TO BE offered for only the second time in 50 years, South Gippsland property “Jando Plains” has considerable potential as a large scale steer fattening and fodder production enterprise.
The 487 hectare (1203ac) Fish Creek property is situated about 35 kilometres south east of Leongatha and 170 kilometres south east of Melbourne.
“Jando Plains” was owned by well-known local pastoralists, the Pilkington family.
It had been part of the family’s district holdings for more than 45 years before its sale in 2008 to ACE Farming Company.
Originally bought by ACE for conversion to a large-scale dairying operation, the global financial downturn and corresponding drop in farm gate milk prices saw the conversion put on hold.
Throughout its ownership, ACE has been using the property to rear heifer calves for export and grow fodder for its other dairy farms.
The property has been listed for private sale at $6 million ($12,320/ha, $4988/ac) with Peter Hawkins and Matthew Childs, Pat Rice and Hawkins Melbourne, and David Nolan, Webster Nolan Real Estate, Sydney.
“Jando Plains” is a highly fertile and productive parcel of country with the soil types ranging from sandy to clay loams.
These soils hold moisture well and this proves beneficial in maintaining the pastures during the summer.
Topography is gently rolling and the property enjoys picturesque views across the surrounding countryside.
The property has proven a strong crop fodder producer with upwards of 60ha or 150 acres of millet, sorghum, maize and oats planted each year.
“Jando Plains” has enjoyed a reliable fertiliser history with autumn and spring applications.
It is currently used as a dry cow and fodder production block and has carried up to 1200 dry dairy cattle on a rotating basis during the year.
A further 500 calves have been carried on the property from the age of three months through to joining.
In relation to beef cattle, “Jando Plains” would comfortably run 400 plus cows with calves.
The property would also be ideal for a large scale steer fattening enterprise.
About 40ha (99ac) of the property is covered with timber reserves including manna gum, blue gum, southern mahogany, yellow stringy and shining gum.
In addition to these timbered areas, stands of native trees have been planted along fence lines to act as shade and shelter belts.
The property is fenced into 23 large grazing paddocks with a central laneway linking the paddocks and providing assistance in the management and movement of livestock.
Average annual rainfall in the area is about 920mm, and “Jando Plains” is securely watered for a livestock enterprise with each paddock having at least one dam and many supplemented with livestock troughs.
The four bedroom homestead, built in 1995, has been constructed using bluestone and jarrah timber and is set in a private garden of native trees and shrubbery.
The large house features living areas, a timber kitchen, four large bedrooms, one bathroom, a rumpus room and an office.
Infrastructure includes undercover Kattlegear-designed cattle yards, with a capacity for 300 weaners, and feature a bugle race, crush with weighing scales, loading race and ramp, handling and drafting yards and veterinary shed.
Also included are two machinery sheds, the first a steel frame construction and fully enclosed with lockable roller doors at either end, the second a timber post and frame construction with a galvanised iron roof.
Contact Peter Hawkins or Matthew Childs, (03) 9866 5588; David Nolan, (02) 8394 8875.
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