Armidale property has a rich scientific history

The 325-hectare (803-acre) Armidale property was one of two portions of the White family’s Saumarez Station acquired by the federal government in 1947 for use by the fledgling Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (later CSIRO).

“Arding” and the other property, “Chiswick”, were initially used by the Division of Plant Industry for soil and pasture research, but since 1960 the focus of both sites has swung to animal (especially sheep) research.

Under the aegis of the Division of Animal, Food and Health Sciences (and its previous component bodies), “Arding” has played an important role in research projects dealing with breeding technology, internal parasites, nutrition, husbandry practices and information systems.

“Arding” is being sold now to free-up funds for reinvestment as part of CSIRO’s contribution to the University of New England’s Integrated Agricultural Education Project, involving five separate capital works projects across the university’s Armidale and Tamworth campuses.

According to a CSIRO spokesperson, the sale of “Arding” will not mean a reduced CSIRO presence in Armidale, but merely a shift of research activity to a new facility on the university campus.

The property has been listed for sale with Geoff Leedman of Landmark Armidale and will go to auction on June 20, with price expectations in the $6000 a hectare ($2400/ac) bracket or higher.

Prospective buyers are likely to include local graziers seeking a choice “add-on” block, townsfolk wanting an easily-managed lifestyle farm, and stud breeders attracted by the property’s highway location and facilities.

Situated just 13 kilometres south of Armidale fronting the New England Highway, “Arding” is a property of gently undulating, open grazing and farming country with rich basalt soils.

Pastures are a productive mix of native species oversown with clover, rye, fescue and phalaris, regularly topdressed throughout many years and interspersed with planted tree woodlots for shelter.

Average rainfall is 800 millimetres and the property is watered by a reticulation system from a bore servicing troughs in every paddock.

The 24 main paddocks are all connected to fenced laneways feeding into the main handling complex, which consists of a three-stand shearing shed with bugle-style steel sheepyards, dual race and covered work area.

Other working structures, both of concrete construction, include the main laboratory and staff amenities block and a sampling shed with attached sheepyards.

The property has typically carried sheep at a stocking rate of about nine-and-a-half DSE/ha and continues to be managed as a working farm in conjunction with the adjacent “Chiswick” research farm (which is not being sold)

Contact Geoffrey Leedham, 0428 659 549.

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