This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE 609 hectares East Mount Ada property in Benalla has sold at an executors auction for $4.95 million, on behalf of the late Michael Burston who passed away in late 2016.
Ruralco Property’s Michael Everard sold the property located only 10 minutes west of Benalla the property has a total area of 609 ha (or 1505 acres) that is held in twenty-two titles, with frontage of over 3km to the Benalla-Shepparton Rd, also known as the Midland Highway.
It was bought by Victorian wagyu farmer David Blackmore.
Improvements include the architect designed homestead built in 1969 with four bedrooms and study, a tennis court, ornamental lake and jetty, a large steel framed hayshed capable of storing about 320 large rolls of hay, a machinery shed, an enclosed stable building with two horse boxes plus another additional area that can store another 102 rolls of hay, 300-head cattle yards, a four-stand woolshed and bugle yards of about 700 sqm with under cover storage for about 700 full wool sheep, plus another storage building of about 174 sqm.
In addition, the property has significant water resources including the home block with an annual use limit of 242 megalitres. This licence allows 12 megalitres per day to be pumped from the Goulburn-Murray Water Zone 2 of the Broken system and in place is a diesel engine and large Batescrew flood pump.
East Mount Ada has area that can be irrigated of about 255 hectares (or 630 acres) of which about one third was laser levelled for check bank flood irrigation during the 1980s.
Everard said that due to a protracted period of ill health the resources of the East Mount Ada property were under-utilised in the latter years of Michael Burston’s ownership.
“By any measure this is a significant farm holding and the auction presents the opportunity for a farming family, investor or corporate to become involved to secure a premier north-east district holding.
“The soil types range from fine clay loams to slightly heavier clay loams with some lighter conglomerate soils,”
“The existing pastures comprise a phalaris, Balansa sub clover and ryegrass mix while there has been a sound previous history of fertilizer and lime applications.
“I’d put the carrying capacity in the 6000 DSE or 375 cow and calf units range.
“I regard East Mount Adaas a canvas ripe for work and development to create a district farming masterpiece,” he said.
Burston was a noted cattle man, receiving an Order of Australia for his services to the cattle industry and the community.
As a Life Councillor of the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, he chaired many committees and was the driving force behind the RASV Beef Carcase Competition.
Australian Property Journal
