The Jones family has sold its long-held Darriwell Aggregation at Trundle to Roger Fletcher and family. Photo: Elders

AMONG the latest properties in eastern Australia to change hands are the Darriwell Aggregation in the Central West of New South Wales, and Eleanor Farm in the Kilcummin district of Central Queensland.

Darriwell Aggregation, NSW

Major red meat processor Roger Fletcher and family have secured a trophy aggregation in New South Wales’ Central West for a sum believed to be in excess of $43 million.

The 8828ha Darriwell Aggregation is a mixed-farming powerhouse adjoining the Trundle township and 50km from Parkes and 70km from Forbes.

Elders agents Chris Malone was unable to disclose the name of the buyer or the price paid, however local sources have told Beef Central, Mr Fletcher was the successful purchaser.

The Fletchers are a private, family-owned company that run Fletcher International Exports, an integrated processor and exporter of lamb and sheepmeat products.

Mr Malone said considering the nature of the asset, strong interest came from both farming families and institutional investors.

“Given Darriwell’s scale and productivity seldom seen in the closely held inside country, the season and the inclusion of crops, it was an opportunity not to be missed.”

In recent years, nearby undeveloped land has sold for between $1600/ac to $1900/ac. If that is the case, Darriwell should have commanded at least $2000/ac ($5000/ha) or around $44 million.

The sale included the 2024 cropping program which comprises 1083ha of canola, 2355ha of wheat, and 2500ha of lucerne but no livestock, plant or equipment.

The Darriwell Aggregation was sold by the Jones family, which started it in 1958.

In recent decades, brothers Russell, Lloyd and Geoffrey Jones have added to and meticulous managed the 19 holdings, some of which are contiguous.

Working together, the brothers run different arms of the operation, with Lloyd in charge of cropping, Russell running the Merino stud, and Geoffrey managing the production of crossbred lambs.

The aggregation has been home to the renowned Darriwell Merino and Poll Merino studs and their 7000 breeding ewes, as well as an award-winning 2000-head crossbred-lamb enterprise.

The 19 holdings are well watered by numerous dams that have been contoured to catch rain run-off.

The high-quality infrastructure includes four homes, five cottages, 4000 tonnes of grain storage, numerous sheds, three shearing sheds and four sheep yards.

Eleanor Farm, Qld

Clermont’s Bruce and Sally Werner have paid $19M for neighbouring complimentary country in Central Qld’s tightly held Kilcummin district.

The 3613ha Eleanor Farm is located 80km south-west of Moranbah and 100km north of Clermont, and was offered by Richard and Dyan Hughes and family.

GrainCorp’s Mt McLaren Depot is 35km south of the property, while other grain-handling facilities, four major export abattoirs, selling centres, and feedlots are within a 550km radius.

Sitting on the northern rim of the renowned Kilcummin district, Eleanor Farm boasts undulating self-mulching black soils.

There is 2487ha of developed dryland cultivation, but this area could be increased to 2963ha.

Chickpeas are one of the main crops grown on Eleanor Farm. Photo: RBV Rural

The 1511ha Farm West paddock has sorghum stubble from last summer, while the Farm East paddock has been split into 393ha of wheat and 524ha of chickpeas.

Over the past nine years, the five grazing paddocks have been rotationally grazed, resulting in well-established buffel and Mitchell grass pastures and shade cover.

RBV Rural agent Matt Beard said Eleanor Farm has been used for broadacre dryland farming and fringe-area grazing.

“With the highly fertile soil available, there is opportunity to develop another 477ha of cultivation or turn the farming areas into a high-density cattle operation capable of running 450 adult equivalents.”

Eleanor Farm is watered by three dams and seasonal water, supported by a reliable 522mm of average annual rain.

The only structural improvement is a set of cattle yards.

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