THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of interesting recent listings across Queensland and two separate articles on listings in New South Wales and Western Australia, and a wrap-up of recently completed sales.
- Scale and efficiency in quality Maranoa grazing portfolio
- Brisbane Valley property offers versatility
- McClellands drive retirement with sale of western Downs aggregation
- Downsize or cattle depot in North Qld
Scale and efficiency in quality Maranoa grazing portfolio
Scale and efficiency are featured in a combined 36,096ha portfolio offering covering breeding, backgrounding and strategic location advantages.
The sale of the portfolio, which comprises significant beef breeding and backgrounding enterprises Ekari Park & Fairview Aggregation (24,633ha) and Ballaroo (11,463ha) represents one of the larger cattle property offerings in the area in recent years.
Handling the sale are Chris Holgar, Geoff Warriner and Clayton Smith of JLL Agribusiness.
Mr Holgar said the offering represented exceptional scale in a tightly-held market.
“These properties offer the combination of size, location, water security, and proven operational infrastructure that serious cattle producers and investors seek,” he said.
“The Maranoa region’s established reputation for efficient cattle production, combined with strategic proximity to end markets, makes this a significant rural opportunity in the region.”
Ekari Park & Fairview Aggregation
The 24,633ha aggregation comprises Ekari Park (13,240ha) and Fairview (11,393ha) hectares), with 12km of frontage to the bitumen-sealed Mitchell-Bollon Road, providing all-weather access.
The aggregation includes improved pastures supporting a combined carrying capacity of 3790 adult equivalents.
Water is supplied through a mix of surface catchment dams and bore systems, supported by tank and trough infrastructure. Ekari Park is equipped with steel cattle yards with an 800-head capacity, along with residential dwellings, machinery sheds, and workshops that support cattle operations.
Yards and homestead complex on Ballaroo
Ballaroo
The 11,463ha Ballaroo has water access through 20km of dual frontage to Ballaroo Creek, four groundwater bores, and 26 open dams, including 12 main catchment dams.
The estimated carrying capacity is 2700 adult equivalents. Infrastructure includes fencing and steel cattle yards with veterinary facilities. Ballaroo also has 19km of bitumen road frontage across four roads, providing reliable access to end markets.
Mr Warriner said the properties’ positioning offered significant market advantages.
“All properties are close to Roma Saleyards and have access to processing facilities to the east,” he said.
“This positioning, combined with proven operational infrastructure and water security, creates opportunities for both existing operators seeking scale and new entrants to the Maranoa cattle market.”
The properties are being offered for sale by Expression of Interest closing October 30, in one line or as separate assets.
Brisbane Valley property offers versatility
In south-east Queensland, expressions of interest are being sought for a Brisbane Valley property offering cattle production and irrigated cropping.
The 2659ha Ashvale Station is near Harlin, 5km from Toogoolawah, 30km from Kilcoy and 130km north-west of Brisbane.
There are 1200ha of improved pastures with around 500ha fertilised by chicken manure and 136ha of irrigation growing silage for the cattle.
Further revenue diversification is possible through an approved intensive poultry enterprise of up to 400,000 birds.
JLL Agribusiness agents Chris Holgar, Geoff Warriner and Clayton Smith have been appointed to manage the sale.
Mr Holgar said Ashvale offered the scale, location, water security and infrastructure that investors look for in blue-chip agribusiness holdings.
“Its proximity to key end markets, coupled with extensive improvements and diversified revenue streams, makes it one of the most significant rural opportunities to come to market in the Brisbane Valley in recent years.”
Mr Holgar said Ashvale was spread across 33 titles which means it represents a unique combination of land banking potential, commercial viability and the chance to secure scale in a region where large holdings seldom come to market.
Ivory Creek, which traverses the holding, provides water security and supports more than 24ha of licenced water harvesting. This is complemented by on-farm storages, including irrigation dams with a combined capacity of 770ML, 60 dams and 16 bores.
Infrastructure includes four homes, numerous sheds and cattle yards and feed pens.
Ashvale is being offered for sale by expressions of interest closing on November 6.
The 2659ha Ashvale Station is near Harlin, 30km from Kilcoy and 130km north-west of Brisbane.
McClellands drive retirement with sale of western Downs aggregation
Meantime, around $14 million is anticipated for a versatile property on Queensland’s western Darling Downs that has returned to the market after being held by three generations of a local farming family.
The 1528ha McClelland Aggregation is being offered in one line or as three adjoining properties – the 800ha Belmont, 350ha Kurrabah and 380ha Cedar View – driven by the retirement plans of owners Brenden and Madelene McClelland.
Operationally diverse, it offers grazing, dryland farming, a commercial piggery and an artificial insemination centre close to saleyards, grain receival sites, feedlots and processors.
From a grazing perspective, JLL’s Geoff Warriner said the aggregation has been developed with four laneways and two sets of yards to cater for around 800 head of cattle.
Historically, the aggregation runs opportunistic cattle trading and agistment on improved pastures and native grasses. Cell grazing management has been developed to ensure even forage use, rotating stock throughout the 55 paddocks that range in size from 15ha to 30ha.
Around 383ha of dryland farming typically grows summer forage and winter cereals.
JLL agent Chris Holgar expects broad appeal from locals looking to snap up a single property to high-net worth families with an exposure to mixed farming seeking a larger holding.
The McClelland Aggregation has a commercial piggery with a capacity of 3208 Standard Pig Units and an associated artificial insemination centre with accommodation capacity of 96 boars.
Watered by three bores (one unequipped), a natural spring, a dam and a 40ML water licence, the infrastructure includes accommodation, silos, cattle yards and numerous sheds.
The McClelland Aggregation is offered for sale by expressions of interest closing October 23.
The 1528ha McClelland Aggregation is being offered in one line or as three adjoining properties
Downsize or cattle depot in North Qld
A blue-ribbon lifestyle property in North Queensland’s Goldfields region will be auctioned on October 28 by Tim and Bethea Whelan after 20 years of ownership.
The 253ha Bumbleginny, located 7km from Charters Towers, is likely to appeal to downsizers looking for a small grazing holding close to a regional centre or stud breeders looking for a bull depot.
For the last five and a half years, the Whelans have followed a Grazing Naturally program run by Dick Richardson involving rotational grazing methods.
They said the grazing system uses contour banks which has greatly improved the soil, slowed water flow and enhanced the soils’ ability to hold more water and grow better pastures.
“Although this system has been applied to about 200ha, Bumbleginny’s carrying capacity has lifted from 50 head to 75 cows with weaners to six months of age.”
Bumbleginny has a mix of fertile black and red clays to lighter sandy and gravely ridges growing introduced and native grasses with the owners implementing a weed control program for chinee apple and currant bush.
Water is supplied by a bore.
Infrastructure includes a five-bedroom home built in 2009 with views to the south over the town and to the north looking towards the river, cattle and horse yards and numerous sheds.
Queensland Rural agent Andrew Meehan is handling the sale.
The 253ha Bumbleginny, located 7km from Charters Towers, is likely to appeal to downsizers looking for a small grazing holding close to a regional centre or stud breeders looking for a bull depot.