A tidy mixed farming and residential aggregation handy to Dubbo has hit the market as part of an asset rationalisation move by its Sydney-based investor owner.
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For sale is the 535 hectare (1323ac) aggregation of “Cooee” and “Firbank”, two adjacent properties in the Wongarbon district, 11 kilometres north of Geurie and just 26km from Dubbo.
They are owned by Rhonda Willson, a recently retired Sydney businesswoman who bought them as separate parcels in 2000 and 2004 through her holding company, Firbella Properties.
The property, which was leased until recently, forms part of a wider portfolio owned by the vendor in the Geurie/Wongarbon area trading as Gilgai Farms.
It would make an ideal starter property for a young family, or a supplementary farm...for a western or tableland grazing operation.
Following the lease expiry, and looking now to divest some of her holdings to focus on other activities, Ms Willson has engaged her Sydney agent Mark Allan Properties in conjunction with Peter Milling and Company at Dubbo to offer “Cooee”/“Firbank” for sale.
It will go to auction in Dubbo on June 20, at first as a whole, and if not sold, then as separate portions – “Cooee” of 327ha and “Firbank of 208ha - with bidding expected around $2.4 million.
The property’s choice location is expected to result in competition from established farming interests both locally and further afield, as well as Dubbo families seeking a rural residential base.
It would make an ideal starter property for a young family, or a supplementary farm with fodder cropping capability for a western or tableland grazing operation.
Described as undulating country of heavy basalt to lighter loam soils, the property is considered about 75 per cent arable and includes about 220ha of rich chocolate basalt.
Under past management the property has carried Merino sheep and cattle under a holistic grazing regime, and carrying capacity in normal seasons (as pictured) is estimated at 1200-1500 DSE.
Shade trees of grey box, pine and kurrajong are augmented by established shade and shelter belts of eucalypts planted along fencelines.
The property is well fenced into 25 paddocks, each of which has a concrete water trough linked to a 135,000 litre storage tank which is fed by a solar powered bore.
Further stock water is provided by the property’s 26 dams, to which run-off is enhanced by an extensive system of contour banks.
A feature of the property is its substantial 40-square “Cooee” homestead which was built in 2000 and served as home for some years to Ms Willson’s parents, before they retired to Dubbo.
Set in established gardens with sweeping views, the attractive brick homestead has four bedrooms, open-plan kitchen/family area plus formal lounge and dining-room.
It also has under-floor heating and evaporative air conditioning.
Recently painted and recarpeted, the homestead comes with remote-opening double garage, covered verandahs, paved entertaining area and solar power.
