A LOVE of the land was partly what drove Peter Pickles to buy a property at Nowendoc after working in Sydney for many years.
Mr Pickles was the founder of Pickles Auctions, a national company now specialising in vehicle auctions but which had its roots as a stock and station agency in Moree when Mr Pickles established it in 1964.
The agency, and Mr Pickles, would later move to a Sydney base, but Mr Pickles never lost his bush roots.
About 11 years ago, he and his wife Susan purchased 40ha (100ac) of land at Nowendoc.
"My wife and I bought the property there as we had family connections in Nowendoc; we were very familiar with it and we thought it was a wonderful area," Mr Pickles said.
The intention was to have that smaller block as a hobby farm and retreat from Sydney, however, other surrounding land became available and was acquired by the couple over the following years, taking their holding - "The Two Mile" - to a total of 580ha (1433ac).
In that time, they have built two houses on the property, one the main residence and the second, further accommodation which also has an integrated equine complex.
A small Angus stud, The Two Mile Angus, was also established on the property a few years ago.
Mr Pickles, who is selling for health reasons, said a major attraction was the property's natural water, including frontage to the Nowendoc River and spring-fed dams.
The property receives about 1060 millimetres of rain a year.
Listed for sale with Meares and Associates at $4.2m, "The Two Mile" has the capacity to finish about 800 steers; today the property targets both the US and MSA markets, with daily weight gains typically between one and 1.25 kilograms.
The property is about 71km south of Walcha and 78km north of Gloucester.
Improvements are strong, including a new centre pivot irrigator installed one year ago, and which supports pasture and fodder.
"The Two Mile" has a 100 megalitre water access licence from the Nowendoc River.
A 45ML water storage dam has also been added to the property.
A laneway system was added two years ago and allows for easy mustering, and the property has been subdivided into 20 main paddocks.
Soils are largely red and black basalts with country ranging from alluvial river flats through to slopes and low hill country.
Pasture improvement has been carried out and varieties include phalaris, clovers, rye and cocksfoot.
The property's main house is of brick construction and has four bedrooms and an adjoining studio complex, while the second two bedroom house also serves as the equine complex and has stables, tack room, horse yards, and an undercover round yard nearby.
Further infrastructure includes a set of steel undercover cattle yards with a 250-head capacity, as well as hay and machinery sheds.