A NUMBER of large-scale properties across Australia are on the market this spring, and include Rushy Lagoon, Tasmania’s biggest farm.
Also listed are The Clermont Collection in Central Queensland, Pendrea in north-west Victoria, Turners Well in South Australia’s South East, and Clonakilty Farm in Western Australia’s north-eastern Wheatbelt.
Rushy Lagoon, Tasmania
Tasmania’s largest farm has returned to the market with industry sources suggesting it could make north of $100 million.
Situated in the state’s far north-east and spanning 21,744ha, Rushy Lagoon is an irrigated and dryland cropping and grazing opportunity.
It comprises two contiguous properties – 20,523ha Rushy Lagoon and 1221ha East Wyambi.
Offered for sale in March 2018 by Allan Pye, one of New Zealand’s richest farmers who died earlier this year, Rushy Lagoon was anticipated to make $70M, but was subsequently withdrawn following an extensive expressions-of-interest campaign.
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, oilseed, 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.
LAWD agents Danny Thomas and RMS Advisory agents Peter Ryan and Jarrod Ryan have been appointed to handle the sale.
Mr Ryan said further investment in pasture improvement, irrigation, paddock planning and stock water systems would significantly increase sheep and cattle numbers.
Mr 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 substantial water entitlements (12,548ML) and on-farm water storages (3935ML) and a permit to construct an additional 2500ML dam.
Infrastructure includes a 20-stand shearing shed.
Rushy Lagoon and East Wyambi are being offered for sale as a whole or as separate assets by expressions of interest closing November 1.
The Clermont Collection, Queensland
A Central Qld family is offloading its diversified cropping and grazing opportunity in the state’s highly regarded Central Highlands region.
The 5845ha The Clermont Collection is an aggregation of three properties across two contiguous hubs – 2354ha Huntley Downs and 1262ha Pentagon and the nearby 2245ha Towri.
Located 10km from Clermont and 86km from Emerald, the portfolio is situated close to GrainCorp grain depots at Capella and Mount McLaren.
Soils across the portfolio consist of fertile black and brown self-mulching cracking clays, with areas of red or brown hard-setting loams, that grow winter and summer crops, including wheat, barley and chickpeas.
Securely watered by multiple dams, 12 bores and several seasonal creeks, The Clermont Collection receives around 585mm of rain a year.
Infrastructure includes multiple four-bedroom homes, a cottage, numerous sheds, grain silos with 530 tonnes of capacity and cattle yards.
The Clermont Collection is being offered for sale by expressions of interest closing October 31.
LAWD agents Simon Cudmore and Grant Veivers and Savills agent Gregory Woods are handling the sale.
Pendrea, Victoria
More than $4M is anticipated for what is described as one of the finest farming parcels in the Millewa district in Victoria’s north-west.
Situated south of the highly regarded Werrimull farming district, the 2282ha Pendrea is a mixed farm growing mostly cereals and running some sheep.
Family owned since 1977, Don and Carolin Rankin have relisted the property after it failed to sell earlier this year.
Elders agent Marty Deacon said he has never seen a farm of this quality and calibre come to the market.
“Pandrea is a tightly held property offering outstanding value for money and should attract new and existing farming families and agricultural companies.”
Mr Deacon said the owners have prided themselves in being progressive and innovative using modern farming practices.
“The Rankins commenced direct drilling in the 1990s and introduced break crops which have improved soil profile and water retention, producing strong yields.”
Boasting fertile red loam soils, wheat, barley, lupins, vetch and field peas are grown as part of the continuous cropping program on 2104 arable hectares.
In recent years, the Rankins have been running 700 breeding ewes on fenced country timbered with belah, mallee and pine trees.
Situated in a 280-300mm annual rainfall region, water is piped from the Lower Murray Water into receival tanks and supported by rainwater storages.
Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom home, numerous sheds, a three-stand shearing shed and steel sheep yards.
Pendrea is being offered for sale by expressions of interest closing November 22.
Turners Well, SA
After several generations of ownership, the Zadow family is selling its historic mixed-farming opportunity in South Australia’s South East.
The 1643ha Turners Well is located near Perponda, 16km north of Karoonda and 62km from Murray Bridge, east of Adelaide.
The property was part of an old stock route and features an old unused watering point, along with several old buildings.
The current focus is running sheep, but the property could be entirely cropped with 1518 arable hectares that grow wheat and barley.
Nutrien Harcourts agent Andy Edwards described Turners Well as an easily run property, providing buyers with an opportunity to add significant value with some simple renovations.
“The mostly sandy loam soils have been conservatively farmed and rationalising the 11 paddocks would be a quick value-add for croppers.”
“There has been good interest from locals and neighbours and value-driven New South Wales farmers priced out of other higher-rainfall areas,” Mr Edwards said.
Watered by a bore and supported by 339mm of rainfall a year, infrastructure includes a home, a three-stand shearing shed, sheep yards and numerous sheds.
Turners Well is offered for sale by registrations of interest closing October 29.
Clonakilty Farm, WA
Offers above $9M are being sought for John Nicoletti’s mixed farm in the north-eastern wheatbelt region of WA.
The 6514ha Clonakilty Farm is located near Chandler, 20km east of Mukinbudin in the Nungarin Shire.
A high percentage of the land is arable featuring mostly productive salmon gum-gimlet and salmon-mallee soils.
This year, Clonakilty has been rested from cropping mostly wheat, and will be spray-topped to set the farm up well for planting in 2025.
Reliable water is supplied by eight scheme water points and a number of rainwater tanks.
Infrastructure includes two transportable homes, numerous sheds, a four-stand shearing shed, sheep yards and nine grain silos.
The Clonakilty Farm is being offered by expressions of interest.
Elders agent John Shadbolt is handling the sale and hopes the well located property will attract inquiry from corporates and local farmers.
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