Time's up at 'Caroonboon'

John Dickson, the namesake forebear of the present co-owner, bought the property within the same fencelines as it is today, from Henry Ricketson in September 1861. The price was 11,500 pounds ($23,000).

It was then unimproved, devoid of structures, and used by Ricketson (who also owned “Barratta”) for opportunity cattle grazing.

According to local historian Brad Chalmers, the new owners built a log cabin, shepherded their sheep, and lived “hand to mouth” until their first woolclip of 40 bales, sold in England, produced some cash in 1865.

Little could they have then imagined that their descendants would one day be presiding over typical woolclips of 700-odd bales, or annual sheep and lamb sales averaging close to 10,000 head.

But now, the fourth and fifth generation Dicksons – patriarch John Dickson, his wife Jill and their son and daughter Jim and Susan – are preparing to sell “Caroonboon” to wind up their family company.

The 29,513 hectare (72,926ac) Billabong Creek property has been listed for sale by James Sides of Landmark Deniliquin, and will go to auction on September 11 unless sold before.

It will be a landmark sale in more ways than one, “Caroonboon” being almost unique in the Riverina as a property held within its original boundaries by the one family since the beginning of the gold rush.

As well as its long history of one-family ownership, “Caroonboon” is also home to one of Australia’s (and the Riverina’s) oldest Merino studs, Flock No 18 founded in 1870 and still going strong.

Today, though, stud aside, the focus of commercial sheep production on “Caroonboon” has swung from woolgrowing to meat lamb breeding, following a decision to introduce Dorpers about 15 years ago.

A self-replacing Dorper flock of 12,000 ewes, joined to lamb every nine months, complements a commercial Merino flock of 2700 ewes and the Merino stud numbering 850 head.

All of this is managed by Jim with just one employee (and decision-making input from his parents, now based in Deniliquin) – a far cry from the eight or nine men who worked the property in his father’s youth.

At this stage, Jim intends to retain the historic Merino stud, but further decisions about this, and the commercial sheep flocks, will be made after the property auction.

Situated near Wanganella 67 kilometres north-west of Deniliquin, “Caroonboon” occupies a rich spread of Riverina sheep heartland, fronting the Billabong Creek (on its southern boundary) for 47km.

Soils range from heavy black alluvials along the Billabong frontage to red and grey clays with some sandy rises, all supporting a rich mix of native pastures, edible bush (including Old Man Saltbush) and seasonal herbages.

Average rainfall is 350 millimetres and stock water is secured by stock and domestic licence entitlements from the Murrumbidgee system and six new solar bores reticulating to tanks and troughs.

Two areas totalling 570ha were developed in past years for border check and contour irrigation and are now used opportunistically for livestock finishing, with bought-in water to top-up existing entitlements if required.

Structural improvements include a brick homestead built in 1954 and refurbished in 2000, with six bedrooms, verandahs, ducted air-conditioning and adjacent guest quarters.

It is complemented by an overseer’s residence of four bedrooms, also recently renovated, and three cottages.

Working improvements are a feature of “Caroonboon” and include a 10-stand shearing shed built in 1982 with attached bugle-design sheep yards, two machinery sheds (one with enclosed workshop) and cattle yards.

Inquiry for “Caroonboon” is expected to be strong from established grazing interests and cashed-up investors, buoyed by last month’s successful auction by the same agent of nearby “Booabula”.

Bidding for “Caroonboon” is expected to top $11 million, reflecting the property’s proven carrying capacity, its quality improvements and its water entitlements.

Contact James Sides, 0427 236 791.