Exclusive Data Reveals Top Rural Properties For Sale Australia In 2021
Farmbuy.com's Top Rural Properties For Sale Australia In 2021
Large-scale rural properties – from livestock, cropping and mixed farming to dairy, horticulture and viticulture – accounted for near-on 50 per cent of views and 50 per cent of enquiries on Australia’s leading specialist rural property platform, farmbuy.com, in 2021, exclusive new data reveals.
Click on any of the following links to go straight to our detailed analysis of each of the key rural property types, including:
Top Rural Properties For Sale Australia: Livestock
Leading the way were livestock properties, which attracted the most buyer interest among large-scale farm types on the digital platform during a period in which listings on the site topped more than 3,000 properties with a combined value of $5.624 billion (and an average asking price of $1.848 million and an average land size of 379.73 hectares).
Fuelled by strong market conditions, livestock properties generated just over 8.5 per cent of total views and 9.5 per cent of leads on farmbuy.com in 2021.
Topping the list was the “Bellevue” aggregation, a unique large-scale cattle breeding enterprise in Far North Queensland.
Comprising Bellevue Station and Nychum Station, the 211,664-hectare holding benefits from reliable summer wet seasons and productive wooded savannah grasslands, making it ideal for extensive cattle-breeding operations.
As such, it has long been coveted by many of Australia's major beef operators – and not surprisingly was snapped up by a buyer during the year.
Large-scale cattle breeding enterprise, the “Bellevue” aggregation, was the most-viewed livestock property in 2021
Despite Queensland properties accounting for three of the five most-viewed livestock property holdings, a majority of buyer interest in this hot segment of the market came from NSW (46 per cent of views; 52 per cent of leads), ahead of Victoria (25.1 per cent of views; 21.9 per cent of leads) and Queensland (23.4 per cent of views; 21.1 per cent of leads).
Outside of Queensland, this large-scale beef grazing property located 75 kilometres north-east of Tenterfield in northern NSW was among the most-popular livestock properties in 2021.
The magnificent 1,977.22-hectare “Many Rivers” property was sold after generations of ownership by one family.
“Many Rivers”, a large-scale beef grazing property north-east of Tenterfield, was among the most-popular livestock properties in 2021
Featuring a large four-bedroom/two-bathroom home, cattle yards, machinery and hay sheds, impressive fencing throughout, and excellent water availability, the property boasts an estimated carrying capacity of between 300-320 breeders plus riverbank land utilised for lucerne production and vegetable growing including tomatoes and watermelons.
Top Rural Properties For Sale Australia: Mixed Farms
Mixed farms were the second most-viewed large-scale property type on farmbuy.com in the period, accounting for just over seven per cent of total views and 7.3 per cent of leads.
This rare Central Tablelands mixed-farming enterprise was the most-viewed mixed-farming property in 2021.
Set on 2,912 hectares in the highly-regarded safe and reliable rainfall district of the Central Tablelands, 90 kilometres south of Dubbo, the “Catombal” aggregation’s proven history of production, having successfully been run as a quality mixed-farming property over time, attracted strong buyer interest.
“Catombal”, a rare mixed-farming enterprise in the Central Tablelands, was the most-viewed mixed-farming property in 2021
Since sold, “Catombal” has an indicative DSE (dry sheep equivalent) rating of 26,000 to 28,000 DSE, delivering scale and opportunity rarely seen in such a tightly held area of the Central Tablelands.
The 2021 winter crop of approximately 400 hectares of wheat, barley, oats and canola was included in the sale.
Notably, four out of the five most-viewed properties in this category hailed from NSW. Not surprisingly, NSW punters generated the lion’s share of property views in the category (47.9 per cent of views; 44.7 per cent of leads), well ahead of Victorians (17.3 per cent of views; 19.6 per cent of leads) and Tasmanians (13 per cent of views; 16 per cent of leads).
Reflecting this trend, this 80.94-hectare Eucalyptus plantation in the rich agricultural area of north-west Tasmania was the second most-viewed mixed-farming enterprise on farmbuy.com in the period.
This 80.94-hectare Eucalyptus plantation in north-west Tasmania was the second most-viewed mixed-farming enterprise in 2021
Situated on Beulah Road, Beulah, close to the township of Sheffield, the property boasts magnificent views of Mt Roland and the Gog Range, with its gently undulating land providing the option for its new owner to return the land to its previous use of grazing/cropping.
Top Rural Properties For Sale Australia: Cropping
Also reflecting strong market conditions, cropping properties produced just over 5 per cent of total property views and 5.6 per cent of leads on farmbuy.com in the period.
Again, NSW buyers showed most interest in properties in this category, accounting for 39 per cent of views and 37.4 per cent of leads.
Offered for sale for the first time in 120 years, the 943-hectare “Springfield” cropping and sheep operation was the most-viewed property in this category.
Located just 15 kilometres north-west of Cootamundra, and an easy four-hour drive from Sydney, the award-winning property is a true mixed-farming enterprise with a 2,000-head Willandra blood self-replacing merino flock and a 526-hectare cropping program which in 2021 consisted of 358 hectares of wheat, 120 hectares of canola and 38 hectares of pasture.
The “Springfield” cropping and sheep operation near Cootamundra was the most-viewed cropping property in 2021
The property also came with an historic four-bedroom homestead built in 1901-02 and set in a beautifully maintained and established garden, a workers cottage, multiple machinery and hay sheds, sheep yards and shearing sheds, and numerous silos.
Further north, this 113.3-hectare lucerne, oats and barley farm at Monto in Queensland was the second most-viewed property in this category during the period.
This 113.3-hectare cropping property at Monto in Queensland was the second most-viewed property in this category during the period
The property – still available for sale – boasts rich alluvial loam soils ideally suited to irrigation and/or cattle fattening. Just over 16 hectares are currently planted to lucerne and another 10 hectares to oats and barley; while 45-60 breeders have comfortably been grazed on the Blue Gum flats.
Infrastructure includes machinery and hay sheds, stockyards, two bores and irrigation, a stylish five-bedroom/two-bathroom home plus self-contained granny flat – all located just five kilometres from Monto.
Top Rural Properties For Sale Australia: Dairy
Off the back of relatively strong market conditions, dairy farms also attracted strong buyer interest in 2021, led by this high-quality 67.56-hectare holding in Victoria’s Warrnambool district.
Located close to the Great Ocean Road and boasting Whiskey Creek frontage, the first-class property features highly-productive arable loam soils supporting excellent perennial pastures, serviced by central laneways, and abundant bore water supply pressurised to troughs in all 14 well-fenced paddocks, making it ideal for dairying as well as beef, lambs or horses.
This first-class property in Victoria’s Warrnambool district was the most-viewed dairy property for sale in 2021
“Balmoral Park”, an outstanding 351.91-hectare aggregation still available for sale in Victoria’s renowned Goulburn Murray Valley region, was also among the most-viewed dairy holdings.
Presented to the market for the first time in five generations, this highly-regarded dairy aggregation boasts state-of-the-art dairying improvements including a 50-unit rotary dairy with a daily capacity of 1,300 milking cows, a premium-quality milking herd of 700 high-producing Friesian dairy cows, highly-productive soil types and a strategically-designed flood irrigation layout, all underpinned by a high-volume milk contract with Fonterra.
Presented to the market for the first time in five generations, this highly-regarded dairy aggregation was a popular listing in 2021
Reflecting its dominant share of the nation’s dairy herd, Victorians accounted for most of the buyer interest in this category, including 90 per cent of views and over 85 per cent of leads.
Top Rural Properties For Sale Australia: Horticulture
Rounding out the most popular large-scale property types of 2021 was horticulture, headlined by this rare – and still available – 569.71-hectare irrigated avocado orchard at Blackbutt South in Queensland.
A rare offering for the region, the 569.71-hectare “Green Nuggett” aggregation comprises a total of 272.54 hectares under plantings, underpinned by access to domestic and export markets.
This rare avocado orchard at Blackbutt South in Queensland was the most-viewed horticulture property in 2021
With secure town water, five storage dams and seven bores interlinked to an extensive irrigation network, plus quality operational infrastructure including a 66-pallet cold room, packing and machinery sheds, and cattle yards, the property offers considerable scope to further expand the orchard.
Further south, this stunning 84.7 hectares of high country with dress-circle views of Evans Crown and the Tarana Valley just 183 kilometres from Sydney’s CBD 2021 also spawned significant buyer interest in calendar 2021.
This outstanding holding boasting a 60,000-tree pine plantation was among the most-viewed horticulture properties in 2021
Not surprisingly, this outstanding holding – boasting generous accommodation and shedding, a 60,000-tree pine plantation, all within close proximity to town (just 10 minutes’ drive to nearby Oberon) as well as the Blue Mountains, Evans Crown, Jenolan Caves, Mayfield Garden and many other stunning National Parks – sold during the period.
With two of the five most-viewed properties hailing from the Sunshine State, buyers from up north represented the majority of property views (45.4 per cent) and leads (52.6 per cent) in this category, ahead of Victorians (28.3 per cent of views; 20.9 per cent of leads) and New South Welshmen (22.1 per cent of views; 23.7 per cent of leads).
Top Rural Properties For Sale Australia: Lifestyle
Fuelled by a pandemic-induced spike in Australians seeking a “tree change”, lifestyle rural properties were among the most-viewed listings on farmbuy.com in calendar 2021 – responsible for around one-third of views and one-third of enquiries.
“Bentleigh”, a magnificent heritage-listed rural property – described as “Tasmania’s best” – was the most-viewed property for sale in this category in the period.
Set on 395 hectares in the rich and fertile Chudleigh Valley in northern Tasmania, “Bentleigh’s” unique combination of one of the state’s finest residences, picture-postcard riverside location, and prime grazing land drew enormous interest, racking up 22,982 views.
This magnificent heritage-listed property in Tasmania was the most-viewed lifestyle property in 2021
Still available for sale, the property offers a meticulously restored, heritage-listed residence (circa 1879) providing some 850sqm of accommodation; plus painstakingly restored outbuildings, including the “Barn” providing guest accommodation, as well as the “Clock Tower”, stables and quarters and two cottages, all with extensive dry stone walling.
This rare property also operates as a grazing enterprise, with secure on-farm water storage and water rights. Farming operations include a breeding herd of Black Angus.
Interest in lifestyle rural properties was led by NSW buyers, who accounted for 38.7 per cent of views and almost 47 per cent of leads in the category.
In that state, this 55.44-hectare acreage – currently under contract – is the text-book definition of a lifestyle property.
Situated under 90 minutes’ drive from Newcastle, and near wineries across Singleton, Denman and Muswellbrook, this is the ultimate getaway.
Just 90 minutes’ drive from Newcastle, this text-book lifestyle property was among the most popular listings in 2021
For those looking to offer a walk-in-walk-out holiday space, there is a self-contained cabin with an ensuite, air-conditioning and wood heater; or if you’d like to get a little more out of your tree-change, this land offers opportunity for cattle grazing and horse training, with eight dams, several fenced paddocks and watered yards, plus a hay shed and a concrete wash bay, and three-bay shed to keep your machinery safe.
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