Fitzgeralds covers 4344ha and is going to auction on September 24. Photo: Ray White Rural

AS SPRING nears, a range of properties are on the market, including Fitzgeralds on South Australia’s Upper Eyre Peninsula, Erindale Farm in the Victorian Mallee, and Rushy Lagoon, Tasmania’s largest farm.

Fitzgeralds, SA

The Fitzgerald family is selling its large-scale mixed farm aggregation in the upper Eyre Peninsula of South Australia after 100 years of ownership and operation.

Suited to continuous cropping and livestock, the 4344ha Fitzgeralds is located near Cortlinye, 26km north of Kimba, and 168km north-west of Whyalla.

It comprises two holdings – the 3359ha Emu Rocks and nearby 985ha Country Life – which will be auctioned as a whole or separately on September 24.

Managed as a continuous cropping program for the past five years, the aggregation features large paddocks with long cropping runs designed for operational efficiency.

Most of the land is arable and grows wheat, barley, canola, lentils, beans and oats on easy-working sandy loam soils over clay in a 300mm average annual rainfall region.

With a strong legacy of sound farm management practices, Ray White Rural agent Daniel Schell said the Fitzgerald aggregation represents a significant rural offering for the upper EP region.

“The scale on offer will attract interest from local and away producers seeking expansion or complimentary country for their existing operations.”

Emu Rocks

The 3359ha Emu Rocks comprises two holdings which are divided by a road – 1247ha Western Lot and 2112ha Eastern Lot (no infrastructure).

Around 2598ha are arable with the balance native vegetation.

The property is part of the Cunyarie Water group which supplies SA mains water to several properties in the area.

Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, a three-bedroom workers cottage, a four-stand shearing shed, sheep yards, numerous sheds, two silos and two seed silos.

Country Life

Almost all of the 985ha Country Life is arable and suited to continuous cropping.

While the block has water infrastructure in place, it is not currently connected, with the vendor filling spray tanks at Emu Rocks.

Infrastructure includes two sheds.

Erindale Farm, Vic

After 77 years of ownership, the Price family is selling its premier cropping enterprise located in north-west Victoria.

The 1549ha Erindale Farm is 7km east of Manangatang and 34km west of Tooleybuc, close to grain receival centres at Manangatang and Sea Lake, and livestock exchanges at Ouyen and Swan Hill.

The Prices have been farming the Manangatang district for 111 years and have owned the original Erindale Farm since 1948.

The farm has an arable area of 1478ha and grows cereals and pulses on a rotation basis supported by 314mm of average annual rainfall.

Infrastructure on Erindale Farm includes 683t of silo storage. Photo: McKean McGregor Mildura

McKean McGregor Mildura agent Michael Fernandez said Erindale Farm benefits from scale, operational efficiencies, strategic location, well managed soils through agronomic and modern farming practices designed to maximise profitability.

Infrastructure includes three homes, a shearing shed, numerous sheds and 683 tonnes of grain storage.
Erindale Farm will be auctioned as a whole on September 22, or as four non-contingent and individual parcels.

Rushy Lagoon, Tas

A second expressions-of-interest campaign has been launched for Tasmania’s largest farm, featuring irrigated and dryland cropping and grazing.

Offered to the market in October last year, the 21,744ha Rushy Lagoon is situated in the state’s far north-east and is expected to raise more than $110 million.

Rushy Lagoon comprises two contiguous holdings – 20,523ha Rushy Lagoon and 1221ha East Wyambi – and was owned by the late Allan Pye, one of New Zealand’s richest farmers.

The diversified farming enterprise is conducive to a range of agricultural pursuits including dairy, sheep, beef and cropping of potatoes, cereals, poppies, hemp, carrot seed, oilseeds, and legumes.

Currently, 1170ha is developed to centre-pivot irrigation, there is a 693ha irrigated dairy platform offering significant scope for expansion, and an estimated carrying capacity of 85,000 dry sheep equivalents.

Rushy Lagoon is Tasmania’s largest farm and has an estimated DSE of 85,000. Photo: LAWD

Agents from LAWD and RMS Advisory have again been appointed to handle the EOI process.

RMS Advisory agent Peter Ryan said further investment in pasture improvement, irrigation, paddock planning and stock-water systems would significantly increase sheep and cattle numbers.

LAWD’s Danny Thomas said potential future income streams include lease payments from a proposed wind farm development, sand mining royalties and carbon offset payments.

Rushy Lagoon receives an average rainfall of 750mm a year and benefits from water entitlements totalling 12,548ML, and on-farm water storages able to hold 3935ML; it has a permit to construct an additional 2500ML dam.

Infrastructure includes a 20-stand shearing shed.

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