A WELL-known Crookwell district grazing property scheduled for auction this coming Saturday is expected to go to a local buyer, based on inquiry to date, although an outsider could still make a surprise swoop.
The property, "Mount Henry Homestead", is a 283 hectare (700ac) subdivision of the "Mount Henry" property on the Binda road formerly owned for many years by the Norris family.
Under that ownership, it was a holding of 723ha (1787ac), and complemented by another property, "Sunnyside", to the south-west of Crookwell, it constituted one of the district's larger woolgrowing operations, based on a flock of 4000-plus big-framed comeback sheep.
Five years ago the property - by then about 690ha - was purchased from the Norris estate by local graziers James and Natasha McCormack of "Red Hill" in partnership with Natasha's parents, Stan and Becky Charnock.
It was operated on a partnership basis until subdivided in 2011, when the McCormacks retained the larger 400ha section as "Mount Henry" and the Charnocks took the 283ha homestead portion.
This is the section now for sale, and expected to fetch upwards of $1 million when auctioned on Saturday by Professionals Goulburn, and Crookwell agents Duncombe and Company and M.D. and J.J. Anderson.
The property comes with development application approval for a three-lot subdivision, but inquiry so far suggests the buyer is less likely to be a developer than a local landholder seeking a strategic "add on" block.
Alternatively, it stacks up as a desirable lifestyle property with a good home and all necessary working improvements, plus sealed road frontage in a prime position just 10 minutes' drive from Crookwell.
Comprising mostly open, undulating grazing country of granite-based loam soils, the property has been conservatively managed for many years and has good cover of native pastures, clover and some ryegrass.
Average rainfall is 750mm, and the property is amply watered by a long frontage (which includes areas of alluvial flats) to the Crookwell River, plus five dams and springs.
Now carrying 600 ewes and lambs and 50 grown cattle, the property offers scope for lifting production through improved pasture establishment, or landscape enhancement with tactical tree-planting.
Working improvements are substantial and include a three-stand fully-equipped shearing shed with steel sheepyards, steel cattle yards with crush and loading ramp, machinery sheds, hay and storage shedding.
The homestead, built in the 1970s, is of brick and clad construction with three bedrooms, new modern kitchen and open-plan living area, formal lounge, ducted air conditioning and double garage.
Contact Professionals, (02) 4822 1411; Duncombe, (02) 4832 1732; or Anderson, (02) 4832 1056.