The six portions of Murray River Land’s Southern Hub are scheduled to be auctioned November 27. Photo: Elders

THE Southern Hub of Roc Partners’ Murray River Land holding in Victoria is going under the hammer this month, and in South Australia, Peter Burge and family have listed Mindarie Downs.

Murray River Land Pty Ltd – Southern Hub, Vic

Murray River Land’s Southern Hub in northern Victoria is expected to fetch more than $16.5 million, with Elders agents Matt Horne and Nick Myer appointed to handle the sale.

The 1576ha aggregation comprises six holdings in the Naring district between Katamatite and Numurkah, around 30km and 45km north of Shepparton.

Sydney-based alternative investment manager Roc Partners acquired John Nicoletti’s majority share in Murray River Land (MRL) in 2021, making it the foundation asset of its ROC Agri Plus Infrastructure Fund.

The sale is understood to form part of the company’s consolidation plans.

The cropping and irrigation country features a range of quality soil types and produces winter cereals and fodder.

The aggregation sits within the Goulburn Murray Water irrigation footprint (Vic Murray Zone 6), with four of the six holdings having secure access to water through GMW supply channels.

Murray River Land Pty Ltd’s Southern Hub will be offered at auction on November 27 as six non-contingent lots.

The six holdings are:

264ha McIntosh – More than $12,367/ha, or $3.265M. Designed for winter and summer cropping, this high-level flood irrigation holding includes 60ha of farmland with irrigation potential. Water is supplied by Goulburn Murray Water. Irrigation infrastructure comprises 94ha of laser-levelled border check irrigation, a further 82ha of laser-levelled border check, a storage dam and equipped recycle systems.

256ha Hendys – More than $11,119/ha, or $2.846M.  This former flood irrigation holding has productive loam soils and has been levelled for redevelopment. It is currently managed for grain and fodder production, with water supplied by Goulburn Murray Water. Improvements include a three-bedroom home, a three-stand shearing shed, steel sheep yards and numerous sheds.

473ha Schwarz & Phillips – More than $11,126/ha, or $5.23M. Situated 27km south-west of Cobram and 39km north-east of Shepparton, this former flood irrigation holding has been levelled for redevelopment and is currently managed for grain and fodder production. Water sources include a bore, Goulburn Murray Water and an equipped dam, with access to a diversion drain and frontage to Wild Dog Creek. Improvements include 20ha of existing laser levelled border check layout, a Mount Gambier limestone home, numerous sheds and four silos with a combined grain storage capacity of 175 tonnes.

232ha South Schwarz – More than $8667/ha or $2M. Levelled for redevelopment and currently managed for grain and fodder production, South Schwarz has dual frontage to Wild Dog Creek and single frontage to Broken Creek, along with several dams.

196ha Part Crokes – More than $12,399/ha, or $2.43M.  This boundary-fenced irrigation holding features a 36ha centre pivot, a 112ha laser levelled border check irrigation layout with a recycle system, livestock containment pens and a shed.

154ha South Numurkah – More than $4937/ha, or $760,360.  The rectangular holding includes 100ha of arable farmland and several dams.  Around 48ha of established timber and native vegetation is protected by a Trust for Nature Conservation Covenant.

Mindarie Downs, SA

After 10 years of ownership, Peter Burge and his family have listed a substantial mixed-farming enterprise in SA’s Murray Mallee region.

The 2613ha Mindarie Downs is near Wanbi, 50km south of Loxton and 230km east of Adelaide.

With price expectations of $3.5M  to $3.9M, or $1360/ha to $1483/ha, the property is already drawing interest from neighbouring and local farmers, as well as buyers from the Upper South East.

Its location provides access to the broader Riverland, as well as established agricultural service centres and key freight routes across the Murray Mallee.

Acquired by the vendor in two stages, Mindarie Downs has traditionally supported a mixed farming operation producing cereals and legumes, including wheat, barley and vetch, alongside sheep and cattle.

The land ranges from gently undulating to flat and features productive red loam soils, sandy loam rises and areas of Mallee vegetation that provide shelter.

LAWD director Nigel Gosse said the property is attracting buyers seeking to build scale in the region.

“Mindarie Downs is an affordable opportunity and should appeal to existing local farming families seeking to expand their footprint in the region, as well as new entrants looking for a substantial mixed farming platform.”

Water is supplied by an equipped bore with an electric submersible pump which feeds a header tank and gravity-fed reticulation system servicing concrete troughs across several paddocks.

Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom stone homestead, a two-stand shearing shed, steel sheep yards and several sheds.

Mindarie Downs is being offered for sale by expressions of interest closing on November 18.

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