IN WESTERN Australia’s Wheatbelt, long-held properties Roundhay and Idahno Park have changed hands, and a portion of Waitavalo Farms has come to market.

Roundhay

More than a century of Brayshaw family ownership has ended following the sale of Roundhay, in WA’s eastern Wheatbelt, to a local farmer for more than $12 million.

The Brayshaw family had owned and operated the 3678ha mixed-farming property since 1924.

Roundhay is 5km from Mount Walker and 25km from Narembeen, with convenient access to CBH receival sites and regional services.

Nutrien Harcourts WA agent William Morris said the property was passed in at auction before selling to a local buyer for slightly above the reserve.

The sale equated to more than $3725/ha, in line with the guide of $3700-$4000 per arable hectare.

Of the total area, 3222ha is arable and typically produces wheat, barley and oats.

The livestock enterprise comprises 1200 Merino ewes and lambs, as well as 500 hoggets.

Roundhay comprises three holdings – 1425ha Roundhay (1240ha arable), 740ha Treloar’s (596ha arable) and 1513ha Menegola’s and Lethlean’s (1386ha arable).

The property is operated under a 50:50 cropping and grazing rotation.

Its undulating country comprises red, grey and sandy duplex soils, loamy gravels and yellow sandy earths.

Extensive salt-land rehabilitation has also been carried out at several sites across the farm.

Water is supplied by 21 dams and two equipped bores, in a district with average annual rainfall of 317mm.

Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, numerous sheds, a four-stand shearing shed, sheep yards and seven grain silos.

The property was offered on a bare basis, with settlement scheduled for January 2027 after harvest.

Idahno Park

A local farmer has secured Idahno Park near Perth in a strong result for WA’s southern Wheatbelt, although the sale fell short of setting a regional price record.

The 932ha mixed farm near Jelcobine is 24km west of Brookton and 35km north-west of Pingelly.

Fronting the Brookton Highway about 90km from Perth, the property offers access to major transport routes, regional service centres, grain networks and export infrastructure.

Offered for sale for the first time in its history, Idahno Park passed in at auction before selling to a local farmer seeking to expand.

Nutrien Harcourts agent William Morris was unable to disclose the buyer or the sale price.

However, recent local sales indicated values of $14,829-$16,000 per arable hectare, suggesting a price of between $8 million and $10 million.

Idahno Park has sold locally for an undisclosed price. Photo: Nutrien Harcourts

The Whittington family had privately owned and operated Idahno Park since 1958, when the current owner’s grandfather took up the land as a conditional purchase block.

Its gently undulating country, interspersed with slopes and steep breakaways, features loamy yellow earths, shallow duplexes and pale deep sands.

Around 600ha is arable and used to grow cereals, canola and wheat.

The remaining land supports Merino sheep.

Over 68 years of ownership, the Whittington family invested significant capital in soil improvement, infrastructure and farm efficiency.

The property is watered by 26 dams and three freshwater bores, one of which is equipped, and receives average annual rainfall of 463mm.

Infrastructure includes a four-stand shearing shed, steel sheep yards, numerous sheds, excellent fencing and 84 tonnes of grain storage across two silos.

Ricay Downs

After 78 years of family ownership, Owen Hall is selling his portion of Waitavalo Farms in Western Australia’s Eastern Wheatbelt.

The 1526ha Ricay Downs is near South Kumminin, 23km from Narembeen and 28km from Kondinin.

Last year, brothers Peter, Owen and Bradley Hall offered the 9938ha Waitavalo Farms portfolio, comprising four holdings: 3693ha Waitavalo (3161ha arable), 842ha Martin’s (632ha arable), 2929ha Dobra’s and Baker’s (2636ha arable) and 2471ha Ricay Downs (2065ha arable).

Peter and Owen retained the homestead portions of Waitavalo and Ricay Downs, while neighbouring farmers bought the balance.

Martin’s was acquired by a local farmer, and an adjoining family purchased Dobra’s and Baker’s.

Ricay Downs. Photo: Nutrien Harcourts

At the time, Nutrien Harcourts agent William Morris described the result as exceptional and said it set a record price for South Kumminin.

Ricay Downs has long operated as a mixed farming enterprise, with around half the property typically cropped to wheat, barley, oats and lupins and the remainder used for sheep.

Around 1316ha of its gently undulating country is arable, with soils comprising red and brown loamy duplexes, yellow sandy earths and yellow loamy gravels.

The farm is divided into 11 main paddocks and two smaller holding paddocks.

Mr Morris said Ricay Downs is in an exceptional farming district and offers an ideal expansion opportunity or add-on parcel that could be operated as a satellite block.

Water is supplied by 16 dams, and the property receives average annual rainfall of 336mm.

Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom dwelling, a shearing shed, sheep yards, sheds and three grain silos.

Ricay Downs will be sold by online auction on November 30.

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