Canola is grown in rotation with cereals on Lake Shaster South. Photo: Colliers

ARKLE Farm’s Paul and Deidre Cowan have listed Lake Shaster South, a mixed-farming asset in Western Australia’s highly regarded South Coast region.

The 4321ha holding formed part of the 9048ha Lake Shaster Aggregation, offered to the market earlier this year.

Situated in a highly regarded corridor 37km east of Hopetoun and 115km west of Esperance, Lake Shaster South has proximity to grain sites at Munglinup, Esperance, and Albany, livestock markets at Mount Barker and Boyanup, and abattoirs at Bunbury, Harvey and Cowaramup.

Under current management, Lake Shaster South has been developed as a mixed farm, growing wheat, barley and canola alongside an Angus breeding operation which runs 15-20DSE/ha.

The herd includes stud cattle, heifers for future breeding, and heifers and steers for finishing on another property the Cowans own.

Around 3130ha, or 72 percent, of Lake Shaster South is arable and features gently undulating topography with productive gravel duplex soils over clay.

Situated in a 518mm annual average rainfall region, it has been operated under an intensive rotational cropping-pasture system, typically sown in April and May and harvested from October through to early December.

With a very solid growing season this year, Lake Shaster South is forecasting yields in excess of 4t/ha for cereals and 2.5t/ha for canola.

Colliers Agribusiness agents Rawdon Briggs, Gabi Mewburn and Duncan McCulloch, in conjunction with AWN Rural, have been appointed to handle the offers to purchase campaign but were unable to offer a price guide.

Mr Briggs, who inspected Lake Shaster yesterday, said compared to Victoria and South Australia, WA was experiencing a mild spring with average rainfall.

“Over the last three days, 10mm of rain has fallen and this will ensure some big tonnages in these premium regions around Esperance,” Mr Briggs said, adding that Lake Shaster South was a well-positioned and scalable cropping asset with strong agronomic fundamentals.

“Its strategic location ensures reliable rainfall and proximity to export channels, positioning the asset as a compelling opportunity for investors seeking exposure to WA’s grainbelt.”

Mr McCulloch said Lake Shaster South presented as a turnkey platform with clear upside.

“Its infrastructure, water security and cropping history make it attractive as a standalone scale operation, or for institutional buyers looking for highly reliable bolt-on production with a proven long-term capital growth story,” Mr McCulloch said.

Ms Mewburn believes the offering reflects the market’s appetite for standalone assets with operational depth.

“Lake Shaster South combines scale, infrastructure and productivity, and is well-equipped with fundamentals to unlock future growth strategies,” she said.

“It also offers flexibility by demonstrating itself as a high-quality breeding operation for Angus cattle.”

Lake Shaster South is close to WA’s south coast, and crops and pastures have benefited from regular rain over recent months. Photo: Colliers

Lake Shaster South has 1191ha of remnant vegetation and non-arable land which the agents said offered potential for biodiversity offsets, carbon-farming initiatives or environmental income streams aligned with ESG investment mandates.

Infrastructure on Lake Shaster South includes a four-bedroom home, multiple dwellings,  accommodation for seasonal workers, numerous sheds, a fertiliser shed with 1350 tonnes of storage and 2082 tonnes of grain silo capacity.

Grain Central: Get our free news straight to your inbox – Click here