CSIRO has spent big bucks to claim a slice of Boorowa as part of its plan to move its agriculture research out of Canberra.
Last month it purchased 290 hectares of land on the canola-laden Yass road for a price, which, according to local agents, left previous records for dead.
"The record for the highest-price paid for land around Boorowa was $2000 an acre, and this land went for $3000/ac," said Elders Boorowa real estate agent Jack Ryan.
Based on Mr Ryan's figures, the land sold for a whopping $2.1 million.
The block formed part of Geoff and Pam Mason's historic property "Castlesteads".
CSIRO's purchase is a part of a plan to relocate the agricultural research program, which is based in a northern suburb of Canberra, at Ginninderra.
Its digs are surrounded by urban sprawl, which prompted a plan to shut down and sell the research station.
CSIRO agriculture director Dr John Manners said the new farm would create new research opportunities for the organisation.
"Establishing a new facility in a rural area allows us to take a green field approach to the site and our science," Dr Manners said.
"This can enable us to conduct research into very new ways of farming, including the application of digital farming technologies."
Mr Ryan said the sale was a coup for Boorowa.
"From what I understand there could be 10 full-time equivalent employees based at the farm and 30 to 40 visiting scientists during different stages of research."
He said the land was undulating to flat with a nice tree line. It had access to three-phase power and water from the Boorowa River.
The explorer, Hamilton Hume, purchased "Castlesteads" for his brother Francis Rawdon Hume in 1842.