THROUGHOUT his ownership of "Sunnyvale" over the past 21 years Paul Laurie has demonstrated that one of the property's main assets has been its versatility.
After inspecting the property, he and his wife Pauline saw the great deal of potential that "Sunnyvale" could offer and so they purchased the land to complement another property they owned at Moss Vale.
Nine years ago the Lauries moved to "Sunnyvale" full time, and by then they had well and truly made their mark.
After purchasing "Sunnyvale" they ran an Angus herd of about 80 breeders plus followers, and were also farming at the same time, growing wheat, oats and lucerne.
However, about four to five years ago they switched from cattle and now run sheep on the 172 hectare (423ac) property.
They purchased Merino ewes and joined them to Border Leicester rams, and the progeny was then joined to Dorsets; today they are running about 280 ewes in addition to lambs.
And their cropping operations have switched more to a pasture focus: included in this mix are two dedicated lucerne paddocks, a pasture paddock of chicory and lucerne, and another pasture paddock of fescues.
The grazing and cropping property therefore has proved to be capable of growing pretty much anything, Mr Laurie said, and has also been enhanced by the planting of about 1000 native trees, serving as windbreaks and shelter.
The Lauries are selling for a change of direction and have listed "Sunnyvale" with Pat Cutcliffe, LJ Hooker Orange, who will take the property to auction on October 31.
Of note is the property's homestead which was only built eight years ago.
Of rendered brick construction, the four bedroom house has a heated salt water pool, and a 10 kilowatt solar panel system which feeds back into the grid.
In addition to the main house is a brick veneer cottage offering four to five bedrooms, and with solar hot water; this house has new carpet through most areas.
"Sunnyvale" has red loam soils, has been subdivided into 11 paddocks, and infrastructure includes steel cattle yards, steel sheep yards, three grain silos, a two stand shearing shed and machinery and hay sheds.
The property is just three kilometres from Canowindra.
Contact Pat Cutcliffe, 0417 481 158.
Nick Heydon
The Land's property editor.
The Land's property editor.
