NSW sheep farm sold in eight-figure deal

Former northern NSW cropping farmers have snapped up a 1758ha aggregation from a family of renowned Merino Stud breeders. See all the details.

The Phillips family have sold the three-farm Castle Hill Aggregation spanning 1758ha north of Parkes, NSW.

A NSW Merino stud breeding family have offloaded a premium livestock and cropping portfolio, following a price reduction and almost 18 months on the market.

Yarrawonga Merino Stud’s Phillips family have sold their 1758ha Castle Hill Aggregation, located near Baldry, 44km from Parkes in Central West NSW.

The family’s aggregation first hit the market in July 2023, priced at more than $18 million, however, the listing coincided with a drier than expected season and falling livestock prices.

It is understood former Northern NSW cropping farmers John and Samantha Hickson are the new owners of the Castle Hill Aggregation, securing the property late last year for about $14 million.

In 2023 the Hickson family sold their 5926ha Eural Aggregation, located at Boomi, 85km south of Moree, to NSW-Queensland border cropping and sheep farmer Andrew Earle and family.

The deal for Eural was worth more than $30 million and ended 94 years of ownership by the Hickson family.

Castle Hill has 300 tonnes of grain storage, as well as two large homesteads, two shearing sheds and sheep yards, cattle yards, bull sheds, and hay and machinery storage facilities.

It is understood the Hickson family are relocating to the Castle Hill Aggregation, where they will manage the three holdings; Castle Hill, Mountain View and Fairy Mount.

Across the aggregation Steve, Liz, Sam and Georgia Phillips ran 4000 Merino ewes and 250 Angus cows in previous seasons with the holdings capable of running between 15,000 and 16,000 dry sheep equivalent.

The Phillips family operate the renowned Yarrawonga Merino and Poll Merino Stud across several southern NSW grazing properties in the Harden, Yass, Monaro and Gundagai districts. The Phillips family are some of NSW’s most prolific Merino producers carrying about 75,000 dry sheep equivalent across eight farms.

Yarrawonga Merino Stud’s Steve Phillips with some of their Merino ewes. Picture: File

The stud was founded by Steve’s parents, Don and Thea Phillips, at Cooma in the NSW Monaro region in 1971.

In 2023 the family bought the 893ha Argyle property, near Galong, which is closer to the Phillips family’s home base at Harden.

LAWD senior director Col Medway and director Ian Robertson handled the sale of the Castle Hill Aggregation.