Burgess family’s Dalriada farm at Holbrook for sale

A tightly-held family owned farm in southern NSW, home to a Hereford cattle stud, has been listed for sale for a whopping price.

The Burgess family’s 1435-ha Holbrook property is being offered for only the second time since it was settled.

A large property in one of the most sought-after farming districts in Australia has hit the market with an asking price of more than $30 million.

The 1435-hectare Dalriada at Holbrook in southern NSW is the latest blue-ribbon property to be offered for sale this spring, amid record buyer demand for rural property buoyed by low interest rates, strong commodity returns and good seasonal conditions.

Owned by the Burgess family, Dalriada is being offered for only the second time since it was settled.

It will be formally listed for sale in the next week.

Selling agent David Gittoes, from Elders Real Estate at Albury, said the 1000-cow capacity of Dalriada is enough to attract competition, but its level of improvements by the current owners have pushed it into another league.

Mr Gittoes, who has a 30-year history in real estate, said it was “the best property I have ever stepped foot on”.

“You can’t put a hole in anything (the quality),” Mr Gittoes said.

“Brian (Burgess) has made such significant improvements to the property in terms of pastures, fencing, stock water, yards and houses.

“Everything has been done to perfection – this is a property that is picture perfect.”

Along with its grazing potential, Dalriada has a 200-megaltire water license which has not been activated but could be used for irrigation.

Dalriada has been the base for the Burgess’ Ravensdale Hereford stud and was originally part of the Yarra Station spread of the 37,000 hectares owned by the McLaurin family.

Mr Burgess said his goal was to droughtproof the property and increase carbon levels.

“I’ve spent the past six years developing Dalriada into one of the most highly improved properties in the Holbrook district,” he said.

“We’ve made internal roads, subdivided from 43 to 74 paddocks, linked three water sources, electrified fencing and built state of the art cattle yards and shedding.”

Mr Gittoes said the property would be sold in a two-part process, with initial offers sought and then a short list selected to bid in an on-property auction.