SIX years ago the eastern Riverina property “Strathvean” made headlines for the dispersal sale of the Gaskin family’s Tuwharetoa Angus stud at which a stud sire fetched $50,000. Now it’s back in the news, because the property itself is on the auction block.
A Kiwi by background, John Gaskin has held “Strathvean” for more than 25 years, during which time the property has been managed variously for breeding and fattening sheep and cattle, stud cattle breeding, and pork production.
With the property now leased, Mr Gaskin and his wife, Lyn Meredith, are ready to retire and “Strathvean” has been listed with Sydney-based Meares and Associates for online auction on October 12-13.
The property is located almost exactly midway between Sydney and Melbourne and just 50 kilometres east of Wagga Wagga. Just one kilometre from Tarcutta and fronting the Hume Highway, “Strathvean” is 888 hectares (2195ac) ranging from valley floors to arable slopes and open grazing country topped by a central timbered ridge.
Situated one kilometre from Tarcutta fronting the Hume Highway, “Strathvean” is a property of 888 hectares (2195ac) ranging from valley floors to arable slopes and open grazing country
A long-running fertiliser and pasture establishment program has been augmented by the regular strategic spreading of manure from the piggery.
Carrying capacity is estimated at 7000 to 8000 dry sheep equivalent, and when managed as a cattle enterprise by the present owners the property supported a breeding herd of 400 cows, with progeny grown to feeder weights of 400 to 450 kilograms.
Underpinning the property’s cashflow has been the six-shed piggery complex which is used as a grower facility, taking pigs from entry weights of 30kg to turnoff weights of 115kg, with a combined capacity of 3000 head.
Both the piggery and the grazing country are currently leased to separate parties under informal arrangements which a successful buyer and the lessees in question may decide to continue, but the property is being offered on a vacant possession basis.
Average rainfall is about 660 millimetres and the property is amply watered by a semi-permanent creek, two equipped bores and 27 dams. About 400ha of valley country has been developed for irrigation with underground mains, of which up to 40ha is irrigated each year with a travelling irrigator. Liquid effluent from the piggery is piped to a storage dam for use with irrigation.
The homestead comprises an original pise dwelling built in the 1870s, substantially extended by the present owners in the late 1990s to create an attractive and spacious residence. Set in attractive gardens incorporating a rose-bed avenue, the north-facing home has four or six bedrooms (two now used as offices), an open-plan modern kitchen, large lounge/dining room and verandahs on three sides.
Working infrastructure includes the pig sheds with attached silos, two sets of cattle yards and a former stud sale yard, machinery shed and workshop, three hay sheds and 200 tonnes of silo storage.
Recent sales in the district suggest a likely bidding range for “Strathvean” of $4-$4.5 million.
