Wardry at Kiacatoo. Photo: Ray White Rural

A BLUE-CHIP irrigated and dryland cropping asset in central western New South Wales, supported by substantial water, is attracting nationwide inquiry.

Listed for sale by Jock and Katrina Coupland after 25 years of ownership, the 1863ha Wardry sits on the banks of the Lachlan River, 40km downstream from Condobolin in the Kiacatoo irrigation region of the Lachlan Valley.

The property comprises 504ha of row-crop irrigation, including 466ha under siphon irrigation and 38ha of bankless channels, along with 1180ha of dryland cropping.

The balance is sown to improved pastures for grazing.

Wardry carries a 7000ML Lachlan River general security irrigation water entitlement, including 5000ML of carry-over water.

Ray White Rural agent Paddy Ward was unable to provide a price guide; however, with water reportedly making up to $2000/ML, the 7000ML licence alone could be worth around $14M.

Mr Ward said Wardry had been extensively developed with modern irrigation infrastructure.

“The property is also MyBMP accredited, reflecting its commitment to high standards of sustainability, ethical production and environmental management.”

Mr Ward said the campaign had drawn interest from buyers across Australia, including corporate operators.

“The Couplands are highly regarded cotton growers.

It is a significant volume of water for the Lachlan Valley and can be purchased separately, subject to the sale of the property.”

Wardry features typical Lachlan River alluvial soils, ranging from grey clays to red clay loams, and is suited to a wide variety of crops including cotton, sorghum, corn, pulses and cereals.

Grain receival sites are located near Kiacatoo (5km), Condobolin (40km) and Bogan Gate (100km), while cotton gins are located at Hillston (165km) and Warren (220km).

Situated in a 450mm average annual rainfall district, Wardry has 4km of Lachlan River frontage timbered with river red gum, yellow box and rosewood, as well as a 33ML high-security stock and domestic water licence.

Irrigation infrastructure includes a 350ML storage dam, a 30ML recycle dam system, a 24-inch three-phase electric river pump and a porosity channel height and pump monitoring system.

Other improvements include a renovated five-bedroom home, two three-bedroom cottages, numerous sheds, steel cattle yards and six grain silos with a combined capacity of 260 tonnes.

Expressions of interest for Wardry close on July 2, with early access available for the upcoming cotton season.

Wardry was originally taken up as a Crown lease in 1840 by Thomas Kite and was later granted to him as freehold land in 1866.

By the 1900s, it had become a large grazing holding spanning more than 12,000ha and was owned by several families, including the MacSmiths of Cudal and the McDonalds and Tomlinsons of Condobolin.

In the 1980s, the irrigation and grazing country were separated, creating Wardry as it is known today.

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