CARE of the land has been a major priority for Ian and Anne Burns on the Eugowra property "Galwary".
"We see ourselves as custodians of the land," Mr Burns said.
"We like to see what has been done on the property, and we take pride in that work.
"A farm is not just your home - it is also your business, and your life."
Ian and Anne Burns operate Galwary Pastoral Company and have been on the property, 10 kilometres north of Eugowra, since 2002.
It was purchased from Jack Kirby, who represented the third generation of his family to farm the property.
Lawrence Kirby came to Eugowra in 1878 and after establishing a successful rural supply business was able to purchase the land which he named "Galwary".
Jack Kirby was 84 years old when he sold the property, and Mr Burns said the Kirby family had long been a highly respected family in the Eugowra district.
"Galwary" also had a reputation for being one of the best properties in the area.
"Jack was always one of those innovative guys who would be trying new things," Mr Burns said.
"The Kirbys did a great job on the property."
The good work on "Galwary" continued under Ian and Anne Burns, whose goal was enhancing sustainability and productivity and training has played a strong role in this.
They have been involved in courses such as Grazing for Profit and Lifetime Ewe Management.
They have also had a farming coach in Richard Groom, of Principle Focus, for the past three years.
"Our goal has been to build up the resilience of the property," Mr Burns said.
Resilience has been important on "Galwary"; when Mr and Mrs Burns purchased the property it came at a time of drought and "some pretty choppy years".
"We had to adjust stock numbers up and down pretty dramatically."
Yet their hard work, and that of manager Colin O'Connor (who has now worked on the property for 18 years under previous and current ownership), has helped to grow the strength of "Galwary".
Mr Burns, who said they were selling in order to find another property closer to Sydney and to family, said they had hoped to pass it onto new owners who would be able to continue its success.
"The Kirby family were custodians of the property for many years, we have been custodians for more than 12 years, and we would now like to hand it over to somebody who will be the custodians for the next period," he said.
"We have had a fabulous time here, and have learnt an enormous amount and we hope we have had a positive impact."
"Galwary" has been listed for sale with David Nolan, Webster Nolan Real Estate, Sydney, and James P Keady, James P Keady Rural and Residential Property, Cowra, with an asking price of $4.25 million.
Mr Burns described the business as specialised, producing a high quality first-cross ewe.
In light of regeneration work on creek flats, the property has been carrying in the vicinity of 2500 ewes.
The farm goal, however, is to build those numbers to allow a sustainable run of about 4000 ewes.
The 1343-hectare (3318 acre) property has a seven-kilometre frontage to the Galwary Creek, and 3.4km frontage to Waterhole Creek.
Country ranges from a valley floor to rising granite hills, and stretches more than 6km.
"Galwary" has alluvial creek flats and granite-based loam grazing land, a 600 millimetre annual rainfall and a strong micro nutrient program.
Fertiliser history includes 800 tonnes of manure spread in 2014-15, 500t in 2013-14 and 100t in 2011-12, and from 2010 to 2014, custom blend liquid fertilisers have been applied at sowing.
Structures on the property include a rendered brick, four-bedroom homestead, built in 2007, another four-bedroom brick home, a four-bedroom house of pise mud and concrete wall construction, a five-stand shearing shed, Proway sheep yards, plus three smaller sheep yards, storage shed, workshop, several machinery and hay sheds, stables, day yard, dressage arena and grain silos.
Contact David Nolan, 0447 278 236; James P Keady, (02) 6342 3344.