Brookstead property Balmoral has sold to neighbours Russell Keeley and Clemens Waetjen. Photo: Ray White Rural

TWO neighbours have bought the prized Darling Downs property Balmoral at Brookstead, and at Bellata, Kaysix has also sold locally.

Balmoral, Qld

Neighbours Russell Keeley and Clemens Waetjen have paid $25 million to expand with what is described as “one of the best irrigation properties on Queensland’s Darling Downs”.

The 854ha Balmoral is situated on the Condamine River floodplain near Brookstead, 22km south-west of Pittsworth and 60km from Toowoomba.

The Keeley family’s Brookstead Farming operation also owns country near Kununurra in Western Australia’s Kimberley region and Proserpine in North Queensland, where it cuts cane.

Ray White Rural agent Matt Cleary said the result was in line with expectations.

Last month, the 2896ha blue-ribbon Janerin Aggregation, also located near Brookstead, was purchased by investor-owned Growth Farms for an undisclosed sum.

Featuring quality black Darling Downs soils with an abundance of water, Mr Cleary described Balmoral as the “epitome of farming excellence”.

The 695ha currently developed for farming includes 556ha of lateral irrigation and 94ha of flood irrigation.

Balmoral has 4710ML of volumetric water from the Condamine River and North Branch, and a 345ML ground water allocation, supported by five bores.

There is 2107ML of dam storage, 12km of underground mains plus six lateral irrigators with telemetry.

Infrastructure includes two homes, 2700 tonnes of grain storage, a fully automated grain dryer and numerous sheds.

Kaysix and Lowanna, NSW

The Kirkby family has sold one of two adjoining farms in the productive Bellata cropping belt in New South Wales’ north-west.

Situated in a 602mm average annual rainfall district, Kaysix and Lowanna were offered to the market late last year by the Kirkbys who are winding up a long-term successful family partnership.

A local farming family paid $12M, including the summer crop, to expand with the 977ha Kaysix, located 31km east of Bellata.

Typically, around 784ha of the undulating heavy black basalt soils are developed to dryland sorghum and cotton, with the 192ha balance set aside for grazing.

Kaysix is watered by two bores.

Infrastructure includes a five-bedroom home, a shed and nine silos with 1260 tonnes of grain storage.

Bellata property Kaysix has sold, while the adjoining Lowanna is still on the market. Photo: Nutrien Harcourts

Meantime, the 765ha Lowanna, 31km east of Bellata, is continuing to attract interest at $7M.

Around 478ha of the undulating heavy black basalt and reddish and brown loams are developed to dryland cultivation.

The 287ha balance is used for grazing and support.

Water is supplied by a bore and a dam.

Infrastructure includes two three-bedroom homes, numerous sheds, steel cattle yards and 90t of grain storage.

Nutrien Harcourts agent James Thomas is handling the sale.

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