Three NSW Riverina farms list for more than $35 million combined

Three farms in the NSW Riverina have hit the market, including a 1785ha grazing property north of Holbrook. See the details.

Three separate NSW Riverina farms have hit the market in a series of spring listings, where they are expected to field offers worth more than $35 million combined.

Ben and Narelle Robilliard are selling the 1785ha Matta Mia property at Pulletop, NSW.

PULLETOP, NSW

MATTA MIA

Property: mixed farming

Size: 1787.5ha

Sale: two-stage expressions of interest, first stage closing October 18

Price: about $16-$18 million

Agent: Elders Real Estate and Riverina Livestock Agents

Contact: Angus Macleod, 0414 670 286, Henry Mackinnon, 0408 408 299, Nick Myer, 0427 610 278 or James Tierney, 0488 317 059, Tim Drum, 0488 317 058

An expansion south of their home farming base has proved fruitful for Old Junee farmers Ben and Narelle Robilliard, who have since established the considerable Matta Mia aggregation.

Located between Wagga Wagga and Holbrook in the NSW Riverina’s Pulletop district, the main portion of Matta Mia was acquired by the Robilliards in 2014, who then added the adjoining Mt Pleasant holding three years later in 2017.

During their subsequent tenure the two properties have been aggregated to its current 1787ha size, with the Robilliards developing the holding through soil ameliorations, pasture improvement involving a strong fertiliser program and upgraded water infrastructure.

There has also been significant replacement and improvement to the fencing and livestock facilities on the property.

Alongside their sheep enterprise, the Robilliards also have run cattle at Matta Mia.

The property has been predominantly run as a meat sheep enterprise using Mt Ronan blood composite ewes, running between 6000-7200 ewes depending on the cropping program implemented on the property each year.

Lambing percentages of the ewes have always been about 150 per cent.

“We have also run cattle from time to time along the way, while also cropping canola and wheat as well as oats on rotation,” Mr Robilliard said.

“We thought Matta Mia would be a good addition to Junee because it was in a higher rainfall region which helped with security each year and it is ahead of Junee with feed throughout the season, which allows us to shuffle things around between blocks.

“The farms were quite run down when we bought them, but we have improved them to the point they are easily run, a turnkey operation, and ready for someone to roll on with.”

During their tenure, the Robilliards also initiated a significant carbon project, which is now registered and has the potential to generate more than 125,000 ACCU’s via soil carbon sequestration methods.

Patrick and Anna O’Donohue are selling the two-farm Karingal Aggregation, located at Bunnaloo NSW.

BUNNALOO, NSW

KARINGAL AGGREGATION

Property: cropping

Size: 1485ha

Sale: expressions of interest closing October 25

Price: $11.7 million-plus

Agent: Elders Real Estate Deniliquin

Contact: Matt Horne, 0409 355 733

A commitment to expand a family-owned and operated transport and logistics company has brought a 1485ha Riverina cropping farm to market, three years after it last changed hands.

Patrick and Anna O’Donohue are selling the two-farm Karingal Aggregation, located at Bunnaloo about 56km northwest of Echuca-Moama.

Raised in Ballarat, Patrick and Anna were previously living at Avoca and farming between both there and a property they owned at Donald in Victoria’s northwest, prior to purchasing the Karingal Aggregation in late 2021.

Since then the couple have farmed the property almost exclusively with a mix of winter and summer crops, planting almost 1300ha this season, aided by irrigation infrastructure and Murray water entitlements.

“We bought the place three years ago after shifting up from down south when we were looking for something a bit different,” Mr O’Donohue said.

“Ever since we have been running it all cropping, with no stock, growing summer and winter crops.

“With the irrigation here, and water through the Murray Irrigation scheme, the place is close to drought proof with about 500ha under that irrigation.

“Through this dry spell, we have been able to water some crops, which is looking really good at the moment.

“We also run our transport company which is growing considerably, so with the sale of Karingal we want to redirect the capital and use it as an investment and expand the transport and logistics business, which is to be based out of Moama.”

Lachlan Bull is selling the 2004ha Waringah property, located 45km north of Conargo.

CONARGO, NSW

WARINGAH

Property: mixed farming

Size: 2004ha

Sale: expressions of interest closing October 4

Price: $8 million-plus

Agent: Nutrien Harcourts Deniliquin

Contact: James Sides, 0427 236 791 and Jake Freshwater, 0418 586 417

During the last decade, 2004ha mixed farming asset Waringah, located 45km north of Conargo in the NSW Riverina, has been redeveloped by a local farmer as part of multiple agricultural ventures in the region.

Lachlan Bull has moved to sell Waringah as he seeks to consolidate agricultural holdings closer to Echuca in northern Victoria, after transforming the property from a predominantly rice and grazing holding to a greater proportion of winter and summer row crops.

“The property has been run with the future in mind. We have made a lot of investments in the property, improving fencing and soil health across the last 10 years,” Mr Bull said. 

Across the entire cotton, grain and protein producing property, 1150ha are considered highly fertile alluvial self-mulching and soft loam cropping soil types. 

Waringah also offers 760ha under irrigation with about 310ha developed for lateral spray irrigation with GPS, 450ha of newly developed lasered bankless and pontoon layout irrigation.