The Oaks at Dalyup covers 5313ha is being sold by the Russell family, owners of tea interests in Malaysia, as well as Australia’s Nerada Tea. Photo: Colliers

THE RUSSELL family’s The Oaks at Dalyup, the Berger family’s Mindarabin Heights Aggregation in the Great Southern, and Koomarlin in the Peel region have come to market.

All are located in productive Western Australian mixed-farming regions, and all feature good infrastructure, including sheep yards, with The Oaks and  Koomarlin also having shearing sheds.

The Oaks

The Malaysia-based Russell family has listed its significant and strategically located mixed farm on WA’s south coast with hopes of raising more than $50 million.

Covering 5313ha, The Oaks is located 40km north-west of Esperance in the Dalyup region and is being sold after more than 50 years of ownership due to a change in direction, with the family business understood to be deploying capital elsewhere.

The Russells are not only the largest tea producer in Malaysia but also in Australia – they own Nerada Tea in Far North Queensland.

JA Russell (Australia) purchased its first farmland in Esperance in 1967 and expanded with the neighbouring property, The Oaks, in 1974.

Historically, the aggregation has operated as a mixed farm, with more than half the land dedicated to pasture production.

Over the past five years, crop production has advanced. with the family adopting and deploying capital into advanced technologies, soil amelioration, and modern machinery.

This has shifted the focus of The Oaks to a 70:30 split between cropping wheat, barley, and canola and fine-wool sheep and prime lambs on pasture.

Over the past three years, deep ripping to 500mm has been carried out on 80 percent of the 3998 arable hectares, featuring Dalyup loams on undulating slopes and sand-over-gravel profiles in flatter areas.

Fertiliser inputs are conservatively managed, with Esperance district five-year average yields of 1.5-2.5t/ha for canola and 3.5t-4.5t/ha for wheat.

Perennial pastures feature a diverse mix of kikuyu, clover, serradella and ryegrass capable of running 12/DSE during winter, with a current flock of 4421 Merino and 921 crossbred ewes.

The current sheep genetics boast a fine micron-yielding Merino base, with cull ewes mated to a white Suffolk ram.

Offers to purchase close on September 4.

The sale is being handled by Colliers Agribusiness agents Rawdon Briggs, Duncan McCulloch and Gabi Mewburn and AWN Rural’s Rowan Spittle.

They said The Oaks’ proximity to the coast provides a favourable environment for high-yielding crops and cost-effective freight.

“This location safeguards efficient grain logistics with quick turnaround times from CBH, and there is excellent road access to paddocks with three main access driveways and a gravelled internal laneway network.”

The water facilities are extensive and include three river systems which run through the property. providing excellent drainage, as well as 30 dams and a comprehensive waterline supplying troughs and cup-and-saucer tanks.

Infrastructure includes three homes, a six-stand shearing shed, sheep yards and a shed as well as extensive fence replacement.

Mindarabin Heights Aggregation

Members of the Berger family are selling prime cropping country in WA’s Great Southern region.

Put together during the past 50 years, the 3653ha Mindarabin Heights Aggregation is 25km south-east of Nyabing, halfway between Gnowangerup and Borden.

It comprises 883ha Mindarabin Heights, 1035ha The Block and 1733ha Borella South, which are being offered as a whole or as separate holdings.

Situated in a medium-rainfall area, the property has mostly loam and duplex soil types growing canola, barley and lupins in large open paddocks with long runs.

Elders agent Simon Cheetham said the aggregation is leased until 2026.

“Currently the entire property has been cropped; however, it is also suited to running some sheep,” Mr Cheetham said.

“I anticipate some corporate inquiry and from local farmers looking to expand further afield.”

Watered by numerous dams, the infrastructure includes a home, two sheds and two steel sheep yards.

The Mindarabin Heights Aggregation is offered for sale via expressions of interest.

Koomarlin

Meantime, high-rainfall cropping and sheep country being sold by a Perth businessman is anticipated to attract interest from other city investors, as well as local farmers.

The 1459ha Koomarlin is located in the Peel region, 10km east of Boddington and 125km south-east of Perth, with Elders agent Simon Cheetham explaining properties of this size and quality rarely become available between Perth and Williams.

Soil types include brown loam, gravels and duplex soils with some lighter and heavier red clays growing oats, barley and canola.

Koomarlin is in the Crossman River catchment. Photo: Elders

The picturesque undulating terrain has pockets of tall Jarrah, Marri and Wandoo and creeks and tributaries which feed the nearby Crossman River.

This is supported by dams and a freshwater soak.

Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom house, a two-bedroom cottage, a new fully enclosed workshop and machinery shed, a shearing shed, sheep yards and 320t of grain silo storage.

Koomarlin is being offered for sale by offers to purchase.

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