Historic Wimmera farm sold to locals

Almost 800ha of tightly held mixed farmland in western Victoria has changed hands in an eight-figure deal. See the details.

The Taylor family have sold 790ha of Carrs Plains, a mixed-farming property on Victoria’s Wimmera Plains.

A Wimmera farming family has secured almost 800ha of historic farmland, regarded as the home of an iconic sheep breed.

The Taylor family has sold a significant part of Carrs Plains, a mixed farming enterprise at Marnoo West, about 36km north of Stawell and 65km west of Horsham.

Listed for sale in September last year, the property was offered to market at 1007ha, with about 790ha sold to a Wimmera farming family.

While the sale price remains undisclosed, it is understood Carrs Plains was sold in line with price expectations of more than $15,000 a hectare, equating to more than $12 million for the 790ha.

A 210ha portion of the Carrs Plains property remains on the market following the transaction.

Carrs Plains, established in 1842, is regarded as the home of the Polwarth sheep breed, first known as the Dennis Comebacks.

Across the past two decades the property has produced a mix of winter crops on rotation across 900ha and carried a self-replacing Merino flock.

Prior to the Taylor family, Carrs Plains has been held by just three other owners since it was first established, with a lease taken out in 1843 by Robinson and George Rutherford consisting of 19,400ha.

Carrs Plains at Marnoo West has grown a mix of winter crops on rotation across 900ha and carried a self-replacing Merino flock too.

In 1853 the Dennis brothers, Alexander, John and William, took over the lease until 1873 when the lease was cancelled.

The Dennis brothers then had the freehold of about 6000ha until circa 1905 when Mr H.H.

Wettenhall took over the property.

Following subdivisions of the property reduced the total area until R.B. Taylor purchased Carrs Plains in 1950.

In recent seasons the property has been fenced into 23 paddocks on fertile black, grey and red soils, while the Richardson River traverses the holding.

On the property there is a 1980s three-bedroom brick veneer home, with an office, two bathrooms and expansive living and dining areas under 31.6 squares.

Extensive existing improvements include a three-stand 300-head shearing shed, built in 2018 to include a full kitchen and bathroom.

Adjoining this is the 567 sqm undercover sheep yards closed in on two sides with the capacity for 1000 sheep.

Ray White Rural Victoria agent Max Brown handled the sale of the Carrs Plains property.

Originally published as Historic Wimmera farm sold to locals