Hartwood Station near Conargo for sale for $13-$14 million

Historic Hartwood Station, near Conargo, spans 6773ha, with about 3000ha under conservation.

Broad appeal: Hartwood Station near Conargo is expected to fetch as much as $14 million.

A  LANDMARK Riverina property that blends agriculture with conservation has hit the market.

Historic Hartwood Station, near Conargo, spans 6773ha, with about 3000ha under conservation and is expected to sell for $13-$14 million.

The property was bought by the Nature Conservation Trust of NSW in 2008, which, after significant conservation works and investment, sold the property in 2011 to Melbourne businessmen John Angove and Matt Truccolo.

Hartwood Station near Conargo.

Selling agent Shane McIntyre, from CBRE, said the conservation areas were mainly along the creek frontages, which had been identified to protect the habitat of various species.

“The prohibited area is a declared conservation area of 275ha, which is under a Funded Management plan in perpetuity,” he said.

“The controlled grazing area of 2500ha allows grazing for six months of the year, with a small area (300ha) being three months in any year.”

Under the management agreement the government pays the owner to conserve and maintain to creek frontage habitats.

Hartwood Station near Conargo.

Established in the 1840s, the property was historically used for sheep and cattle breeding but in more recent years has been converted to irrigation.

“There are two lateral irrigators, each 1.25km long and distribute 24 megalitres a day each. You can water up to 1200ha a day,” Mr McIntyre said.

There is 1400ha under lateral irrigation, 700ha under contour irrigation, 170ha under border check irrigation and 1300ha is dryland farming.

Mr McIntyre said the property had 60km of dual river frontage to the Billabong and Yanco Creeks.

Hartwood Station near Conargo.

It features an 11-bedroom original homestead, which was once a holiday retreat for Prince Philip. There is also a 15-room managers’ residence.

Mr McIntyre said the property would appeal to a broad market.

“There is a component that will appeal to those who wish to be involved in the environmental decisions around the habitat and preservation of grassesand potential corporate buyers due to its large scale, as well as those wanting to expand their holdings ,” he said.