Wilga Farming has added Que-Sera to its portfolio of cropping properties in WA’s Great Southern. Photo: Nutrien Harcourts

GUNN Agri’s Wilga Farming has added to its area in Western Australia’s Great Southern, where the sale of two further properties points to a new benchmark in the region’s land values.

Que-Sera

Gunn Agri’s Wilga Farming platform has paid more than $10 million for a mixed farm close to other country it owns in WA’s Great Southern region.

The 1218ha holding is 91km north-east of Albany in the tightly held and productive Kojaneerup South district, with views of the Stirling Ranges.

Nutrien Harcourts agent Joe Galantino was unable to disclose the purchase price, but local sources suggested the property transacted for about $12,355 per arable hectare.

Held by the same family for more than 57 years, Que-Sera had transitioned from a sheep into a mixed-farming operation.

Wilga Farming is expected to crop 1020 arable hectares, which are mostly flat to undulating.

The property features a diverse range of soil types, including duplex sand and gravel over clay, loam and self-mulching clay, and has historically produced wheat, barley and canola.

Infrastructure includes a home, shearing shed, sheep yards and several sheds, including grain storage.

Que-Sera is located 25km from a portfolio of three cropping properties that formed part of the 5595ha WALT Portfolio, aggregated by European-owned and Melbourne-managed First Australian Farmland.

Purchased last year by Wilga Farming for around the $26.2M asking price, the 3052ha aggregation is situated near South Stirling and comprises:

• Gidget: 1017ha with 831ha arable;
• Range Montana: 1035ha with 869ha arable; and,
• Wimbush: 999ha with 704ha arable.

They all operate under a sustainable canola-cereal cropping rotation.

Kookaroo and Connamara

District records have tumbled following the sale of nearby farms, Kookaroo and Connamara, in WA’s Great Southern.

Secured by a farmer from a neighbouring district, the 1882ha Kookaroo and the 1072ha Connamara are continuous cropping or mixed-farming enterprises located 2km apart and 16km west of Frankland River.

Nutrien Harcourts agent Mr Galantino was unable to disclose the buyer or the prices paid, but confirmed both properties achieved a record price.

Local sources have told Grain Central, Kookaroo sold for $17,000 per arable hectare.

If true, the sale price sits at around $21.8M.

Connamara has apparently made $16,000/ha arable, or more than $17M.

Two Frankland River holdings on Bokerup Road sold for $13,590/ha arable in December 2024, and the prices for Kookaroo and Connamara indicate a 27-percent increase in value in just 13 months.

Kookaroo Farm

Offered by Tom and son Peter Ettridge, the standout Kookaroo attracted significant interest from both individuals and corporates as a standalone operation or to complement an existing farming operation.

Around 1281ha is arable, with 953ha planted to barley, canola and wheat and the balance running 4450 head of sheep.

The land is gently undulating featuring brown loams, loamy gravels, duplex sandy gravels and deep sand gravels; around 55pc is heavy soils, 40pc is medium soils, and 5pc is light soils.

Infrastructure includes a five-bedroom home, a five-stand shearing shed, sheep yards, numerous sheds, five silos and a feedlot.

Connamara

The sale of Connamara ended 68 years of farming in the district for the vendors.

Around 836ha of the undulating land is considered arable, and typically grow oats and barley in a mix of soil types supporting aged stands of wandoo, jarrah, gum and marri.

During their ownership, fertiliser was applied to the crops at a rate of 180kg/ha and urea at 200kg/ha.

Pastures had received application of super/potash at a rate of 150kg/ha for more than 40 years.

Connamara has sold to a farmer from a neighbouring district, with the price believed to be more than $17M. Photo: Nutrien Harcourts

When Connamara was listed for sale, Mr Galantino described the property as an attractive expansion opportunity to greater cropping exposure.

The grazing country runs a 7000-head sheep breeding flock at a rate of 15DSE/ha on clover and ryegrass pastures.

The Bolbelup Creek runs through Connamara which is also watered by 26 dams, a soak and reliable rainfall.

Infrastructure includes two four-bedroom homes, a five-stand shearing shed, sheep yards, numerous sheds and six silos.

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