THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of recently completed sales in Queensland, a separate article on sales in the Northern Territory and New South Wales, and a third on recent listings across the country.
- District record $14.8m for NW QLD blue ribbon grazing country
- NW Qld’s Moonby makes $9.5m
- CQ’s Lucie Station sells to a near neighbour
- Roma’s Reddans expand with Bicton
- Penfold family grows Western Downs portfolio
Quality Brahman cattle on Ernestina Plains, near Oorindi
District record $14.8m for NW QLD blue ribbon grazing country
Dirranbandi-based Doug and Jacque Hemming from Hemming Farming have paid a district record $14.8 million for a blue-ribbon breeding, backgrounding and finishing property in North Queensland.
The 11,354ha Ernestina Plains is located between Cloncurry and Julia Creek in the tightly held Oorindi district and was sold by Gillian and Mark Bryant after 45 years of ownership.
The walk-in, walk-out auction sale included 962 head of good quality branded cattle (473 cows, 125 calves, 11 bulls, 132 heifers and 221 steers).
New owners, the Hemming family operate a 2000 head feedlot as part of their farming operations around Dirranbandi.
Brodie Agencies agent Jim Brodie said Ernestina Plains exceeded expectations at auction.
“Not often do you a get a chance to purchase a property with such good improvements where all the hard work has been done and no immediate capital expenditure is required. The exceptional infrastructure and mix of country, made Ernestina Plains a very attractive buy,” he said.
The holding has open pebbly red chocolate downs country growing Mitchell and Flinders grasses, with well-established buffel grass along the Fullarton River channels and other creek systems.
It is estimated to comfortably carry up to 900 breeders plus progeny and up to 200 steers in an average season.
Ernestina Plains is watered by the Fullarton River, four bores, two dams and numerous seasonal waterholes in the Sheep Station, Scrubby and Middle Creeks.
In a good wet season, around 60 percent of the property will flood out, but the vendors report at no danger to livestock.
Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom home, a nine-bedroom quarters, steel cattle yards and numerous sheds.
Comparable earlier sales in the area include Elrose, a larger 30,000ha holding to the south of Ernestina, which in 2021 made more than $19 million bare, and is currently back on the market via expressions of interest through Colliers. Elrose is a mixture of downs, creek and river frontage country and gently elevated red tableland country.
NW Qld’s Moonby makes $9.5m
North-west Queensland’s Moonby Station has sold for $9.5 million ($921/ha) to Darren Childs from Dianne Downs near Theodore.
Listed by Bob and Margie Little after more than 80 years of family ownership, the 10,312ha holding southwest of Hughenden is exclusion fenced.
The backgrounding or finishing block has been set up for sheep and cattle, with the Littles conservatively running sheep and agisting cattle.
Estimated to run 1250 adult equivalents in an average year, the stocking rate is much lower this year.
Wharton & Co agent John Wharton described the sale as very good.
“Properties like this rarely come on the market. The heavy carrying country is virtually destocked and carrying a terrific body of feed including Mitchell and Flinders grass with some buffel and herbages.”
Noted for its heavy carrying capacity, the undulating tight gidgee pebbly country has soft self-cracking soils in a 457mm average annual rainfall region.
Located on the Flinders River watershed, Moonby is watered by the Wariana and Little Wariana Creeks, supported by other channels and three bores (two equipped).
The infrastructure includes a three-bedroom home, a self-contained cottage, three sheds, a five-stand shearing shed, shearers quarters, sheep yards and portable panel cattle yards.
Downs country on Moonby, south of Hughenden
CQ’s Lucie Station sells to a near neighbour
A near neighbour has paid $20 million ($4336/ha) to expand with a productive beef enterprise in the renowned brigalow belt of Central Queensland.
Capable of breeding, growing or finishing, the 4612ha Lucie Station is located 25km north of Bluff and 105km east of Emerald.
When it was offered to the market in June, Lucie Station attracted good interest with more than 35 inquiries and 13 inspections.
Hourn & Bishop Qld agent Brad Hanson was unable to disclose the buyer but said the sale price was in line with market expectations.
Vendors Barry and Leanne O’Sullivan from Glenalpine, south-west of Bowen, had spent the last four years developing and improving Lucie to enhance its efficiency, with grazing and management practices substantially increasing the property’s productivity and carrying capacity.
Soils range from heavy brigalow melon holes to sandy scrub, timbered with brigalow, blackbutt, bauhinia, softwood, box and yellowwood.
Lucie Station offers a solid feed bank of quality pasture including buffel, Rhodes, green panic, native grasses and assorted established legumes.
The holding is watered by 17 dams and 10km of dual frontage to the Twelve Mile Creek with permanent and seasonal waterholes, supported by 621mm of annual average rainfall.
Infrastructure includes a five-bedroom home, a three-bedroom workers accommodation, steel cattle yards and numerous sheds.
Roma’s Reddans expand with Bicton
Exclusion fenced Bicton in south-west Queensland has sold following an expressions of interest process to Jack and Bianca Reddan from Roma.
The 22,744ha holding, 65km south-east of Charleville and 75km south-west of Morven, was offered to the market by Ross Shapcott after 14 years of ownership.
Nutrien Harcourts GDL agent Rick Benham was unable to disclose the price paid, however it was anticipated to make around $494/ha ($200/ac) or more than $11 million.
Mr Benham described it as a strong sale and said the Reddans would use Bicton as a breeding block to complement their finishing enterprise near Roma.
“Bicton attracted inquiry from locals, as well as producers from Barcaldine and Roma looking for a proven calf factory.”
The mostly soft red soils are growing a dense stand of low soft mulga capable of supporting a 1000 head breeding herd. In dry times, the vendor had run up to 1400 breeders by pulling the mulga.
The balance of country is poplar box, mulga sand plains and alluvial plains and lakes.
Bicton is watered by 10 equipped bores in a 495mm rainfall region.
Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom home, a two-bedroom cottage, a five-stand shearing shed (in need of repair), a shed and steel cattle yards.
Calves on Bicton, near Morven
Penfold family grows Western Downs portfolio
The Penfold family is expanding its Western Downs portfolio with a cattle and cropping enterprise closer to home.
The 1974ha Heswyn is located 39km from Meandarra and 43km from Westmar and was sold by Andrew and Karen Jackson after ten years of ownership.
The undulating country has a mix of quality soils including soft, heavy brigalow and belah types, with some elevated quick-responding red loams.
Around 485ha is cropped with the balance growing buffel, bluegrass and native pastures, with the benefit of herbages through the winter months.
Heswyn is watered by six dams. Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, steel cattle yards, a five-stand shearing shed, shearers’ quarters and a number of sheds.
Nutrien Harcourts GDL agent Russell Jorgensen handled the sale.