Ian and Camilla Shippen to offload massive 1420ha Woorndoo farms

A major NSW Riverina farming family has listed its 1420ha Woorndoo cropping aggregation for sale, where offers could reach more than $24 million.

Two years after acquiring more than 1400ha of premier Western District farmland, renowned Riverina pastoralists Ian and Camilla Shippen have decided to list their Woorndoo East aggregation for sale.

Comprising 10 titles in the Moyne Shire, south of Lake Bolac, this portion of the Woorndoo Aggregation was previously owned by the US-backed Laguna Bay Agricultural Fund.

The fund sold the entire 3353ha aggregation in a reported $70 million deal in 2021, with the Shippen’s acquiring the southern portion, while central Victorian grower Clinton Ross of Brookvale Holdings, purchased the remaining hectares.

Ian and Camilla Shippen operate their Banyandah Pastoral at Moulamein, NSW.

Since their acquisition the Shippens have continued to extensively crop the Woorndoo property growing wheat, canola and beans alongside a portion of the property set out to pasture to accommodate livestock under their Banyandah Pastoral banner.

The Shippens have also run their Woorndoo farms alongside the 5900ha Mt Fyans Station at Dundonnell, which they purchased in 2018.

Last year they further expanded their landholdings when they paid $16 million through auction for the 9900ha Rhyola and Inverness pastoral aggregation near Deniliquin.

Wheat, canola and bean crops have been grown at the Woorndoo East farms.

Based at Moulamein in the NSW Riverina, the Shippens primarily produce between 3500 and 3800 bales of wool a year, from about 75,000 Merino ewes, up to 15,000 Merino wethers and 10,000 crossbred ewes.

They have decided to list the Woorndoo property for sale as they look to restructure their portfolio.

Offers for the property are expected to reach $17,296-$18,532 a hectare ($7000-$7500 an acre), or more than $24.5 million in total.

The Shippens have run some of the Woorndoo East aggregation to improved pastures for livestock pursuits this season.

WOORNDOO EAST

Property: mixed farming

Size: 1420ha

Sale: expressions of interest close November 30 at 4pm

Price: $17,296-$18,532 a hectare

Agent: Elders Real Estate Mortlake

Contact: Rob Rickard, 0407 354 025

Elders Real Estate Mortlake and Camperdown selling agent Rob Rickard is handling the sale of the Woorndoo East farms.

“This is a versatile property that has been intensively developed for high yielding cropping, whilst also lending itself to sheep, cattle and fodder conservation,” Mr Rickard said.

The Woorndoo East property comprises basalt clay loam soils with gently undulating topography, and land sloping and drained towards the seasonal creek and catchment dams.

Raised beds (three metres in width) have also been established to improve overall drainage and maximise the winter cropping program.

There is also a four-bedroom brick veneer home, hay and machinery shedding, three-stand shearing shed and yards.

Excellent fencing, dam and bore water and 5.5km of bitumen road frontage are also part of the property.