Since Crawney Station in the Upper Hunter started using the annual Gunnedah Powerhouse liveweight weaner sale to offload its Angus calf drop, it has more often than not topped the market.
No exception was the last sale in April 2016, where Crawney Station’s EU-accredited steer calves sold to a top liveweight price of 363 cents a kilogram.
And now, after 16 years of ownership by its Sydney-based owner John Faulkner, the breeding-ground of these sought-after calves is itself on the auction block.
The renowned Isis River breeding property has been listed for sale with Daniel McCulloch of Ruralco Davidson Cameron Real Estate and will go to auction in Tamworth on March 15.
Mr Faulkner, who bought Crawney Station in 2001 from Robert Bowman, is selling now only because his brother Ian, who has been managing the property, is relocating to Victoria with his wife Kay. Comprising 1964 hectares (4855ac), Crawney Station is an aggregation of two adjoining properties, “Crawney” and “Lincoln”.
“Crawney” takes its name from the eponymous peak on the property, which also lent its name to the pass through the Liverpool Range on the road linking Murrurundi and Nundle.
Much of the “Crawney” country was taken up early last century for sheep grazing by George Ireland, whose family lived there for many years in the original homestead.
Situated 73 kilometres north of Scone, 90km south of Tamworth and 27km from Nundle, Crawney Station is uniquely situated at the head of a valley containing the headwaters of the Isis River.
Bounded by the Liverpool Range to the north and west, it occupies the entire valley where the river starts life as a spring and then, joined by tributary streams, flows through the centre of the property.
It was the property’s abundant water resources, backed by a 925mm average rainfall, that first attracted Mr Faulkner to Crawney Station as a secure cattle breeding establishment.
The country rises from river flats to open grazing slopes and hills of varying steepness, with soils ranging from alluvials to fertile black and red basalts.
Native grasses and clovers have been augmented by plantings of phalaris, kikuyu and sub-clovers and about one-third of the area is topdressed each year to maintain productivity.
Stock water is sourced from the river (which has run dry only once – briefly – in 16 years), 42 dams, and an equipped bore which feeds a header tank reticulating to paddock troughs.
The main (“Lincoln”) homestead is of timber construction, built in the 1950s, later extended and recently renovated. It has three bedrooms and is set in established gardens overlooking the river. Other accommodation consists of a two-bedroom cottage and a self-contained one-bedroom “donger”. The original “Crawney” homestead is no longer habitable.
Bidding for Crawney Station is expected in a range from $5.5-$6.5 million. The buyer will have first right to negotiate the purchase also of the respected Angus herd.