Avocado orchards, dairy farms, cane fields change hands on the Northern Rivers

Big money is changing hands as rural properties ‒ including an up-and-coming avocado orchard and a high-producing dairy farm ‒ get snapped up by new owners.

Mountain Top Avocado Orchard has 14,000 trees.

Big money is changing hands as rural properties and successful commercial farms ‒ including a large avocado orchard and a high-producing dairy farm ‒ get snapped up by new owners.

These are 10 of the farms that have changed hands so far this year:

1. Mountain Top Avocado Orchard

This 117ha farm near Nimbin sold on June 24 for an undisclosed price. The orchard was described as “maturing”, and the listing also stated that “avocado orchards are thinly traded due to the strength of the returns they achieve if operated and managed well”. The property has 75ha of orchards with more than 14,000 Hass avocado trees ranging in age from six months to nine years. The farm has a 187meg irrigation licence and 10meg bore and harvest rights.

2. Southplains dairy farm, West Wiangaree

The Southplains dairy farm can produce millions of litres of milk at full production.

A dairy farm of high production and contracted to Norco, Southplains was sold in April this year. The property consists of almost 200ha with two residences and three freehold titles. The property has the capacity to milk up to 440 cows. The property has water storage from tanks as well as from the river with water filters enclosed, and the real estate listing stated it was almost a “droughtproof operation”. Southplains has a “very good reputation”, making up to two million litres of milk in full production.

3. Macadamia farm, Tregeagle

A Tregeagle macadamia farm sold to new owners this year.

In April this year, this 41ha property on Mollys Grass Road sold for $3.25 million. The farm consists of a massive machinery shed with three-phase power, about 7000 macadamia trees in rich red soil that are 14 years of age and produce a good income, as well as 56 acres of prime grazing land, ideal for livestock.

4. Hardwood plantation, Kyogle

This 138ha property on Hilderbrands Road at Kyogle has a 26ha hardwood plantation.

Nestled at the base of Mount Lindesay is this 138ha property on Hilderbrands Road sold to new owners in April. The land is covered in trees and has a 26ha hardwood plantation, which is about 19 years old. The balance of the land can be used for grazing but is heavily timbered, and there are two catchment dams plus an easement to the river if needed.

5. Emu Creek Station, Tabulam

Emu Creek Station at Tabulam has been described as a "classic beauty".

Described as a “classic beauty”, this 782ha property is more than just a farm. It sold in March, offering its new owner plenty of income options, with both beef grazing and established backpacker farm stay accommodation servicing the local blueberry industry. There is also an established timber plantation on part of the property.

6. Sugar cane farm, Pimlico

A high yielding sugar cane farm at Pimlico.

New owners paid $2.94 million in February to secure this almost 100ha sugar cane farm on Pimlico Road. Although currently used for cane, the selling agent said it would also be well suited as a macadamia or pecan plantation, with its rich, fertile soil.

7. Sandy Creek cattle farm, West Coraki

Sandy Creek, at Coraki, was lovingly nurtured by one owner for 18 years, and has since sold to new owners.

Located at the end of Lagoon Road, this property has 198ha of undulating to flat cattle country, developed and nurtured for 18 years by one owner. In January it changed hands for $1.6 million. Sandy Creek has a variety of grasses including rye, rhodes, sorted legumes and seteria, as well as three dams and seven paddocks with good fencing, allowing for about 100 head of cattle.

8. Farm with 900 mango trees, Kyogle

This property on Findon Creek has 900 mango trees and plenty of water.

In June this year, a 144ha property on Findon Creek Road was sold to new owners. The land has more than 700m of creek frontage, an eight megalitre irrigation licence and three dams, one which is used to water 900 mature mango trees.

9. Springview, Kyogle

Springview, a cattle breeder property, was described as "extremely rare".

This breeder property on Green Pigeon Road sold in May this year, giving its new owners 193ha of land across six freehold titles. The property has been fertilised in recent years, producing an abundance of improved and native pastures, and there are two access points to Fawcetts Creek, along with six spring-fed and catchment dams and a solar powered bore. “Properties of this size, in this location are extremely rare,” the listing stated.

10. Cane farm with macadamia potential, Pimlico

A riverfront property at Pimlico with sugar cane fields sold earlier this year.

Right on the river, this 52ha property had high-yielding sugar cane on it when it was sold to new owners in April. The selling agent said there was a large, established cane pad for collection of the yield, but pointed out that macadamia farmers were currently purchasing in the local area, “knowing the potential in the alluvial clay soils for our future macadamia plantations”.