IN THE late 1880s an adventuresome James Gemmell joined a northwards movement by land-locked Victorian farmers to the Mirrool Creek district of the northern Riverina.
The former tenant farmer from Scotland had emigrated to NSW in 1856 and settled at Colac, later moving to Murchison in central Victoria before striking out for new lands in NSW.
The Mirrool Creek area, near present-day Ardlethan, was then opening up as the railway pushed westwards and former station country was being subdivided for new settlers.
In 1887 Gemmell bought the Ardlethan property “Glen Hope” of 1927 hectares (still farmed today by his descendants), and four years later “Tracton” at nearby Mirrool.
When his eldest son Robert Alexander married Edith Lugsdin from Hay in 1898, “Tracton” became their home, and so began a Gemmell succession that would endure for well over a century.
Two further generations of Gemmell sons would occupy “Tracton”, until that dynasty ended with the passing of James’s great-grandson, Alexander McDougall Gemmell, late last year.
And now, for the first time in 123 years, “Tracton” is being offered for sale to wind up an estate, creating a rare opportunity for expansion in a tightly-held farming district.
The property has been listed for tender sale by Miller and James Real Estate of Temora, with bids to be submitted by a closing date of March 5.
On offer is the original “Tracton” property of 511ha, plus the adjoining “Askham” block of 884ha annexed in the 1930s, making a total area of 1394ha (3446ac).
Today it stands as a well developed and highly regarded mixed farming property in a district renowned for its year-on-year reliability of sheep and crop production.
Situated in level to gently undulating red loam country of cypress pine and box origin 20 kilometres east of Ardlethan, “Tracton” is described as 95 per cent arable.
Under Gemmell family management, however, the production focus has been tilted towards sheep, specifically prime lamb breeding from a flock of about 1400 ewes.
Lambs from “Tracton” have regularly topped the market in Wagga Wagga, on one occasion a few years ago claiming (briefly!) the Australian record price of $253 a head.
The property is well watered by dams and connection to a water supply pipeline. Average rainfall is about 460 millimetres.
A feature of “Tracton” is the homestead, built in the 1930s by Alexander’s parents and tastefully modernised by later occupants while preserving elements of its original character.
Set in spacious gardens, the double-brick home has four bedrooms, open-plan and formal living areas, picture rails, fireplaces, wide verandahs and a double lock-up garage.
Working structures include a four-stand raised-board woolshed with holding shed and yards (incorporating a VE handler), extensive shedding, silos and workman’s cottage.
Contact Miller and James, (02) 6977 1333.
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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.
