Shaw family sell Wantagong Station to Rose Grange Pastoral Company

A 1640ha NSW Riverina station has changed hands for the first time in two generations after hitting the market with a $40m price tag last year.

One of Victoria’s largest beef farmers has expanded further into the NSW Riverina, snapping up a renowned pastoral property near Holbrook.

The Richmond family’s Rose Grange Pastoral Company, located at Little River between Melbourne and Geelong, has purchased the 1643ha Wantagong Station from the Shaw family.

The value of the transaction remains undisclosed due to confidentiality arrangements, however, the property was expected to receive offers worth $40 million when it was listed for sale in September last year.

Led by Jock Richmond, the fourth generation farming family has run beef, prime lamb and cropping ventures, including 900 Angus females in previous seasons across 3220ha.

Jock Richmond (centre) receives the JBS Australia Great Southern Producer of the Year award.

The Rose Grange operation will add the Wantagong Station to its existing extensive sheep and cropping interests in southern NSW.

Two generations of cattle and sheep family farming in the NSW Riverina for the Shaw family have come to a close following the transaction.

Rose Grange Pastoral Company manager Jim Gaylard.

Wantagong Station had been home to the Shaw family’s Wantagong Poll Merino stud, Lark Rise Hereford stud and more recently its value-add product known as Grass Roots Beef.

The property had run a self-replacing herd of Hereford breeders, as well as crossbred Poll Merino ewes for wool and prime lambs in recent years, offering a carrying capacity of 25,000 dry sheep equivalent.

Leanne Wheaton and her husband Gordon Shaw, Grass Roots Beef, Holbrook NSW.

Elders state real estate manager Victoria-Riverina Nick Myer handled the sale alongside Henry Mackinnon and Angus Macleod.

“Wantagong is undoubtedly one of the finest holdings in the Wantagong Valley with an exceptional reputation for its operational versatility, productive capacity and ideal positioning to key markets,” Mr Myer said when the property was listed for sale.

“It is incredibly rare to see an asset of this calibre, particularly in the Wantagong Valley, present to market.”

The Shaw family have sold their 1643ha Wantagong Station, located in the Wantagong Valley, NSW.

Originally run by the parents of siblings Gordon, Jim and Cathy Shaw, the property ran a commercial herd, but added the Grass Roots Beef brand about eight years ago.

Via the Shaws’ Grass Roots Beef, they processed one animal a week, of about 180kg dressed weight, slaughtered at Gathercole’s in Wangaratta or Tallangatta Meat Processors, then butchered at Peters and Son at Lavington, NSW.

The meat was then sold at farmers’ markets or through private sales.

The Wantagong property also offered a six-bedroom homestead constructed in circa-1951 and extensive staff accommodation.