Fertile Hunter aggregation

Through the course of his ownership of the property, Mr Bates has also become a true believer in this, and that love of the area contributed to the purchase of further land, the property “Kars Springs”, which took his holding to almost 4000 acres.

“It is a physically beautiful property; the first time I saw it I fell in love with the place,” Mr Bates said.

“It also has wonderful water and good fertile river flats – it’s just a lovely place.”

Today, the aggregation of the two properties “Yarrawin” and “Kars Springs”, at 1604 hectares (3966ac) is available for a new owner given the decision by Graham and his wife, Kerry, to sell.

The couple have divided their time between the city and the property and originally had the intention to retire there, but given family requirements which mean not being able to spend as much time on the property as hoped, they are selling with the plan to base themselves in the city.

Mr and Mrs Bates purchased “Yarrawin” 26 years ago, while the purchase of “Kars Springs” followed 10 years later.

Mr Bates said during the course of their ownership they had carried out a raft of improvements across both properties.

These have extended to the installation of a much improved irrigation system, further dams and a substantial bore which feeds to tanks and is reticulated through to other paddocks.

They have also cultivated some areas, and the property currently has about 110ha sown to improved pastures and fodder crops.

A large focus for the couple on the property has been their EU-accredited cattle.

Mr Bates said they started selling their European Union-accredited cattle through Scone saleyards about two to three years after they had purchased “Yarrawin”.

The property typically runs a self replacing herd of 450 Angus cows, with calves grown out to feedlot weights.

In addition, the property also runs 550 Merino sheep, wish some joined to Dorset of Border Leicester rams to produce fat lambs.

Originally the property was just running sheep for finewool production, but with lacklustre wool prices at one point the decision was made to include cattle; they were introduced in about 1990.

He said both properties had been under good management throughout the course of his ownership and were well looked after.

“Yarrawin” had previously been owned for a number of years by the Pinkerton family, who had relocated to the New England, while “Kars Springs” had been owned by Dick Holcombe.

Soil types on the properties comprise about 85 per cent black/chocolate basalts, and 15pc red basalt loams.

Three creeks run through the property to which most paddocks have access.

Timber comprises yellow box, white box and apple box.

The overall property has been divided into 26 paddocks.

Infrastructure includes machinery shedding, horse arena, hayshed, several bores, a two stand shearing shed, several silos (both cone and flat bottom), timber cattle yards and horse stables.

Mr Bates said both homesteads on the property were quite substantial and offered four bedrooms.

The “Kars Springs” weatherboard homestead has been used by the couple and was thought to have been constructed in the 1920s; the newer weatherboard home on “Yarrawin”, used as a manager’s residence, dates from about the 1970s.

The properties have been listed for sale by tender, closing on June 18, with Gavin Beard, Landmark Harcourts Scone.

Mr Beard said there have been a number of comparative sales in the region in the $1000 to $1200 per acre vicinity.

The properties are situated about 12 kilometres north of Bunnan, to the west of Scone.

Contact Gavin Beard, 0438 452 810.

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