Property

Boundary Farms offers scope on Inner Downs

Emma Alsop February 1, 2024

After 17 years, the Ruhle family are selling their 1217-hectare cropping property, Boundary Farms, in the highly productive Inner Downs region of southern Queensland.

The partnership of brothers Allan and David Ruhle and their wives Cheryl and Moira have developed four separate properties into one contiguous dryland and irrigated cropping operation.

Located at Ellangowan about 50km south of Toowoomba, Boundary Farms is over 90 percent arable with 144ha under centre pivot irrigation.

About 445ha is currently under summer crops with the remainer fallow after the 2023 winter crop.

Ray White agent Matt Cleary said Boundary Farms features “some of the finest soils on the eastern Darling Downs” due to its location on the Condamine River floodplain.

He said this was reflected in the strong crop yields of 10 tonne per hectare of sorghum and 7.5t/ha of wheat achieved in recent years.

“It’s top country, river country,” Mr Cleary said.

“It’s rare to see a property of this size come to market.”

He said the property’s uniqueness was attracting the attention of interested parties.

“It’s attracting a lot of interest; we are even getting some good interest from some of the larger players.

“It has only been on the market a bit of a week, so this is a very good sign.”

Boundary Farms features extensive grain storage totaling 3500t with 2000t in silo storage and 1500t in shed bunker storage.

The storage complexes are complemented by grain-drying and aeration facilities.

The property comes with three groundwater allocations totaling 258 megalitres.

Mr Cleary said the vendors have invested in modern irrigation equipment, as well as laser leveling and drainage, to improve the workability of the property.

“The property has two bores linked together with three centre-pivot circles and two units.”

Structural improvements include several machinery and hay sheds and cattle yards.

Boundary Farms will head to auction on February 28 if not sold prior.

No price estimate has been disclosed for this property; however recent sales in the Darling Downs region indicate price guides of $11,000-15,000/ha for dryland and $17,000-25,000/ha for irrigated country.

Confidence lifts interest

Boundary Farms should benefit from increased confidence in the Darling Downs market following a rise in predicted summer crop production.

Ray White Rural Pittsworth principal James Croft said the increased plantings off the back of the unexpected summer rainfall had lifted the confidence of prospective buyers.

“With the dry conditions in October and November…there was a bit more hesitation from buyers,” Mr Croft said.

“There were certainly opportunities for buyers and sellers in that market, but days on market probably expanded a little bit.

“Since the rain, farmers are looking forward to a good summer crop and that confidence in the market has certainly rebounded.”

 

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