Planting cereals on Peter Kuhlmann’s Mudabie on SA’s Western Eyre Peninsula, where the season has been excellent to date. Photo: Elders

ON THE MARKET this winter are refreshed listings for Mudabie in South Australia and Peep-O-Day in New South Wales, plus Ballangarry and Moonie Ponds in Qld ahead of their auction.

Mudabie, SA

One of South Australia’s largest contiguous cropping operations has returned to the market following a strong start to the season.

Owned by the Kuhlmann family for 115 years, the 18,408ha Mudabie is near Mudamuckla on the Upper Eyre Peninsula, around 40km from Bunge’s Thevenard grain export terminal.

The property was offered to the market in February 2024 but failed to sell.

Elders agent Rob Calaby has been appointed to manage the new marketing campaign, with Mudabie being offered as a whole or as seven non-contingent lots via expressions of interest closing September 3.

Mr Calaby said the sale represents a rare opportunity to acquire one of the region’s most significant mixed-farming enterprises.

“Mudabie is a landmark agricultural asset with a proven production history and long-term ownership,” Mr Calaby said.

“It has exceeded its 291mm annual rainfall, receiving 300mm to June.”

Mr Calaby is anticipating interest from corporate and institutional groups, as well as family-farming operators seeking greater scale in the region.

“Whether sought as a large-scale expansion opportunity, a standalone agricultural investment or a strategic aggregation, Mudabie presents a compelling proposition for investors and farming enterprises alike.”

Across the aggregation, 12,476ha of arable cropping land is growing wheat, barley and lentils.

As well as extensive grain production, Mudabie runs a 2000-head self-replacing Merino sheep flock, providing a diversified income base and operational flexibility across varying seasonal and market conditions.

The family’s association with the land began in 1911, when Charles “Harry” Kuhlmann leased the first portion of what would become the present-day holding.

Through successive generations, the property has been carefully expanded and consolidated into the substantial enterprise offered today.

In 2024, vendor Peter Kuhlmann told Grain Central, Mudabie began as a cropping property because of a lack of water.

“My grandfather introduced sheep once water was made available via the pipeline that accompanied construction of the railway early last century.”

Mr Kuhlmann’s decision to sell is a pragmatic one. After moving to Adelaide in 2000, he has run Mudabie remotely, returning for seeding and harvest.

This means the sale gives buyers immediate access to an established and fully operational farming enterprise, including the opportunity to retain its experienced operational team.

While Mudabie is being offered as a whole or in seven non-contingent lots, Mr Kuhlmann believes one of its key selling points is its scale and operational efficiency.

In 2012, Mr Kuhlmann, a graduate of SA’s Roseworthy Agricultural College, was named the Kondinin Group, ABC Rural and Australian Rural Leadership Foundation Australian Grain Grower of the Year.

Later that year, he took out the overall Australian Farmer of the Year award.

The win was testament not only to the Kuhlmann family, but also to Mudabie’s long- standing team and its adoption of modern farming practices.

Through a continued focus on incremental improvements and precision agriculture, the Kuhlmanns have minimised risk while enhancing financial efficiency and profitability.

This includes risk mitigation through minimum-tillage cropping systems, the introduction of remote management systems and the establishment of an independent Farm Advisory Board.

Peep-O-Day, NSW

A blue-ribbon mixed farm in New South Wales’ Central West now expects offers between $12.8 million and $13.2M after returning to the market.

Originally listed by Colin Andrews in April last year, the 3812ha Peep-O-Day is being sold via expressions of interest closing on August 27.

The property is located 25km north of Tottenham and 165km north-west of Dubbo.

Owned by the Andrews family since 1996, it has been managed under the stewardship of Dr Andrews, a retired neurologist from Canberra who grew up in Tottenham.

Forbes Livestock & Agency Co agent Sam Mackay described Peep-O-Day as one of the most prestigious cropping portfolios in the Lachlan and Bogan Shires.

“A model of sustainable farming, it strikes a careful balance between soil health, crop rotation and infrastructure investment to drive long-term productivity and success.”

The soils range from grey self-mulching clays to soft red clay loams suitable for both cropping and lucerne pastures.

Around 97 percent of Peep-O-Day is arable and divided into 12 paddocks designated for rotational cropping, including cereals, lupins and canola, delivering an average wheat yield of 2.85 tonnes per hectare.

Seasonal oats are strategically planted to enhance cattle feed supply.

Mr Mackay said the property also excels in water use efficiency (WUE), with an average of 17kg/mm of growing-season rainfall (GSR) over the past decade, well above the regional average of 14kg/mm for wheat in the area.

“Peep-O-Day places a strong emphasis on soil fertility with balanced nutrient levels maintained through the consistent application of 70kg/ha of MAP equivalent phosphorus,” Mr Mackay said.

“Regular soil testing ensures the careful management of potassium and sulphur levels.”

Peep-O-Day features 1900t of vertical grain storage. Photo: Forbes Livestock & Agency Co

Break crops such as monola and lupins are grown to enhance nitrogen levels, improve soil structure and support long term soil health.

Peep-O-Day is watered by 16 dams and three 30,000 litre water tanks.

Infrastructure includes two homes, a worker’s quarters, 16 silos with a combined 1900 tonnes of grain storage, cattle and sheep yards, a five-stand shearing shed and numerous sheds.

Ballangarry and Moonie Ponds, Qld

The Campbell family will auction more than 10,600ha of Thallon floodplain country in southern Queensland.

In March, the Campbells listed the 6925ha Moonie Ponds after it failed to sell via expressions of interest last year.

They have now added the adjoining 3703ha Ballangarry, with both properties to be auctioned separately on August 14.

The two holdings offer irrigated and dryland cultivation, as well as frontage to the Carnarvon Highway.

They are located 10km south of Nindigully, 20km north of Thallon and 50km east of St George.

Ballangarry

Around 3365ha of Ballangarry is arable, with grey alluvials and reddish chocolate clay loams typically growing wheat and pulses.

The extensive 1500ha lateral irrigation system is fed by a 1306ML overland flow licence and 240ML from the Moonie River, supported by a 4200ML storage dam.

There is potential to develop a further 1000ha to lateral irrigation, increasing production and cashflow.

Infrastructure includes a new five-bedroom home, two cottages, workers’ quarters, two sheds and a silo complex.

Cotton has been grown Moonie Ponds at Thallon in south-west Qld. Photo: Ray White Rural

Moonie Ponds

Also offering development potential, Moonie Ponds has mostly self-mulching grey soils, with 5344ha arable.

A further 60ha, growing cotton, is irrigated by extensive overland flow water.

The balance of the country is growing abundant buffel and Mitchell grass and running 700 head of mixed cattle.

A natural lagoon system is a feature of Moonie Ponds, complemented by a capped artesian bore, a 600ML storage dam and a 686ML overland flow licence.

Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, a two-bedroom cottage, five-bedroom workers’ quarters, a new machinery shed, grain silo storage, a five-stand shearing shed and cattle yards.

Recent improvements include new boundary fencing, gateways and grids.

The sale of Moonie Ponds is being handled by Ray White Rural agents Bruce Douglas and Mark Schwerin.

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