The name “Millamolong” needs little introduction to anybody familiar with polo, pastoral dynasties, farmstay venues, cold country wines or the Mid Western Highway.
It’s the Central West grazing property owned since 1934 by the Ashton family – most recently by the late James William Ashton and his wife, Susan.
Before that it was owned by Tom Rowlands, whose forebears settled in the Mandurama area in the 1840s. Other family members still hold properties in the area.
“Millamolong” was one of four NSW properties bought during the 1920s and ’30s by James’ namesake grandfather – a successful businessman and politician – to set up his polo-playing sons.
His eldest son, James Hay Ashton (known as Jim), took up “Millamolong” while his brothers Robert, Geoffrey and Philip settled on properties at Cargo, Binda and Junee respectively.
The four Ashton brothers, playing as a team, had earlier taken the polo world by storm, winning 16 out of 21 matches during a barnstorming trip to England in 1930.
Now, following the untimely death (in a polo-playing accident in Thailand) earlier this year of James William Ashton, a decision has been taken to sell about half of “Millamolong”.
Mrs Ashton and her four children have listed a 1814-hectare (4482-acre) section of the 3400ha property for sale as “Millamolong East” and it will go to auction on September 30 through Meares and Associates of Sydney.
They will retain the remaining country, including the family’s present residence, plus the Millamolong Polo Club grounds and clubhouse, as “Millamolong West”.
The portion to be sold incorporates the main (1936) station homestead and its historic outbuildings, the “four star” 28ha vineyard, working improvements and Belubula River frontage.
It also comes with an approved five-lot subdivision, adding to its land bank potential in this strategic location handy to the regional centres of Orange, Bathurst and Cowra.
As a whole, “Millamolong” ranks as one of the largest holdings in this prized and intensively grazed area, but even the 1814ha portion now to be sold constitutes an offering of rare size.
Situated 16 kilometres north of Mandurama, “Millamolong East” is in that climatically favoured belt where the tablelands merge into the slopes.
Elevation ranges from 440 to 670 metres, giving a spread of seasonal responses, and average rainfall is about 700 millimetres.
The country is undulating to hilly and mostly basalt to red loam in formation, with scattered shade trees of mostly yellow and white box, apple gum and kurrajongs, plus planted treelines.
About 700ha of the property has been sown to pastures and 32ha is under established lucerne.
Carrying capacity is estimated at 7.4 dry sheep equivalents a hectare, indicating a possible stocking mix of 400 breeding cows with replacements and 3000 to 3800 breeding ewes, or equivalent.
(Current stocking mix for the entire 3400ha property is 9500 Merino and crossbred sheep, 1500 cattle and 150 horses.)
The property is well watered by an 8km frontage to the Belubula River, plus two main bores and dams reticulating to troughs.
The architect-designed, double-brick and tile homestead, built in an era when domestic staff formed part of a station household, has an entry hall and central living area opening to east and west wings.
Now set up as a serviced farmstay facility accommodating from 12 to 18 guests at any one time, the homestead could easily revert to a grand family home or be adapted to other uses.
In addition to its eight bedrooms (two with ensuite), the homestead has formal living and dining rooms (with open fireplaces and exposed hardwood floors), a commercial-scale kitchen, breakfast room and covered verandahs.
It is set in a large, easy-care garden flanked by mature trees, with floodlit tennis court, in-ground swimming pool and separate guest/staff quarters.
Three cottages now used as part of the farmstay operation provide additional accommodation, as do the original slab “Farmhouse” dating from the 1830s and an adjacent stone building that once served as the district’s post office.
Working improvements include the eight-stand woolshed and quarters, undercover sheepyards, two sets of steel cattleyards, machinery shed and hay sheds.
The vineyard, established in 1999 (and qualified for the “Orange” cool-country-wines tag), is planted to a mix of red and white grape varieties and irrigated from a licensed dam.
Wines from “Millamolong” have won awards at national and international wine shows and the vineyard – unlike many in recent years – continues to be managed as a going concern.
The versatility of the property plus its production history, heritage value and prime location indicate a bidding range for “Millamolong East” of about $7.5million to $8.5m.
Contact Meares and Associates, (02) 9362 8111.
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