Shaw family to sell premier Holbrook farm, Wantagong station

After two generations farming in the NSW Riverina, a cattle family has decided to list their 1640ha station for sale. See the details.

A renowned Riverina pastoral property, located 20km east of Holbrook, has hit the market, bringing two generations of cattle and sheep farming to a close.

The Shaw family are selling the 1643ha Wantagong station, which had been home to its Wantagong Poll Merino stud, Lark Rise Hereford stud and more recently its value-add product known as Grass Roots Beef.

Used to carry a self-replacing herd of Hereford breeders, as well as crossbred Poll Merino ewes for wool and prime lambs, Wantagong station is expected to field offers worth about $40 million.

Elders state real estate manager Victoria-Riverina Nick Myer, who was handling the sale, said the tightly held property was for sale bare or walk-in, walk out terms, including livestock, plant and equipment.

Two generations of the Shaw family have lived and worked at the Wantagong station.

“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.

“The Shaw family and their extended management team are to be commended for their meticulous presentation and ongoing investment.

“Having only been offered to market for the first time in over half a century, we are anticipating a strong level of interest from a range of buyer profiles.

Wantagong station, near Holbrook, is expected to field top dollar offers.

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

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.

The Shaws’ Grass Roots Beef 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 Shaw family, including Leanne Wheaton and her husband Gordon Shaw, have owned Wantagong station for two generations.

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

Key features of the property, for sale via expression of interest closing Thursday, October 26 at 4pm, includes a circa-1951 homestead and extensive staff accommodation.

There is also machinery, workshop, hay and sundry shedding, grain storage, a four-stand shearing shed, multiple sheep and cattle handling facilities and fully integrated solar systems.

Biodiversity initiatives are also attached to the property.

The headline listing comes after a pair of first-class Holbrook farms were listed for sale last month where they were expected to fetch offers worth a combined total of $25.2 million.