PROPERTY OF THE WEEK
- LOCATION: Barraba
- EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST: Close December 17.
- LAND: 1360ha (3360ac)
- AGENT: Charlie Hart, 0428 658 457, Hart Rural Agencies, Barraba.
Properties in the Upper Horton region of the North West Slopes tend to be tightly held, reflecting the locality's long and deserved reputation as an ideal livestock breeding ground.
Keen interest is therefore attending the recent listing of Brigalows, a well-known property of 1360 hectares (3360ac) held since 2003 by the Hunt family from Moree, who have cropping interests to the west.
As part of a family business restructure, Brigalows has been listed for sale by Hart Rural Agencies of Barraba with expressions of interest closing on December 17.
Under present ownership Brigalows has been managed principally as a breeding base for the Hunts' Angus cattle herd.
It is currently carrying up to 580 breeders and fattening surplus progeny in season.
In earlier times, though, it was variously the home of a well-known Hereford stud, and the source of market-topping fine Merino wool.
For much of the first half of the last century Brigalows - then a much larger property of some 5300ha - was held by the Wilson family.
In the 1940s and '50s, the Wilsons were shearing upwards of 10,000 sheep.
A resumption of three blocks for soldier settlement in 1956 reduced the area to some 3800ha, which the Wilsons then divided into four blocks following the tragic death of a son in a light plane crash.
The homestead portion - the property now for sale - was purchased in 1957 by Dick and Claire Hays to become the home of their Bexley Hereford stud.
After their retirement the property was managed by their son Ross, who fattened steers and ran wethers, before selling to the Hunts.
Situated 36 kilometres north of Barraba, Brigalows is a mix of mostly open arable, rolling and hilly country of brown basalt soils supporting a strong mix of native pastures topdressed over many years.
About 220ha is under cultivation, with ample scope to expand, and cropped this year with wheat and oats plus a new 40ha planting of tropical grasses.
Water is a feature of the property, which boasts an average rainfall of 800mm.
The property also includes two semi-permanent creeks and multiple watering points in most of the 31 paddocks.
Apart from dams, water is reticulated from a solar bore which pumps into two 275,000 litre tanks and in turn to 23 new paddock troughs.
The sprawling five-bedroom homestead, built in the early 1900s and now tenanted, is of brick and timber construction.
It is set on a prime site and inviting a sympathetic makeover.
The homestead is complemented by a four-bedroom Hardiplank cottage which was renovated 20 years ago and today used intermittently by the owners.
Although no sheep have been carried on the property for some 20 years, the big eight-stand timber shearing shed (originally 10-stand) and sheepyards have been used periodically by a neighbour.
Other working improvements include a set of steel and timber cattle yards of 500-head working capacity with covered race and crush.
There is also a machinery shed and workshop, aircraft hangar and airstrip.
Following well-timed rains the property is now well understocked with 500 cows and 400 calves, and showing a big body of feed, now haying-off.
Properties in the Horton Valley - the few that come up for sale - have been selling in a range from $1500-$2500/acre ($3700-$6200/ha).
By PETER AUSTIN.