Withers Aggregation, at Berrigan, sold to Aussie buyer for at least $33m

A highly sought-after Berrigan farming operation has changed hands for the first time in 60 years after being sold to a local buyer.

For the first time in more than 60 years a renowned Southern Riverina farming operation has changed hands with an Australian buyer securing the property.

The 2448ha Withers Aggregation, near Berrigan in southern NSW, was sold prior to auction on Thursday, March 11 in a deal believed to be worth at least $33m.

The Weekly Times understands the property was sold in a deal near its expected value of $33-$36m.

Early price indications for the property were about $13,480 per hectare.

Interest in the property came from Australians and abroad, but it was a local buyer who won the race.

Specific details of the sale remain subject to confidentiality.

Corcoran Parker Rural sales specialist and selling agent John Honeychurch said the interest in the farm was “incredible”.

Withers aggregation at Berrigan, NSW

“There was a lot of interested parties. We received international interest as well as domestic interest,” he said.

“For the size of the farm there was an incredible level of both national and international interest. It certainly was a very interesting sale process.”

Simon Withers and family offered the property to market in February for the first time in more than half a century.

The property was for sale as a whole or in three separate parcels with Brynton (957ha), Clondara (1,104ha) and Warranbilla (387ha) all up for grabs.

The farm was sold as one to one purchaser.

Key features of the property include access to Berrigan and Mulwala Channels for irrigation purposes, a five-bedroom, two-bathroom homestead and grain silos with total combined storage in excess of 1200 tonnes.

Earlier this month, a 1100ha Swan Hill cropping holding was snapped up by a neighbouring farmer for millions.