Bumper crop grand finale at Trangie

Local bidders are expected to set the pace when the highly regarded Central West mixed farm Murrumbah goes under the hammer at Trangie next week.

Murrumbah is the 993 hectare (2453ac) property of Stephen and Louise Ferrari, who are selling to pursue other interests and be closer to family.

The property has been listed for sale with Richard Gemmell of Elders Dubbo and will go to auction on September 25, with competition expected from both local and outside interests.

Originally part of the Richardson family's Forest Vale property, Murrumbah was later held by local stock and station agent Scott MacDougall (whose mother was a Richardson).

The first portion of what is now Murrumbah was bought by the Ferraris about 40 years ago, with two adjoining sections added later, also from MacDougall holdings.

The resulting aggregation is a roughly triangular spread of prime mixed farming country fronting the Dandaloo road 10km south-west of Trangie.

Described as 95 per cent arable, the level and mostly open country is a useful 50:50 mix of heavy, grey, self-mulching soils and deep red loams, ideal for cropping rotations of cereals, oilseeds and pulses.

In past years the property was operated as a true mixed farm, with a cropping program complemented by cattle and a Merino flock from which ewes were bred for the annual Narromine First Cross sales, and prime lambs.

But now, coming out of the drought, the production emphasis this year is very much on cash cropping and the country is sown to an 880ha mix of predominantly wheat, with some oats and barley.

Long-term wheat yields have averaged about 2.5 tonnes/ha but following an ideal start to the season, this year's crops are on track to do much better.

Unsurprisingly, the vendors will retain ownership of this final crop, and delivery will take place after harvest, along with settlement.

Timbered originally by bimble box, rosewood, myall, belah and cypress, the property is now mostly cleared, apart from trees lining the seasonal Nine Mile Cowal.

Average rainfall is 465mm and apart from the semi-permanent cowal, the property is watered by dams and two equipped bores. Well suited to wool or meat sheep or cattle production, the property is subdivided into 11 main paddocks and comes with an estimated LLS carrying capacity rating of about 2.5 DSE/ha.

A steel-framed 60m x 40m machinery shed with concrete floor and workshop is enclosed on three sides and has sliding doors at the rear for drive-through machinery access.

Livestock infrastructure includes a three-stand steel shearing shed with raised board, concrete floored wool room and steel sheep yards, and a near-new set of ClipEx steel cattle yards.

Three cone-based silos and a set of horse stables with day yards complete the working improvements.

A comfortable, easy-care home is set in established gardens with an in-ground pool, outdoor entertaining area, three-car vehicle shed and coolroom. Internal features include a renovated kitchen, open-plan living area with separate dining room, north-facing sunroom, evaporative air conditioning and slow combustion heating.