Kaniva, Whanregarwen and Young: Three farms sold for almost $45 million combined

A farm in far west Victoria will stay in the same family for a fifth generation after it was sold through auction for more than $17,000 a hectare.

Simpsons, near Alexandra in the Murrindindi shire has been sold through auction for well above expectations.

Two notable Victorian farms and a major property on the southwest slopes of NSW have been sold through auction for almost $45 million combined

Located in Victoria’s West Wimmera, 564ha of prime cropping country near Kaniva will continue into a fifth generation with the same family after it was sold through auction for more than $10 million.

Parlawidgee, owned by the Meyer family for about 140 years through four generations, was kept in the family after it was bought by the daughter and her husband and sons of the estate of OD Meyer at the Kaniva Community Hub on April 21.

The Home Block, including 177ha of farmland and the original 1880s Parlawidgee homestead was passed in through auction but sold post auction for a figure understood to be more than $17,290 a hectare or $3.095 million.

Parlawidgee, located near Kaniva in the west Wimmera, has been sold through auction for more than $10 million.

Lot 2, the 387ha Meyers block, comprising mixed bullock and box heavier country was then sold under the hammer for $19,274 a hectare or about $7.5 million after spirited bidding from two parties.

Westech Real Estate Nhill director and Parlawidgee lead selling agent Stuart Kyle said West Wimmera farming families still had the buying power to purchase nearby farms.

“Our demand for very good property has not altered much. But for the secondary properties that aren’t in strategic positions, there has certainly been a softening.”

Parlawidgee is believed to have been given its name from a First Nations phrase for “place of many mussels”, a reference to a semipermanent swamp now home to a variety of birdlife.

Meanwhile in the Murrindindi shire, the sale of a 209ha livestock farm, Simpsons, has smashed price expectations by well over 40 per cent after selling through auction earlier this month.

At an auction held on site on April 22 an undisclosed buyer purchased the property for $5.75 million, or $27,512 a hectare, after bidding started at $4 million.

It is understood the buyer grew up in the Whanregarwen district, located near Alexandra, and wanted to add the property to their existing holdings in Gippsland and in Queensland at Toowoomba.

It is also understood the purchaser, an Angus breeder and businessman, owns a nearby property that was formerly connected with Simpsons.

Simpsons, with an estimated carrying capacity of 19 dry sheep equivalents a hectare, was once part of a larger property, Millbrook, put together over several decades by the late Ron Patterson.

Mr Patterson bought Simpsons in 2004 in what would have been his final land purchase after building up a 1241ha portfolio.

Pat Rice and Hawkins selling agent Robert Hill handled the sale.

The sale of Simpsons comes after the Handbury family sold their nearby 208ha Crystal Creek farm for a district record $8.6 million, or about $41,346 a hectare, late last year, after purchasing the property about 10 years ago.

Finally, last month a premier mixed farming property, Warranoy, spanning 1646ha near Young in the NSW South West Slopes was sold through auction for $28 million.

Bruce and Robyn Smith received strong interest from a field of three local bidders and one Sydney-based bidder.

The Caldwell family of Milwallah Angus stud at nearby Clover Hill were the successful buyers.

Miller and James selling agent Angus McLaren completed the sale.