operations in the district.

“Well positioned right on the outskirts of the Freeling township, that proximity provides not only operational convenience now but genuine future potential,” Mr Schell said.

Blue-chip Breeza Aggregation offers rare Liverpool Plains scale

Size: 4714ha

Location: Gunnedah, NSW

Sale method: EOI closing on April 23 at 12pm (AEST)

Price guide: N/A

A large-scale cropping and grazing portfolio on the renowned Liverpool Plains has been brought to market, offering buyers a rare opportunity to secure a substantial and highly productive aggregation in one of NSW’s most tightly held agricultural regions.

The 4,714ha Breeza Aggregation, located 44km southeast of Gunnedah and 69km southwest of Tamworth, comprises three contiguous holdings and combines irrigated farming, dryland cropping and grazing operations across fertile black and red basalt soils.

The properties – Rossmar Park Homestead, Rossmar Park and Warrawong (2,384.6ha); The Dip and Ashley Downs (1,868.7ha); and Elsdon (461ha) – are owned by separate vendors but are being offered to the market collectively as a single landholding or as individual assets.

In total, the aggregation includes about 2,930ha of developed dryland cropping country and 540ha under irrigation, with the balance used for grazing on native and improved pastures.

The district receives an average annual rainfall of about 659ml and production is supported by diversified water sources including groundwater, as well as regulated and unregulated river systems.

Water entitlements across the aggregation total 15,570ML

On-farm storage capacity of about 3,300ML is held in two large dams, allowing water to be carried over between seasons to help manage allocation variability and support crop production during drier periods.

Water is sourced from Yarraman Creek, the Mooki River and Zone 7 groundwater systems before being pumped to storage and distributed through gravity-fed channels and a tailwater return system designed to improve efficiency and water reuse.

Cropping operations across the aggregation include winter crops such as wheat, barley, chickpeas and canola, while irrigated summer programs feature corn, sorghum and cotton.

Alongside cropping, the property supports a cattle breeding and finishing enterprise across about 1,680ha, with an estimated carrying capacity of around 520 cows and calves.

A 500-head feedlot, licensed for up to 999 head, further supports finishing programs.

LAWD Director George Barton said opportunities of this scale rarely came to market on the Liverpool Plains.

“To my knowledge, a contiguous black-soil cropping parcel of land, of this scale, has not been offered to the open market on the Liverpool Plains for multiple generations,” Mr Barton said.

“The Aggregation presents an attractive opportunity for institutional investors given its potential for large-scale irrigated cropping, long-term capital growth, and production resilience.

“There’s also scope for one vendor to remain and manage the entire operation on behalf of the successful buyer, enhancing its appeal as a turnkey opportunity.

“Alternatively, the three properties can be sold separately, opening the door for local families or landholders to acquire individual holdings.”

Rossmar Park Homestead (192.4 ha), Rossmar Park (1,150.8 ha), and Warrawong (1041.4 ha)

The circa 1927 Rossmar Park Homestead features six bedrooms, expansive living areas, wide verandahs and established gardens, supported by substantial rainwater storage and garaging.

It is complemented by steel cattle yards with 520-head capacity, a former MSA-accredited feedlot (licence able to be reactivated), and a substantial machinery shed and workshop with three-phase power, fuel storage and water connections.

The brick Warrawong homestead has three bedrooms and other improvements include new yards with horse stables, round yards and associated infrastructure.

The Dip (1,143.28 ha) and Ashley Downs (725.42 ha)

The Dip and Ashley Downs support 250–300 cows and calves across 12 well-fenced paddocks, with reliable stock water supplied by solar-equipped bores, dams and dual frontage to Native Dog Gully.

Infrastructure at The Dip includes extensive grain storage, a large machinery shed and workshop, cattle yards, fuel storage and quality water infrastructure, along with a three-bedroom homestead and separate cottage.

Ashley Downs is similarly improved, featuring machinery and grain sheds, a workshop, silos and a serviced cottage with additional water storage and established outdoor amenities.

Elsdon (461 ha)

On Elsdon, 63 per cent of the land is arable black soil, with the remainder open grazing paddocks.

It has secure water from 2km of Mooki River frontage and 1km along Native Dog Gully, supplemented by an electric bore supplying a 25,000L tank.

The property carries 50–60 cows and calves alongside the high-yielding cropping operation; in 2024, a 67ha canola crop yielded 2.4t/ha and 8ha of wheat yielded 4t/ha.

The Breeza Aggregation is being offered for sale by expression of interest, closing on April 23 at 12pm (AEST).

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.