ONE of the largest grazing aggregations in the Brewarrina district has hit the market as part of the ongoing pastoral wind-down of retiring Hunter Valley cattleman, Manuel Fernandes.
On offer is the so-called "Cuttabunda Aggregation" at Goodooga - a 40,077 hectare (99,031ac) spread of renowned North West Plains sheep and cattle breeding country comprising five original properties.
It's one of two remaining large-scale holdings of Mr Fernandes, who embarked on a pastoral build-up about 20 years ago as an adjunct to his successful Hunter Valley construction business.
At his peak, Mr Fernandes held properties with a combined capability of carrying upwards of 8000 cows, although this has now been trimmed following the recent sale of his Comara Station on the Mid North Coast.
It leaves him with the "Talyealye"/ "Karto" aggregation of 105,000ha at Hungerford (also for sale), a Merriwa property of about 800ha and the Goodooga property just listed.
Huw Llewelyn of G.M. Llewelyn and Company at Merriwa has listed "Cuttabunda Aggregation" for private sale as a whole, with an asking price of $11 million.
The price reflects the owner's estimate of the property's capability in normal seasons of carrying 3500 breeding cattle and progeny, plus a cropping component of as much as 1600ha.
Although the region has been hard hit by drought, recent useful falls of rain have triggered a good response of pasture growth on the lightly-stocked property, fuelling hopes the worst may be over.
In normal years, calves bred on "Cuttabunda Aggregation" are either grown and finished on the property or trucked to the owner's Upper Hunter country for finishing, according to the seasons.
Mr Fernandes bought the first section of his Goodooga aggregation in 1995, with the purchase of "Cuttabunda" and "Mitchell Plains" - a combined area of 12,329ha.
This was effectively doubled with the purchase of "Muckerawa" and "Wirrawa" at auction in 2001, while the subsequent purchase of "Willawillingbah" in 2006 brought the aggregation to its present size.
Situated 20 kilometres south of Goodooga where it has a long and mostly double frontage to the Bokhara River, "Cuttabunda Aggre- gation" is 92km north of Brewarrina and 87km west of Lightning Ridge.
The country is mostly open plains of grey and black soils supporting good stands of Mitchell and Coolah grasses and edible bushes, interspersed with areas of moderately timbered lighter country.
A wide variety of winter and summer herbages grow in season, and history shows the country is equally well suited to sheep or cattle.
Average rainfall is 400mm and the property is amply watered by private and trust artesian bores (some capped and piped), ground tanks and intermittent flows in the Bokhara River.
Structural improvements are substantial, reflecting the property's progressive build-up, and include five homes including the six-bedroom "Willawillingbah" homestead fronting the Bokhara River.
Working improvements include three woolsheds of nine, eight and five stands with accompanying sheep yards and quarters, five sets of cattle yards, machinery sheds, workshops and two airstrips.
Contact Huw Llewelyn, 0429 482 291