THE eastern slopes of the Liverpool Range around Timor contain some of the best watered grazing country in NSW, and a large slice of this pasture paradise is now looking for a new owner.
Michael Burke of MacCallum Inglis in Scone has listed for sale “Minto”, the 2587 hectare (6393ac) Upper Hunter property of Graham and Robyn MacDougall, who are selling as part of a family succession program.
The MacDougalls have held “Minto” since 2008, operating it as a steer finishing concern in conjunction with their other properties in the New England.
It was previously owned by the Sylvester family, who added “North Glen Dhu” to the adjoining “Minto” to create the present aggregation, which they likewise managed as a steer finishing property.
Under present management, “Minto” is used typically to over-winter 1300 steers, and to finish between 1500 and 1750 steers for turn-off between spring and autumn.
Finished cattle are mostly sold direct to Bindaree Beef at Inverell or Hunter Valley Meats at Scone, either for MSA-level domestic markets or the Jap Ox export market.
Situated near Murrurundi, 65 kilometres north-east of Scone and 38km south of Nundle, “Minto” comprises mostly hilly country of red and black basalt soils.
About 1200ha of the total area is pasture improved with a long history of topdressing.
Introduced pastures include phalaris, cocksfoot, fescue, ryegrass and clovers on the higher parts, and paspalum, fescue, kikuyu and clover lower down.
The higher parts of the property rise to the crest of the Great Dividing Range around 1200 metres – a factor influential to its reliable 1000mm average rainfall.
Water security is further enhanced by the property’s double frontage to the Isis River and several creeks, plus 33 paddock dams. Seven paddocks are watered by troughs fed by a reticulation system.
The main homestead is an attractive Colonial weatherboard with period features set on a rise overlooking the Isis River. It has four bedrooms, open-plan living area, formal dining-room and polished floorboards.
A manager’s residence of five bedrooms and a three-bedroom worker’s cottage provide additional accommodation options.
Working improvements include the main steel cattle yards of 1000 head capacity, a second set of timber cattle yards, machinery and hay sheds, five-box stable barn and woolshed with sheep yards.
Although managed in recent years as a dry cattle operation (and in earlier times, as a woolgrowing concern), “Minto” is situated in an acknowledged cattle “nursery” region.
If converted to an all-breeding enterprise it is estimated the property would carry upwards of 1000 cows, turning off calves as weaners.
“Minto” is being marketed by expressions of interest closing May 22. Recent Upper Hunter sales indicate a likely bidding range of $2250-$2500/ha ($900-$1000/ac).
Contact MacCallum Inglis, (02) 6545 1211.
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Peter Austin
Former editor and long time columnist and property writer for The Land.
Former editor and long time columnist and property writer for The Land.
