Renowned Wimmera farm hits the market for $17 million-plus

A historic 1000ha property in western Victoria is set to change hands for just the fourth time in its 180-year history.

Carrs Plains is regarded as the original home of the Polwarth sheep breed, first known as the Dennis Comebacks, while also producing rotational winter crops.

A slice of the Wimmera’s agricultural history has hit the market following the listing of Carrs Plains, a 1007ha mixed farming property owned by the Taylor family for three generations.

Regarded as the original home of the Polwarth sheep breed, first known as the Dennis Comebacks, Carrs Plains was first established in 1842 and is located about 36km north of Stawell and 65km west of Horsham.

Vendors Linda Taylor and her partner Tony Wheat have run the Carrs Plains property during the past two decades, producing a mix of winter crops on rotation across 900ha and carrying a self-replacing Merino flock too.

“My grandfather bought the property in 1950 with my dad running the farm after him,” Linda said.

“We also leased the farm for a few years before the (GWM water) pipeline was installed. But I have been managing the property for about 20 years now.

“I was very lucky my dad just let me go with it. My parents, Ian and Margie Taylor, have always been supportive and just let me have a crack which was amazing of them.”

The 1007ha Carrs Plains property has been listed for sale by the Taylor family.

MARNOO WEST

CARRS PLAINS

Property: mixed farming

Size: 1007ha

Sale: expressions of interest, closing October 30 at 4pm

Price: about $17,297 a hectare

Agent: Ray White Rural

Contact: Max Brown, 0429 854 772 and Jason Hellyer, 0403 043 571

Carrs Plains has produced a mix of winter crops and a self-replacing Merino sheep flock.

The historic Carrs Plains property has been held by just three other owners since it was first established, with a lease taken out in 1843 by Robinson and George Rutherford consisting of 19,400ha.

In 1853 the Dennis brothers, Alexander, John and William, took over the lease until 1873 when the lease was cancelled.

The Dennis brothers then had the freehold of about 6000ha until circa 1905 when Mr H.H. Wettenhall took over the property.

Following subdivisions of the property reduced the total area until R.B. Taylor purchased Carrs Plains in 1950.

Now the property is fenced into 23 paddocks on fertile black, grey and red soils, while the Richardson River traverses the holding.

“It really is a beautiful, stunning property with massive gum trees, remnant Buloke stands and you even have some views of the Grampians too,” Linda said.

“We have worked really hard to continue our family’s legacy here. It is all set up and ready to go.

Carrs Plains offers external yards with the capacity to hold 3000 sheep also adjoin the undercover sheep yards, while there is a 20 x 9m raised barn with an underfloor holding of another 300 head of sheep.

“Carrs Plains was an amazing place to grow up and I think it would be a great place for a family to come in and do what they like, whether that’s crop or mix farm it.

“It has been a really hard decision (to sell) but we have no succession in the family and so it is time to move on to something else.”

On the property there is a 1980s three-bedroom brick veneer home, with an office, two bathrooms and expansive living and dining areas under 31.6 squares.

Extensive existing improvements include a three-stand 300-head shearing shed, built in 2018 to include a full kitchen and bathroom.

Adjoining this is the 567 sqm undercover sheep yards closed in on two sides with the capacity for 1000 sheep.

There are also two GWM pipeline metres feeding 27,000-litre header tanks gravity feeding to holding tanks and troughs, 16 x 10m workshop, 27 x 21 x 6m hay shed, 28 x 10m machinery shed plus skillion, two Ahrens 82 Tonne Grain Silos with automated aeration system on three-stand concrete base, stables and shearer’s quarters. There is a total of 252,500 litres of fresh water storage tanks.