Gunn Agri Partners’ Rosehill Aggregation presents a prime opportunity for grazing and dryland cropping across 4,246 hectares in the New England region, with scope to diversify income through a soil carbon project, biodiversity offsets and renewable energy.

Currently leased for the breeding and backgrounding of Wagyu cattle, the Aggregation is situated 56 kilometres northeast of Inverell and consists of three properties – Rocky Creek (3,499.58 hectares), Hodges (488.01 hectares) and Leeton (258.39 hectares).

The annual rainfall of 725.8 millimetres is underpinned by fertile soils and native and improved pastures, supporting a carrying capacity of 17,527DSE, with a further 1,043.63 hectares of arable land suited to fodder production and cash crops in winter or summer.

A soil carbon project has been developed, and is ready for registration with the Clean Energy Regulator. Furthermore, an ecological analysis report undertaken in 2022 identified areas of significant biodiversity value on the Aggregation, providing scope for a potential biodiversity stewardship agreement.

In its current format, the 1,466-hectare carbon project would operate for 25 years with the aim of building soil carbon through best practice management, which is detailed in an existing Land Management Strategy.

The property is in the New England Renewable Energy Zone and is transected by an existing high-voltage 330kVA power line. The vendor has received proposals from two solar project developers and one wind project developer, and preliminary due diligence has been undertaken.

LAWD Senior Director, Col Medway, said the Rosehill Aggregation’s flexibility of enterprise and strategic location were standout features.

“The Rosehill Aggregation presents a number of opportunities for the successful purchaser to retain and expand the livestock and cropping interests but also pursue options for renewable energy, carbon offsets and biodiversity credits,” Mr Medway said.

“Further enhancing the holding is its strategic location, central to numerous feedlot facilities, livestock selling centres, processors and grain handlers in the New England and southeast Queensland.”

The topography of the Aggregation ranges from undulating arable land and open and timbered grazing to timbered hills, with tree species including Yellow Box, Apple Box, White Box, Grey Box, Red Gum, Stringy Bark, Iron Bark, Kurrajong and Pine.

A combination of self-mulching red and black basalt soils, granite and New England trap soils feature mainly native perennial grasses, with the addition of 44 hectares sown to Premier Digit grass and 776.9 hectares sown to Drover oats.

Secure stock water is sourced fromnumerous permanent and semi-permanent creek and river systems, 48 dams, a bore which is solar pumped to a 22,000 litre header tank, two wells and a spring-fed dam supplying reticulated water systems via an additional 22,000 litre header tank.

Fencing is fully stock-proof and significant investment has been made in construction of 10 kilometres of exclusion fencing along the northern portion of the Aggregation, where it adjoins heavy timber.

Accommodation is provided by the recently renovated manager’s residence and a three bedroom weatherboard cottage at Rocky Creek plus staff quarters at Hodges. Other key infrastructure includes 160 tonnes of grain storage, cattle yards and sheep yards, a woolshed, workshop and machinery shedding.