THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of interesting listings in Western Australia, New South Wales and South Australia, and two separate articles on recently listed and sold properties.

• Central WA aggregation lists after 85 years
• NSW’s historic Mylora lists for $41m
• SA scenic sheep station offers tourism
• Jacksons list Willalooka’s Tallawong

Central WA aggregation lists after 85 years

A Western Australian breeding operation spanning 250km from end to end has been listed by the Snell family, descendants of Spencer Doman, after more than 85 years of ownership.

The Wongawol – Carnegie Aggregation spans more than 10,896sq km (1,089,644ha) across four properties – Wongawol, Carnegie, Niminga and Yelma.

Wongawol is 200km from Wiluna and 735km from Kalgoorlie. Carnegie is 350km from Wiluna and 885km from Kalgoorlie.

Rated to run 10,856 cattle, the aggregation is being sold as a going concern on a walk-in walk-out basis, including around 5000 cows and followers. The herd comprises mostly a composite breed based on Shorthorn, with mostly Red Angus and some Droughtmaster infusions.

It features a diverse range of land systems, including lakes, creeks and flood plains, offering a smorgasbord of grazing options, from saltbush and bluebush along lakesides and drainage plains to expansive buffel and native grass floodout and creek systems.

Elders agent Greg Smith said one of the aggregation’s strong, yet often overlooked, features, particularly in the current economic climate, is its ability to produce with relatively low inputs.

“Cattle require no mineral supplements, the rangelands require no fertiliser, and the country is tick free.”

Significant lake systems include Lake Carnegie, Lake Buchanan, Lake Burnside and the Linke Lakes, many of which have large semi-permanent pools and flood plains with claypans and billabongs.

Underground water is a feature, including 160 bores or wells, most of which are equipped.

Wongawol receives around 253mm of annual average rainfall, while Carnegie receives 292mm. Rainfall is generally influenced by tropical weather patterns, with lows becoming rain-bearing depressions as they move inland and south.

The aggregation hosts two operational headquarters.

There are main yards at the Wongawol and Carnegie homesteads, 22 yards suitable for trapping or mustering (with capacity to truck and process), and an additional 27 yards suitable for trapping.

Wongawol has 24-hour solar power, a four-bedroom home, a three-bedroom cottage, workers’ accommodation, dongas and numerous sheds.

Carnegie has similar facilities, with the addition of a tourism development that caters to travellers on the Gunbarrel Highway or Canning Stock Route.

Expressions of interest for the Wongawol – Carnegie Aggregation close on May 14.

History

Wongawol and Carnegie have a rich history dating back to the 1870s, when explorers John Forrest and later David Wynford Carnegie pushed deeper into Western Australia’s interior.

The properties were taken up around 1904 and, over the following decades, were worked closely together or owned as part of an expansive pastoral enterprise.

In the 1940s, Spencer Doman aggregated a network of properties spanning more than 1.5m ha. They included Millbillillie Station (close to the Wiluna township), Carnegie, Wongawol, Yelma, Windidda, Prenti Downs and Billiluna stations (south of Halls Creek at the top of the Canning Stock Route).

The Wongawol – Carnegie Aggregation spans more than 10,896sq km (1,089,644ha) across four properties – Wongawol, Carnegie, Niminga and Yelma.

NSW’s historic Mylora lists for $41m

A renowned mixed-farming holding in southern New South Wales has returned to the market, offered either as a single aggregation or as four separate assets, with expectations of raising $41 million.

Positioned between the Southern Tablelands and the South West Slopes, the 3209ha Mylora is widely regarded as one of the district’s premier holdings.

Brought to market in September 2023 by Angus Graham after 26 years of ownership, this is only the second time the property has been offered for sale in its 170-year history.

With deep local history, Mylora was once a Cobb & Co stop and was visited by bushrangers John Gilbert and Ben Hall. It also neighbours the childhood home of Australian poet A.B. “Banjo” Paterson, who titled his first published poem The Mylora Elopement after the property.

LAWD and Inglis Rural Property have been appointed to sell Mylora Homestead, Mylora East, Dunoon and Sawpit by private treaty, including land, water and fixed improvements.

Across the aggregation, productive red granite soils benefit from a long history of fertiliser and lime application, supported by an average annual rainfall of 672mm.

Mylora Homestead

The 1418ha Mylora Homestead, 11km from Binalong, 31km from Yass and 93km from Canberra, is listed for $24 million.

It is currently used for breeding and finishing cattle and prime lambs, fine-wool production and dryland cropping (canola, wheat and oats).

Around 1048ha is arable, with the balance comprising rolling pastures carrying 19,500DSE.

Mylora Homestead has 8km of double frontage to Jugiong Creek, plus frontage to Illalong, Bushrangers and Sawpit Creeks, along with 24 dams and an equipped bore.

Infrastructure includes a renovated circa-1850 six-bedroom bluestone homestead, two cottages, shearers’ quarters, an eight-stand shearing shed, sheep and cattle yards, three confinement feeding complexes, 2741 tonnes of grain storage and numerous sheds.

Mylora East, Dunoon and Sawpit

Three adjoining properties spanning 1791ha can be purchased as a whole or individually. Located 14km from Binalong and 35km from Yass, they include:

• 509ha Mylora East — $5.5m ($10,793/ha). Offered with a stocking rate of 12DSE/ha, it grows dryland winter dual-purpose crops including wheat, oats and canola. Water is supplied via a bore, 2km of double frontage to Garry Creek and 12 dams. Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom home, sheep yards and sheds.
• 841ha Dunoon — $7m ($8,321/ha). Can run 7000DSE or 465 cows and calves. Watered by 3km of Jugiong Creek frontage, 2km of Bushrangers Creek frontage and 15 dams.
• 404ha Sawpit — $4.5m ($10,215/ha). Can conservatively carry 4000DSE or 265 cows and calves. Watered by 2km of Jugiong Creek frontage, 2km of double frontage to Sawpit Creek and nine dams.

Positioned between the Southern Tablelands and the South West Slopes, the 3209ha Mylora is widely regarded as one of the district’s premier holdings.

SA scenic sheep station offers tourism

A scenic sheep station in the heart of South Australia’s Gawler Ranges, backed by an established tourism business, is being offered for sale by Len and Joy Newton after 24 years of ownership.

Established in 1862, the 84,712ha Mount Ive Station is 131km north of Kimba and 190km west of Port Augusta.

The grazing country is rated to carry 9000DSE, with goat trapping providing an additional income stream.

Vegetation includes mallee woodland plains with myall, black oak, blue bush, daisy, scotia bush and bladder saltbush.

In a 260mm average annual rainfall region, water is supplied by bores, springs and numerous dams, supported by an extensive pipeline system.

Rural Co Property Kimba agent Bronte Kenchington said an incoming purchaser could further expand the station’s tourism offering and investigate carbon opportunities.

“Widespread interest is coming from producers through to corporates, with the scope for expansion and additional income streams a drawcard.”

Mr Kenchington was unable to provide a price guide, saying few pastoral stations have changed hands in recent years.

“Well-located properties like Mount Ive are rarely brought to market. Those offered to the market have ranged in price from $650 to $1000 a sheep area, excluding the tourism business.”

Natural attractions include Lake Gairdner Salt Lake (known for its white salt flats), the Organ Pipes (distinctive rock formations) and the Mount Ive Lookout (offering sweeping views across the Gawler Ranges).

Each March, the station hosts the National Dry Lake Racing event, as well as attracting international film crews and advertising companies from the fashion and automotive industries.

Infrastructure includes two residences, tourism accommodation (including dongas and powered and non-powered sites), shearers’ quarters, a six-stand shearing shed, multiple livestock yards, a station store with a liquor licence and several sheds.

Expressions of interest for Mount Ive Station close on May 1.

Jacksons list Willalooka’s Tallawong

After 43 years of ownership, Jamie and Josie Jackson have decided to auction their prime grazing land, on the doorstep of Willalooka in South Australia’s south-east.

The 1272ha Tallawong fronts the Riddoch Highway (one of the main arterial roads between Melbourne and Adelaide) and is located 32km from Keith and 77km from Naracoorte.

The region is renowned for abundant underground water, reliable winter rainfall and access to livestock markets at Naracoorte and Mt Gambier, as well as meatworks at Bordertown, Murray Bridge and Naracoorte.

Tallawong runs around 2050 ewes and 650 ewe hoggets, annually turns off around 3000 prime lambs (including culls), and trades around 60 head of cattle.

In addition to the grazing enterprise, the sale includes 24ha of high-value hardwood plantation timber.

TDC agent Mark De Garis said the property has been meticulously managed and regenerated by the Jacksons.

“The vendors have transformed the extensively cleared property during their ownership, planting shelter belts throughout to provide year-round weather protection for lambing.”

Around 80 percent of the property is growing perennial pastures, divided into 30 main paddocks, with 14 split for cell grazing.

A 10ha area of flood irrigation supports lucerne, chicory, fescue and strawberry clover, providing year-round grazing.

A 415ML water licence is included in the sale.

Improvements include a four-bedroom home, a four-stand shearing shed, sheep yards, two cattle yards and two sheds.

Tallawong will be auctioned on May 22.