One of the Upper Hunter’s landmark homestead properties, “Cullingral” at Merriwa, is back in play, having failed to find a buyer when previously offered for sale in the more subdued marketing climate of 2014.
This time, the owners, Brice and Bronwyn Stokes, are determined to sell as they are retirement-bound to their other property on the North Coast, and “Cullingral” has been listed with MacCallum Inglis of Scone for sale by expressions of interest.
At stake is a 208 hectare (516ac) Merriwa River-fronting property representing the pick of the rich alluvial flats known to early settlers as the Gummum Plains, and incorporating a trophy homestead with a history dating to convict times.
“Cullingral” started life as a 320-acre (130ha) grant in 1839 to Charles Blaxland, a grandson of the explorer/pastoralist Gregory Blaxland, of Blue Mountains crossing fame.
It was Gregory Blaxland who built the core of the present homestead in the same year, using locally quarried sandstone.
The original grant was progressively added to by Blaxland, until it embraced virtually the entire Merriwa River frontage from present-day Merriwa to the Goulburn River.
Subsequent resumptions and subdivisions have reduced “Cullingral” to the modest land parcel now for sale, which embodies the choicest portion of the original run.
Situated three kilometres west of Merriwa, “Cullingral” is a property of level to gently undulating country of which about two-thirds comprises rich alluvial flats flanking the Merriwa River, and the balance east-facing basalt grazing country.
The property is now managed for cattle fattening, typically turning-off between 250 and 300 steers a year, although there is scope to increase this production with further pasture improvement or supplementary cropping.
Alternatively, the property lends itself to more intensive management as a fodder-growing factory, a stud, or a range of horticultural enterprises.
Apart from its present owner-driven cattle enterprise, “Cullingral” is home to a three-shed poultry facility for hatching and growing of quail, operated under a five-year lease arrangement (recently renewed) to Game Farms Australia, which generates annual (CPI-indexed) lease income of $125,400.
Average rainfall is 600mm and the property is watered by single and double frontages to the Merriwa River, plus an associated aquifer, backed by 230 megalitres of water access licences.
Much of the river country is underlain by water mains installed during earlier developments and is well suited to irrigation of lucerne or other crops, and stock water is pumped to header tanks for reticulation to paddock troughs.
The homestead, dating from 1839 and sympathetically extended and renovated by later owners, contains seven bedrooms, a dining/ball room to seat 32 people, cedar joinery, high ceilings and other period features.
Set in expansive gardens overlooking the river, the homestead is flanked by a tiled, in-ground swimming pool with entertaining area, and synthetic tennis court.
Working structures include a four-bay machinery shed with lock-up workshop, hay shed and steel cattle yards.
Expressions of interest for “Cullingral” close on September 15, with offers expected in a range from $3.5 million to $4m, reflecting the property’s rich heritage, its diverse cashflow and its prime location.