A northern NSW landholder’s planned relocation to North Queensland has released on to the market a prime dryland farming block in the tightly-held Edgeroi-Bellata district.
Brian Low bought the property known (somewhat unpretentiously) as “Boggy Creek” in 1989 when it was sold by the McPherson family who were then selling up in NSW to move to Queensland.
The McPhersons had bought Bexley Station, north of Longreach, and perhaps there is something in the water on “Boggy Creek” because now Mr Low has likewise caught the Queensland “bug”.
Late last year he bought a property near Ravenshoe, south-west of Cairns, and as part of his relocation plan in March this year he sold his other NSW property, “Galathera” at Edgeroi.
Originally part of Edgeroi Station, and devoid of structural improvements, “Galathera” was sold for just over $6000 a hectare.
And now Mr Low’s home property “Boggy Creek” is being sold to wind up his NSW affairs, and will go to auction in Narrabri on November 23 through Michael Guest’s Rural Property NSW agency.
The listing, given its manageable size and proven productivity, is certain to appeal to established farmers in the region as a build-up block, and also to northern graziers as a diversification opportunity.
Comprising 904 hectares (2235ac), “Boggy Creek” is situated 25 kilometres south-west of Bellata and 43km north-west of Narrabri.
It originally sat on the western boundary of the former Edgeroi Station (of which the same owner’s “Galathera” was a part), between it and another local pastoral icon, Boolcarrol Station.
“Boggy Creek” is typical of the rich farmlands of the region, consisting of open plains of black and grey self-mulching soils renowned for their fertility and moisture-holding capability with traditionally strong summer and winter crops.
Tree cover is confined to the stands of box and coolabah lining Ten Mile Creek, the ephemeral watercourse that flows through the property.
Average rainfall is 660mm and stock water is sourced from four dams (two of which are filled by pump from Ten Mile Creek) and a bore reticulating to a header tank and troughs.
Under present ownership the property is managed principally as a dryland farming operation, with 723ha under cultivation for winter and summer crops in well-planned rotations.
Cattle are also run on the property, grazing the native and improved pastures lining Ten Mile Creek as well as a dedicated 64ha pasture paddock, plus fodder crops grown as part of the rotation, and stubbles.
Last year’s cropping program included plantings of barley, fababeans, chickpeas, cotton and grazing oats, with barley yielding up to 3.7 tonnes/ha.
This year, an exceptionally dry winter has been followed by welcome rainfalls in October totalling 95mm, and a successful buyer will have immediate access to prepare for a summer crop planting.
The property comes with a comfortable weatherboard homestead of two to three bedrooms and modern kitchen, set in established garden.
A large (18m x 31m), partly enclosed steel machinery shed with concrete work area and mechanics’ pit is complemented by a second machinery shed, hay shed and (disused) two-stand shearing shed.
Other working infrastructure includes a set of modern steel cattle yards with vet crush and loading ramp, and 14 silos providing a total of 2350 tonnes of grain storage.
By PETER AUSTIN