Veteran grazier Sinclair Hill has listed his three-property aggregation of 40,236ha in southwest Queensland for sale, with options to purchase 10,000 Dorper ewes, existing plant and machinery and commercial quantities of feral goats.

The Boanbirra Aggregation, 55km southwest of Bollon, consists of ‘Boanbirra’, ‘Fernlee’ and ‘Donna Downs’, and features the extensive watering system, secure fencing and productive pasture improvements that have been the hallmark of properties in Mr Hill’s portfolio.

A skilled horseman and renowned 10-goal polo player who schooled King Charles III in the finer points of the game, Mr Hill has spent a lifetime purchasing prime grazing properties and developing them through improvements to water, fencing and stock feed.

The Boanbirra Aggregation is the final lot to be sold from a portfolio of 16, including the NSW properties, ‘Berwicks’ at Willow Tree, and ‘Terlings’ and ‘Dundenoon’ near Moree, which are currently held by Mr Hill’s daughter Carina and husband Ed Shannon.

Mr Hill’s Queensland holdings comprised ‘Newstead’ at Ilfracombe, ‘Babbiloora’ at Tambo, ‘Redford’ and ‘Tooloombilla’ near Mitchell, ‘Hoganthulla’ near Augathella, ‘Winneba’, ‘Taylors Plains’ and ‘Juandah Downs’ near Mungallala, ‘Spring Creek’ at Bollon and ‘Bridgeman Downs’ near Roma.

Mr Hill, whose portrait by Bill Leak was a finalist in the 1999 Archibald Prize, was educated at The King’s School, Parramatta and at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, England. He played polo representing England in France, Argentina and America, and continued to play polo on his return to Australia for a number of years.

At the age of 89, Mr Hill said he sees a bright future for agriculture in Australia, and has no compunction in selling the last of his extensive holdings.

The introduction of exclusion fencing, capped bore water and Dorper sheep has revolutionised grazing in western areas,” he said.

“I will be 90 in October and I look forward to seeing what the next generation of my family can achieve.”

Mr Hill has developed the Boanbirra Aggregation from a beef breeding and fattening enterprise into a large Dorper prime lamb business, and the grazing country is carrying a huge body of buffel and native grass after receiving plentiful summer rain.

The Aggregation is a mix of open and semi-open country timbered with brigalow, gidgee, coolibah, box and wilga trees, and benefits from the exclusion of wild dogs, with the three properties enclosed by the 158km Fernlee Cluster Fence.

Near-new secure internal fencing of paddocks, holding paddocks and laneways is considered ‘Dorper proof’, while the extensive watering system consists of bore water piped to more than 140 poly tanks and troughs complemented with generous surface dams.

The Aggregation has previously run 2000 breeder cows and a portion is currently agisted to cattle, with potential for the arrangement to carry over to the new buyers.

LAWD Director, Simon Cudmore, said the Boanbirra Aggregation was last listed for sale in the drought year of 2019, but 2024 is a very different season.

“The properties are looking a picture after excellent summer rainfall. It’s just another example of Mr Hill’s ability to buy second tier assets and upgrade them by investing in large-scale improvements to water, pasture and fencing,” Mr Cudmore said.

“This is low cost, low input, highly productive land types with a diversity of climate and soil, a secure piped water supply, creating a very cost-effective grazing enterprise.

“Given the scale of the opportunity, strong interest is anticipated from both institutional investors and expanding local farming enterprises.”

The Boanbirra Aggregation is for sale by expression of interest, closing at 12pm (AEST) on Wednesday 8 May 2024.