DRYLAND cropping property, Shooters Hill Aggregation, in the Great Southern Region of Western Australia has been sold by LAWD for $35 million after drawing notable interest through a competitive Expression of Interest campaign.

Operating entirely as a dryland cropping enterprise since 1996, the aggregation includes a total 4,387 hectares, comprising four semi-contiguous holdings known as Madgedup (2,210 hectares), Shooters Hill (1,163 hectares), Tin Hut (527 hectares) and Block (486 hectares) and is currently used to produce wheat, barley, oats, canola, faba beans, lupins and field peas.

LAWD Director, Simon Wilkinson, congratulated both vendor and successful purchasing party following the sale.

“Congratulations to our vendors, John and Kerry Stone and their families,  who invested in high-quality structural and land ameliorant improvements over the 115 years of generational ownership,” Mr Wilkinson said.

“The buyers will benefit from a well-established homestead, dwelling, workers accommodation, machinery shed, general purpose shed, chemical shed, fertiliser sheds, shearing shed and grain storage.”

An outlier in terms of location and performance for the region, Shooters Hill Aggregation has a history of achieving strong yields. During 2021 and 2022, the operation recorded an average of 3.83 tonnes per hectare of wheat, 3.56 tonnes per hectare of barley, 3.11 tonnes per hectare of oats, 1.75 tonnes per hectare of canola, 2.05 tonnes per hectare of faba beans and 1.64 tonnes per hectare of lupins.

The property boasts ample water infrastructure, including earth dams and strategically located spray tanks, further supported by excellent climate characteristics, and an average annual rainfall of 398 millimetres.

Mr Wilkinson said Shooters Hill Aggregation presented a rare opportunity to secure an unparalleled dryland cropping operation underpinned by an extensive history of land improvement.

“The vendors conducted soil enhancement projects across the aggregation as well as an annual fertiliser program to maintain and enhance the long-term productivity and sustainability of the land,” he said.

“The Shooters Hill Aggregation was highly sought after, receiving multiple expressions of interest – varying from proposals for the acquisition of individual assets to the entireaggregation.

“Twenty-two inspections were conducted, with the successful purchaser securing the aggregation for $35 million, equating to $10,720 per arable hectare including infrastructure.”

For more information, please contact LAWD Director, Simon Wilkinson, +61 456 758 341.