THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of recently completed sales and two further articles on interesting recent listings across New South Wales and Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia.

• Pentland NQ breeder block sells for expansion
• Hughenden’s Gorge Creek sells with 2000 cattle
• Local family secures Scenic Rim country
• $6m for Bookit Island Station in NSW’s Riverina
• Intensive Victorian livestock opportunity sells three ways

Breeders on Ronlow Park, near Pentand

Pentland breeder blocks sell for expansion

A family from the Mt Coolon district is expanding with a well-grassed desert uplands breeder block in North Queensland, ending 44 years of ownership by the Cullen family.

The 31,300ha Ronlow Park, pictured above, is in a tick-free area near Pentland, 250km north-east of Barcaldine and 260km south-west of Charters Towers.

TopX agent Brett Christie was unable to disclose the buyer or the price paid, however during the marketing campaign, the property was anticipated to make more than $8 million.

“Ronlow Park attracted six expressions of interest and achieved a strong result that included around 430 head of mixed cattle and some plant,” he said.

“The property offers an opportunity for existing operators to expand with a standalone calf factory. Additionally, there is scope to increase the carrying capacity by using and spreading water further,” he said.

Ronlow Park typically runs 1500 breeders and during the sale was growing abundant feed on red sandy loam creek flats and larger areas of red and grey duplex soils.

Located in a 508mm average rainfall region, the property is watered by two bores, 13 dams and seasonal creeks.

Improvements include two basic two-bedroom dwellings, cattle yards and two sheds.

Gorge Creek sells with 2000 cattle

Meantime, a large-scale northern basalt breeder property with renewable energy potential has fallen short of the vendor’s $16 million expectation, but has achieved an undisclosed price in line with recent nearby sales.

The 43,500ha Gorge Creek Station is adjacent to Blackbraes National Park and 220km north of Hughenden in far north Queensland.

Offloaded by Brett Wehl after 24 years of ownership, Gorge Creek was sold on a walk-in, walk-out basis with 2000 cattle and some plant.

While Mr Christie was unable to disclose the buyer or the price paid, he did confirm it was purchased by a south-east Queensland producer seeking scale to relocate their business.

During the marketing campaign, Mr Christie said Gorge Creek presented with plenty of feed and water, and scope to increase numbers with further development.

“Offered with a 3000 Adult Equivalent carrying capacity, numbers could be lifted given the property’s abundant water and development potential.”

The forest grazing country is grassed with an abundance of mostly native grasses, and a strong influence of Seca stylo and wynne cassia.

Around 800ha was previously cultivated and could potentially be used to grow hay.

Gorge Creek is abundantly watered by numerous dams and springs and eight bores (mostly equipped with solar), in an 812mm average rainfall region.

Infrastructure includes a three-bedroom home, numerous sheds and cattle yards.

Brahman cattle on Gorge Creek

Local family secures Scenic Rim country

The Leaney family has paid $14.2 million for a picturesque beef and fodder operation in Queensland’s Scenic Rim.

The 1750ha Mt Toowoonan Aggregation is situated on the shores of Maroon Dam near Croftby, 26km from Boonah and 90 minutes from Brisbane.

The three contiguous holdings, comprising 194ha Foxes, 988ha Sandy Creek and 568ha Colemans, attracted strong interest from locals, tourism developers and western Queensland producers seeking additional scale closer to Brisbane and the coast.

During their six years of ownership, the Yates family used the well-improved holding for breeding, backgrounding and irrigated silage and hay production, with an estimated carrying capacity of 1170 Adult Equivalents.

Featuring more than 1.5km of Maroon Dam frontage, the property is watered by six bores (two equipped), several extensive creek frontages and 20 dams, in a 1062mm average annual rainfall region.

Improvements include a six-bedroom home, a three-bedroom home, two steel cattle yards, two additional timber/steel cattle yards, horse round yards, numerous sheds and three silos with 48 tonnes of combined capacity.

The sale of the Mt Toowoonan Aggregation was handled by LAWD agents Darren Collins and Alex Horan.

The 1750ha Mt Toowoonan Aggregation is situated on the shores of Maroon Dam near Croftby

$6m for Bookit Island Station in NSW’s Riverina

A southern Riverina grazing and cropping opportunity surrounded by three rivers has sold for around the $6 million asking price.

The 2038ha Bookit Island Station is located 11km north-east of Barham and 65km west of Deniliquin and was purchased by a local producer for expansion.

It offers 518ha of highly developed laser-levelled flood irrigation growing winter crops including cereals, rice and fodder, with the 1500ha balance running 550 cows.

During the marketing campaign, LAWD agent Patrick Kerr reported good local interest, as well as from interstate producers seeking additional grazing land, irrigation and dual enterprise opportunities.

Bookit Island boasts extensive frontages to the Wakool River (12.4km), Bookit Creek (5.8km) and Merribit Creek (8.2km).

Additionally, it has access to the Murray Irrigation Limited channel and is offered with 1400ML of delivery entitlements from the Wakool River.

Infrastructure includes a renovated four-bedroom home on the banks of the Wakool River, a four-bedroom manager’s residence, cattle yards, a five-stand shearing shed, sheep yards, grain storage and numerous sheds.

Intensive Victorian livestock opportunity sells three ways

An investment grade intensive livestock opportunity in Western Victoria has been split up and sold to three grazing, dairy and forestry interests, with the O’Brien family retaining a portion of the offering.

The 1018ha Hilltop Aggregation, comprising the 307ha Hilltop, the 310ha Bailey Park and the 401ha Westside, was offered for sale in November last year with hopes of raising around $30 million.

Agents from Elders and Charles Stewart Real Estate confirmed the sale but were unable to disclose the buyers or the price paid other than it achieved a good outcome.

Located near Simpson, 45km south of Camperdown and 54km south-west of Colac, the Hilltop Aggregation had been operating as a commercial grade dairy enterprise but offered significant scope for development into intensified livestock operations.

The backgrounding and finishing country was offered with a 2800 head feedlot permit (with scope for further expansion), expansive backgrounding capacity and 120ha of summer and winter fodder production.

The vendors had made a significant investment in pasture improvement including an established selection of ryegrass and clover, supported by an ongoing fertiliser and input history.

Situated in a 1000mm rainfall region, the Hilltop Aggregation has abundant natural water supply via 135ML of surface water entitlements, dams and frontage to several seasonal creeks.

Infrastructure includes extensive staff accommodation across nine dwellings, two modern compost barns, a fully automated 60-stand rotary, three steel cattle yards, numerous sheds, quality fencing and 217-tonnes of grain and silage storage.