This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
AN Australian buyer has beaten local and international interests to a blue-ribbon Southern Riverina farming operation, snapping up the Withers Aggregation for a figure believed to be between $33 million and $36 million.
The mixed farming property was set to go to auction on Friday after being offered for the first time in 60 years by Simon Withers and family, through Mike Weller of Corcoran Parker.
But a domestic buyer put forward an offer too good to refuse before the event, according to The Weekly Times.
The aggregation spans 2,448 hectares near Berrigan in southern NSW and was expected to sell for $33 million and above, or $13,480 per hectare. It was offered as a whole or in three parcels, comprising Clondara of 1,104 hectares, Brynton at 957 hectares and Warranbilla at 387 hectares, with the buyer taking the lot.
It has been used for both cropping and livestock mix, with 3,000 breeding Merino ewes grazing Lucerne and medic pastures and crop stubbles. An additional fodder base is provided by oat crops, and annual and perennial pastures.
The property is 90% arable and divided into 30 main paddocks.
Water is drawn from the Berrigan and Mulwala Channels, and the district receives 450 millimetres in average rainfall, while stock water is provided through S&D licences, dams and stock troughs.
Improvements include three fully functioning shearing sheds with adjacent sheep yards, multiple workshops, machinery sheds, haysheds and cattle yards, and grain silos with total combined storage in excess of 1,200 tonnes.
There is an immaculately presented five-bedroom, two-bathroom homestead with renovated kitchen and large living and dining area with open fireplace, a separate study and office plus verandahs on three sides, all set amongst mature lawns and garden with a swimming pool.
There are two additional residences in excellent condition, and a horse complex with two stables, tack rooms and wash bay.
