Cotton, with an average yield of 12.25 bales/ha, is one of the main crops grown on Noongaburra, west of Hay. Photo: LAWD

SIX PROPERTIES in the Riverina district of southern New South Wales have come to market, and range from the expansive Noongaburra near Hay to smaller operations near Narrandera and Wagga Wagga.

Noongaburra

More than $65 million is anticipated for a first class broadacre cropping opportunity and pistachio orchard in the Riverina region of southern NSW.

The 5814ha Noongaburra is a contiguous landholding on the northern side of the Murrumbidgee River, 12km west of Hay and halfway between Darlington Point and Deniliquin.

It was purchased in 2015 by Dutch national Ron Meijer and is managed by Customised Farm Management (CFM), an Australian-owned and operated rural asset management company.

During the 10-year investment, 3054ha has been developed to irrigation and 325ha to dryland cropping, with a 181ha pistachio orchard and the balance used for grazing.

Noongaburra current crops, with average yields, are cotton at 12.25 bales/ha, corn at 13.78t/ha, irrigated wheat at 7.23t/ha, dryland wheat at 2.16t/ha, and barley, canola, and chickpeas at 1.74t/ha.

There is substantial on-farm water storage, with a combined capacity of 5511ML across three main storage locations, supported by 361mm of average annual rainfall.

Infrastructure includes three homes, numerous sheds, 5100t of silo storage, 12,100t of grain bunker storage and an 80t weighbridge.

Noongaburra is for sale by expressions of interest closing April 10.

LAWD agents Danny Thomas and Erica Semmens and Elders agent Matt Horne are handling the sale.

Walteela and Fletchers

A first-class breeding and fodder factory in the eastern Riverina, now listed as two separate holdings, is attracting good local and institutional inquiry.

Owned by Rob Topfer and Becky Sparks, Walteela and Fletchers are 13km from Wagga Wagga on the high side of the Murrumbidgee River, which means they are flood protected.

The main enterprise is irrigated hay and silage production.

Lucerne is the main crop, with around seven cuts a season taken at a yield of 3t/ha per cut.

With all the pivots sown to lucerne, the vendor expects a total annual production of 5000-6000t per year.

Together, Walteela and Fletchers are operated in conjunction with the vendor’s other properties located in the Southern Highlands.

Over the past 12 months, numbers have averaged 500 joined cows and heifers, but the properties can also carry sheep and lambs.

LAWD agent Tim Corcoran said the adjoining properties can operate as a whole or independently.

“Offering them separately has attracted interest from locals and institutions for expansion or as a bolt-on to an existing enterprise.”

Walteela

The 765ha Walteela boasts a 2.5km frontage to the Murrumbidgee River, supported by 571mm of annual rainfall.

The highly developed irrigation, dryland cropping and grazing property is offered with a $23.1M price tag for the land and fixed improvements.

Two water entitlements totalling 1590ML are available for separate sale.

Over the past three years, the couple has invested more than $1.8M into developing the working infrastructure and irrigation development on Walteela.

Walteela is located just west of Wagga Wagga and features irrigation from seven pivots. Photo: LAWD

The property has 192ha of spray irrigation under seven pivots, either new or recently overhauled and refitted, and plans and clearing have been completed for two pivots to further expand the irrigation area by a further 120ha.

Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, steel cattle yards and a shed.

Fletchers

Fletchers includes 112ha of irrigation under three new pivots. Photo: LAWD

The neighbouring 264ha Fletchers is described by the selling agents as ‘bolt-on scale with a real point of difference to complement existing enterprises’.

Offered for sale for $8.9M for land and fixed improvements, 600ML of water entitlements are available at market value.

More than $1.7M has been invested into developing the working infrastructure and irrigation development, including 112ha of spray irrigation under three new pivot irrigators.

Infrastructure includes a fully enclosed hay shed.

Rockvale, Clifton and The Station

A portfolio of three well located mixed farms in New South Wales’ central west offers potential buyers economies of scale and operating efficiencies.

Rockvale, The Station and Clifton are located on the Newell Highway, 10km north of Narrandera.

The Charles family owns The Station and the nearby Rockvale, which neighbours Clifton, offered for sale by the Burden family.

McGrath Riverina agent Craig Pellow is offering a $2800/ac to $3200/ac price guide for the aggregation, which he describes as ‘value for money’.

“Country around Temora, Cootamundra and Young is selling for $4000/ac to $6000/ac and in Wallendbeen it is making $10,000/ac.

“Eight years out of 10, Narrandera will harvest close to 100 percent of the grain produced at Temora.”

“The three properties are situated on the Newell Highway and offer access north to Brisbane, south to Melbourne and east to Sydney, as well as nearby grain-receival sites,” he said.

Mr Pellow said the Narrandera Aggregation boasts good yellow box, pine and kurrajong country in a 457mm rainfall region.

“The arable country has expansive open runs (around 2km to 3km) that offer economies of scale and operating efficiencies attractive to large family farm operators and/or corporates.”

Narrandera property Rockvale is suited to mixed farming or continuous cropping. Photo: McGrath Riverina

Rockvale

The 1198ha Rockvale is located near Narrandera and suited to mixed farming or cropping.

The productive and versatile holding has slightly undulating paddocks, fertile soils and a well-planned layout.

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

Rockvale also benefits from an established quarry operation currently leased to Mawsons & Sons, providing secure ongoing income through rent and royalties.

Clifton

The 946ha Clifton is located 5km east of Narrandera and has a history of livestock production and cropping.

Mr Pellow said currently operating as a grazing enterprise, Clifton’s fertile soils and strong cropping history highlight its potential for expansion into cropping.

Reliable water is supplied to the property by dams and a mains connection.

Infrastructure includes a four-stand shearing shed, sheep and cattle yards, numerous sheds and five silos.

Narrandera property Clifton has run as a grazing property in recent times but is also suited to cropping. Photo: McGrath Riverina

The Station

Spanning 617ha, The Station is also suited to cropping or mixed farming and boasts Bundidgerry Creek frontage.

Rockvale, Clifton and The Station are being sold by expressions of interest.

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