Connawarrie sold in 2021 for $17.85M, and has recently sold for close to double that. File photo: Elders Real Estate

FIVE local farmers have paid a combined $35 million for John Nicoletti’s cropping and sheep aggregation in Western Australia’s Great Southern region.

Located in a high rainfall zone, the 11,503ha Connawarrie is located near Mt Sheridan, north of Newdegate and 130km from the south coast.

The off-market sale was handled by LAWD agents Danny Thomas and Simon Wilkinson.

While the pair was unable to disclose the buyers or the price paid, they did confirm the transaction, describing it as outstanding.

“Despite good corporate interest, the contiguous aggregation was divided into six parcels and sold to five farmers.”

Connawarrie has been a consistent producer of quality grain, sheep and wool.

The topography is generally wide, open, undulating farmland suited to cropping and livestock production with mostly mallee and grevillea loams and duplex soils, with some mallee and salmon gum types.

Boasting long runs for efficiency of production, Connawarrie’s cropping program includes barley, oats, wheat and canola.

The Newdegate area is also a highly regarded area for sheep production, with pastures able to deliver consistent wool production, strong growth rates and healthy lambing percentages.

Connawarrie is capable of running 5000 sheep but has been conservatively running around 3800 head.

Water is supplied via dams, soaks, and scheme water.

Infrastructure includes three homes, staff quarters, 15 grain silos with a 700-tonne combined capacity, two shearing sheds, five sheep yards, significant UAN storage and numerous sheds.

Connawarrie last traded in March 2021.

After 50 years of ownership, retiring vendors Ian and Lesla Chamberlain sold the holding to John Nicoletti, who subsequently leased the property, for around $17.85M.