When George Francis bought “Tara” from T.J. Brady in 1922, he became only the second owner of the Macquarie Valley property since it was settled by one Francis Suttor in 1860.
And now, 96 years later, the property is still in Francis family hands, although perhaps not for much longer, as the present owner, George’s son John Francis, is well past retiring age and ready to call it quits.
He and his wife Janet have listed the property for sale with Peter Dwyer from Peter Milling and Company in Dubbo, where it is scheduled for auction on October 19 – immediately following the much-anticipated Royal Visit by Prince Harry and his new bride.
The “Tara” property that John Francis took over from his father was a holding of 983 hectares, to which in 1965 he added the adjoining “Sunnyside” of 147ha, making up the 1311ha (2795ac) aggregation now for sale as “Tara”/“Sunnyside”. Centrally situated at Mumbil, near Lake Burrendong, “Tara”/“Sunnyside” is 30 kilometres south-east of Wellington and 80km from both Orange and Dubbo.
The country is described as mostly gently undulating with red and dark loam soils, rising to low hills of slate derivative soil types and timbered by scattered yellow and grey box, gum, pine and ironbark. About 280ha of country has been farmed in the past with winter fodder crop before being sown to phalaris, lucerne or clover pasture, while a further 520ha has also been pasture improved, some by aerial seeding.
As a result, some 800ha is now pasture improved, enabling the property in normal seasons to carry some 1500 Merino ewes and followers, plus 200 to 300 first-cross ewe progeny, and 80 cows.
Under present drought conditions the property is lightly stocked with about 1300 Merino ewes, some now lambing, while all cattle have been sold off. The country is regarded as clean woolgrowing country, and fleece lines from “Tara” over the years have often topped the Sydney sales.
Cattle also thrive on the property, and Santa/Hereford-cross steers bred on “Tara” have fetched top prices from feedlotters at Dubbo. Average rainfall is 600mm and the property is watered by 16 dams, a spring-fed creek and an equipped bore.
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Like much of the Central West, the property is showing a “green tinge” following recent rains, but more will be needed to make a spring. The homestead dates from about 1923, when it was a modest weatherboard erected by the present owner’s father, but later enlarged with a brick extension and recently renovated.
Set in an established garden with views towards Lake Burrendong, the north-facing homestead has four bedrooms and is flanked on two sides by wide enclosed verandahs. It is complemented by a three-bedroom cottage which is now tenanted.
Working improvements include a three-stand electric woolshed with timber and steel yards, a set of timber and steel cattle yards, machinery shed/workshop, grain shed and silos. Recent sales in the area indicate a likely bidding range for “Tara”/“Sunnyside” of $2-$2.2 million.
