Razorback and Kercolo in SA’s Mid North include arable and grazing country. Photo: Ray White Rural

RECENT activity in eastern South Australia’s property market includes the sale of Allen and Jenny Buckley’s Glenrae, the listing of two Rowe family holdings, and a revitalised campaign for Excel Farms’ Boorala Aggregation.

Razorback and Kercolo

South Australia’s Rowe family from Princess Royal Station at Burra is offering two properties with a reputation for quality cropping and livestock production.

Razorback and Kercolo, with a combined area of 2167ha, are located in the highly regarded Mt Bryan area in the state’s Mid North.

Aggregated over more than 15 years, the properties are being sold to allow the company to further develop and expand its existing feedlot portfolio.

Ray White Rural SA agents Geoff Schell, Daniel Schell and Sam Krieg have been appointed to sell the properties as a whole, separately or in multiple lots.

The 1779ha Razorback is located 15km north-east of Mount Bryan and 21km south-east of Hallett, while the nearby 388ha Kercolo is 5km to the north.

Razorback has a blend of open undulating arable farming land to grazing hills and open plains.

Around 766ha are arable and feature mostly red and brown loam soils which the Rowes have been using in a cropping rotation of wheat, barley, and vetch.

The 1013ha balance comprises open and undulating grazing country, with the Razorback Ranges a feature of the western portion of the property.

During its ownership, the properties have enjoyed advanced agronomic practices with up to 30t/ha of cattle manure applied to cropping areas.

Around 30kg/ha of seed and fertiliser has been aerially applied every three to four years to the grazing areas.

Situated in a 300-400mm rainfall region, water on Razorback is supplied by five bores, four of them equipped.

Infrastructure includes a recently renovated three-bedroom home, a cottage, a shearing shed and yards.

The 388ha Kercolo has 240ha of gently undulating arable land with clay and loam soils suited to cropping and hay production, with the 148ha balance comprising open grass plains suited to grazing.

It is watered by an equipped bore and has basic cattle and sheep yards, and an old shearing shed with yards .

The expressions of interest campaign for Razorback and Kercolo close March 21.

Glenrae

Glenrae vendors Allen and Jenny Buckley. Photo: Elders

After a marathon sales process, a vertically integrated and mixed farm in SA’s Riverland has sold to a developer.

The 7532ha Glenrae, located in the Holder Siding district, 13km south of Waikerie, was offered to the market in 2020 by Allen and Jenny Buckley after 100 years of family ownership.

The Boolgun portion of the property was snapped up by a Victorian investor and now, almost five years later, a South Australian-based land developer considering alternative land use potential has paid $4 million for the remaining 1703ha Home Block – believed to be a district record.

It was sold bare of livestock but included a 1600-head sheep feedlot and 2050t of vertical grain storage.

A further 1569ha known as Wenske’s (also taken to the market in 2020) is currently under contract.

Glenrae near Waikerie in South Australia includes an advanced sheep feedlot. Photo: Elders

Allen Buckley will now work on a much smaller block near the river and continue to help problem-solve with farmers in the district.

As one of the founders of Mallee Sustainable Farming (MSF), he challenged the widely held thinking in the 1990s that sandy loams could not support a no-till farming system, especially one with sheep in the mix.

In 2018, he received MSF’s David Roget Award for farming excellence.

With an annual average rainfall of 250mm, 160mm of it in the winter cropping window, no-till and improved soil health have helped boost the property’s ability to produce crops for grazing and grain.

The property, which last traded hands in 1925, has played host to many trials, demonstrations and field days aimed at sharing knowledge and experience in the cropping and mixed farming community.

Elders agent Adam Chilcott said in terms of transaction time, it was a long haul but is pleased the outcome was beneficial for both parties.

Boorala and Manton

Renewed interest is anticipated for an institutional scale farming opportunity in SA’s South East owned by Ararat-based Excel Farms and its Canadian investment fund partner.

Spanning 2821ha, the Boorala Aggregation comprises two holdings – 1980ha Boorala and the 841ha Manton – and is located 40km north-east of Naracoorte in the renowned Frances region, close to the Victorian border.

The mixed farm, which is anticipated to make in excess of $37M, was brought to the market as a whole in April last year.

It is now being offered in one-line or as separate assets by LAWD and TDC Livestock & Property.

The Boorala Aggregation is located in SA’s renowned Frances district. Photo: TDC Livestock & Property/LAWD

TDC agent Tom Pearce reports after a late break and early frosts, both properties had a good harvest which resulted in good yields.

“After a tough season across the board in South Australia, enquiry is picking up from within a 50km radius, as well as from farming families across the South East.

“A break in the season and an interest rate drop would certainly generate more vigour in the market.”

The aggregation is currently used for dual-purpose winter cropping of cereals, oilseeds, and faba beans on 1655ha, as well as prime lamb and cattle production.

The generally level country is mostly level with a mix of fertile brown loams over clay.

There are heavier loams with sandy soil types on rises across Manton.

Prime lambs and cattle are run on a mixture of high-performing improved perennial pastures including phalaris and ryegrass.

In 2023, Boorala was running 3300 ewes and trading 28,000 lambs and 1400 cattle.

By increasing the 2024 cropping program, the aggregation was able to run 4500 ewes and trading 7500 lambs and 180 cattle.

Situated in a high rainfall district, water is supplied by bores, dams and seasonal creeks.

Significant capital expenditure programs have focused on cropping efficiencies, pasture development, water infrastructure, soil amelioration, fencing and laneways, as well as infrastructure.

The 841ha Manton is available separately for $6.29M and the remaining 1980ha, known as Boorala, is also available as four separate holdings, each offered with a separate price tag.

• 912ha Boorala – $14.06M. It has two four-bedroom homes, two shearing sheds, two sheep yards, one cattle yards, 460-tonnes of grain storage and newly installed water infrastructure.
• 434ha Cadgee – $6.4M. It is offered with a five-bedroom home, new water infrastructure and numerous sheds.
• 357ha Walkington West – $5.75M – is offered with a solar pump equipped bore and a new water system;  and,
• 277ha Boorala North West – $4.5M.

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