One of the most keenly anticipated listings of recent times is the Peel family’s Central West showpiece property, “New Merrigal” at Collie, which goes on sale this month through Colliers International.
The 6669 hectare (16,554ac) Gilgandra district property is being sold as part of a general wind-up of the agricultural assets of the family company, Peel New Merrigal Pty Ltd.
As reported last week, the listing of “New Merrigal” follows the sale in 2016 of the company’s two Queensland properties, and the recent listing of “Clyde Cottage” at Collie, due for auction next month.
Also to be sold is “Hambledon Park” at North Richmond, the former dairy property from which Len Peel (who died in 2016, aged 86) began his western pastoral push in 1973.
That was the year when he bought “New Merrigal” at auction, following the tragic death earlier that year of its former owner of 40 years, David Pye.
Mr Peel also bought the New Merrigal stud Merino flock, although the stud has since been discontinued and the property now has a strong cropping focus, alongside commercial sheep and cattle.
“New Merrigal” has been listed for sale by expressions of interest closing August 22.
The property’s livestock and extensive plant and machinery to be offered separately later.
Taken up in 1855 by John Christie of Narromine Station in partnership with colonial politician and land baron W.C. Wentworth, “New Merrigal” underwent just three ownership changes before being bought by David Pye in 1933.
It ranks today as one of the largest and most highly regarded mixed farming properties in the upper Central West.
Situated 10 kilometres north of Collie and 80km north of Dubbo, “New Merrigal” is a property of level to slightly undulating country of soft, dark, clay loam soils with smaller areas of lighter red soils.
An estimated 4320ha (10,800ac) of the total area is described as “arable, prime hard” wheat country of which about 2600-2800ha is generally cropped, with yields averaging around 3t/ha.
A further 1880ha is described as soft, open grazing country, leaving a balance of about 470ha lightly timbered grazing country.
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Present stocking consists of a self-replacing Merino flock of 4500 breeding ewes of which 1000 are mated to Border Leicesters and 1300 maiden ewes, plus 150 Santa/Angus breeding cows.
Natural pastures on the grazing country are complemented by nearly 700ha of lucerne established by undersowing on five cultivation paddocks.
Average rainfall is 560mm and the property has outstanding water infrastructure in the shape of seven equipped bores (six electrical) reticulating to troughs in all paddocks, and 39 dams.
The former two-storey station homestead was destroyed by fire in 1973 and the main homestead today, built in 2016.
The main homestead of today is a modern, air-conditioned, four-bedroom Hardiplank residence.
It is complemented by two workers’ cottages, each with three bedrooms, plus a workers’ “donga”.
Working infrastructure is of a high order and includes a brand-new Eco Enterac shearing shed of seven stands.
Also attached is steel sheep yards with covered working area.
Other structures include shearers’ quarters, machinery sheds and hay sheds.
There is also 830 tonnes of silo storage and steel cattle yards with crush, curved race and drafting pound.
