Rare chance to bid for ‘Dowan Hill’

They would also remember the commitment of the Connell family to produce such quality stock.

The property has been held by the Connell family for several generations, beginning with Joseph Connell from 1840.

Today, the family is selling due to retirement, and has listed the 1184 hectare (2924 acre) grazing property for sale with Landmark Harcourts Yass/Canberra agent Col Medway.

Mr Medway said the property had the scale to suit an investor looking to engage a farm manager, or as a large family grazing operation.

He said the high regard with which the Connell's sheep were held was indicative of the overall quality of "Dowan Hill".

"Their sheep have always had a strong restocker following," Mr Medway said.

He said country on "Dowan Hill" represented great balance, with ewes and lambs run on improved country and lambs could then be finished on fodder and lucerne crops.

Location is also another advantage - "Dowan Hill" is about 28 kilometres south of Yass, and about 46km north of the Canberra's central business district.

Country includes grazing hills which rise up from the Murrum-bidgee River, through to plateau country and steeper slopes.

The property has granite soil types, perennial native grasses, sub clover and fodder crops including forage oats, forage brassica and lucerne.

In addition to grazing land, about 485ha (1198ac) is cultivated to canola and wheat.

It has frontage to the Murrum-bidgee River, a carrying capacity of about 12,000 dry sheep equivalent and 43 main paddocks.

The four bedroom homestead dates from 1908 but was rebuilt in 1945.

There are also shearers' quarters, a five stand shearing shed, steel and timber sheep yards, cattle yards, a goat shed - also suitable for sheep - machinery sheds and three cone silos.

"Dowan Hill" is listed for an October 29 auction, and while properties of this scale in the Yass/ Canberra corridor have not come on to the market frequently, as a guide "Dowan Hill" could make in the vicinity of $5 million.