THIS week’s property review includes this wrap-up of recently completed sales, and a separate article on interesting recent listings across the country.

• Manchee Agriculture diversifies with WA’s Christmas Creek
• CQ bullock finishing depot makes almost $25m
• CQ developed brigalow block secured for $16m+
• $4m+ for easy-to-manage Condamine cattle country

 

Manchee Agriculture diversifies with WA’s Christmas Creek

Australia’s oldest registered shorthorn stud has paid up to $30 million for Christmas Creek Station in Western Australia’s Kimberley region.

The 140,000ha of breeding and growing country is situated south of Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia’s northwest.

It was purchased by Manchee Agriculture, a family owned and operated beef breeding enterprise based at Narrabri in the Naomi Valley of north-western New South Wales.

Fifth generation producers John and Liz Manchee own three properties in New South Wales and Queensland spanning more than 8000ha.

Christmas Creek is their first foray into WA and is understood to have been purchased for expansion and to diversify exposure to seasonal variability.

Christmas Creek Station was sold on a walk-in, walk-out basis with between 7500 and 8000 quality Grey Brahman cattle, plant and equipment.

Greg Smith from Elders was unable to disclose the price paid but said the price met the vendor’s expectations.

The original 400,000ha Christmas Creek lease was part of the expansive portfolio of The Australian Land and Cattle Co and the Emmanuel properties which, at the time, were considered the best in the region.

In the late 1980s, the holding was one of a number of large leases that were broken up in what was called ‘The Fitzroy Valley Reconstruction’.

Today, the property boasts the pick of the country from the original Christmas Creek lease.

Virtually surrounded by ranges, all the watershed runs into a myriad of minor creek systems and into the Christmas Creek River which traverses the centre of the property for 40km.

The expansive black soil flood plains feature good stands of Mitchell grass and other natives. Buffel grows on the lighter soils and soft spinifex is a feature on southern parts of the property.

CQ bullock fattening depot makes almost $25m

The Dennis family from Clermont has paid $24.6 million ($5711/ha bare) for 4300ha of prime bullock finishing country in Central Queensland.

Allambie is situated at Kilcummin, 83km north of Clermont, in a sought-after and tightly-held district.

Matt Beard from RBV Rural said inquiry stretched from New South Wales to North Queensland.

“It was a great result for a good quality property in a desirable location,” he said.

For the past 47 years, the fully developed and productive EU and Teys Grasslands accredited depot has been finishing between 1200 and 1500 export steers a year.

Allambie has mostly developed red and black soils, gidgee/brigalow scrub growing buffel and some developed box and bendee country.

Subdivided into 11 main grazing paddocks and four cultivation paddocks growing summer and winter forage crops, the property is watered by eight dams, three bores and seasonal waterholes.

The sale of Allambie was also handled by Hoch & Wilkinson.

 

CQ developed brigalow block secured for $16m+

Clermont-based Kirkwood Grazing will expand its operations with a developed brigalow block in Central Queensland which it secured at auction for $16.35 million.

The 4077ha Moranna is located near Clarke Creek, 88km east of Middlemount and halfway between Rockhampton and Mackay.

Richard Brosnan from Ray White Rural described the result as ‘a fair price for both the vendor and the purchaser.’

Moranna has developed brigalow and softwood scrub running onto coolibah river country.

Deep fertile black soil flats grow improved pastures and native grasses that can support around 1200 adult equivalents.

A 410ML Isaac River alluvium irrigation licence provides permanent water, as well as potential for cropping and a feedlot.

Water is also provided by 3.15km of Isaac River frontage, the Mt Bluffkin Dam, semi-permanent waterholes in Clarke Creek, three bores and five dams.

 

$4m+ for easy to manage Condamine cattle country

A Wandoan family has paid more than $4 million for easy to manage cattle country, close to southern Queensland feedlots.

Located near Moraby, the 1285ha Gideon was passed in at auction for $3.75 million but sold shortly afterwards.

The property is situated 15km south of Jackson and 45km west of Condamine – close to the Warrego Highway and Condamine feedlots.

Offering a reliable balance of developed brigalow and forest country, Gideon is suited to breeding or backgrounding.

It is fenced into five paddocks, has timber cattle yards and is watered by six dams.

The sale was handled by Ben Forrest from the Resolute Property Group.