It has been described in pastoral circles as the “pick” grazing property in the Macquarie Valley, and when it was sold into foreign hands seven years ago, many feared it would remain locked up for decades.
But events have proved them wrong. Raby Station is today back in play, following Hassad Australia’s surprise decision – announced last month - to offload the renowned Warren district property.
This follows its disposal earlier this year of “Clover Downs” at Cunnamulla, whose purchase in 2009 (shortly before “Raby”) marked the Qatar Government-backed Hassad’s Australian pastoral debut.
Both properties, which were bought specifically for sheep breeding as part of an intended food supply chain to Qatar, are now surplus to the company’s changed agenda, which has a broader agricultural focus.
The unexpected change of tack means local investors can now look anew at “Raby”, which has been listed by Landmark Harcourts for sale by expressions of interest closing on October 19.
Comprising 9783 hectares (24,175ac), “Raby” is a diverse agricultural package combining large-scale sheep and cattle grazing for breeding and fattening, dryland farming and irrigation.
Under its previous 26-year ownership of the Sydney-based Muir car dealership family, “Raby” (then 8525ha) typically carried 4500-5000 Merino ewes and 450-600 Hereford cows, plus replacements.
The sheep component included the Raby Merino stud, established in 1898 on Peppin bloodlines by the property’s then owner, N.A. Gatenby, and retained by successive owners to this day.
In 1927 the property changed hands to the London-based Australian Estates land and agency company, under whose ownership the stud reached its peak, selling up to 1200 rams a year.
Australian Estates was absorbed into CSR during the pastoral mergers frenzy of the 1970s, only to join the subsequent sell-off of all the former Estates properties, when it was bought by Leslie Muir in 1982.
Today the property is stocked to an estimated capacity of about 20,000 DSE, made up of Merino and Awassi stud and commercial sheep and a breeding herd of Hereford and Santa Gertrudis cattle.
Numbers quoted on hand at July 31 were about 12,000 sheep, including 6000 breeding ewes, and just under 500 cows and followers.
Situated 15 kilometres north-west of Warren fronting the Macquarie River, “Raby” comprises mostly level country of heavy chocolate loam, red-grey loam and heavy grey alluvial loam soils.
As well as its 8km frontage to the Macquarie, the property has long double frontages to the Crooked Creek and Duck Creek Channel, and comes with 1654 megalitres of general security water entitlements.
Between 100ha and 170ha of cotton is generally grown on the 385ha of developed flood irrigation, while a dryland farming program on the 2560ha of cultivation country sees cereals, canola and chickpeas grown in a five-year rotation, along with 700ha of lucerne.
Infrastructure is well maintained and includes the large colonial-style pise/timber homestead, built in 1888. Other structures include six serviced cottages, an eight-stand shearing shed, sheep and cattle yards, extensive shedding and grain storage.
The buyer of “Raby” will have the option to negotiate the purchase of some or all livestock, and station plant.