NOTE: Billabong adjoins Keshvale. These adjoining properties can be purchased individually or as an aggregate.
Based on its present low-key land use, Billabong has considerable production upside possibilities.
Location: Situated along Dingo Park Road and approx 13km to the intersection with the Flinders Highway, Calcium Service Station and transport to both the west and north. Townsville is a further 50km north from the intersection.
Area & Title:Freehold 830.84ha (2052.2acres)
Property overview: A mix of black soils and alluvial creek frontage soils, well drained farming land with major irrigation water supplies. Previously part of the property (270acres) was irrigated for Rhodes grass and Leucaena grazing, and the balance grazed.
The property is bisected east-west by the Majors Ck anabranch and Bullock Creek, with Majors creek itself running along the northern boundary. The land is flat and fertile. A feature of the property is the numerous seasonal billabongs (waterholes) adjacent and between the creek systems. These provide livestock watering points and add to the aesthetics of the property.
Rainfall: BOM records - Majors Ck - 1183.9mm. Lansdown CSIRO - 903.6mm
Property specs:
The majority of the property is black soil and grows a substantial body of high-quality pasture.
600 Meg irrigation license.
Approx 110 ha (270acres) of flood irrigated, laser levelled bays.
Aside from the creek frontage areas there is significant potential to dryland farm much of the non-irrigated acreage.
PMAV over Billabong covering all existing and potential farming acreage.
Country:
The property has previously been cleared of its native vegetation. The property generally comprises coastal forest country which has now been largely cleared of its native vegetation and developed to improved pasture.
Broadly speaking the native vegetation types common for the area include Box, Ironbark, Bloodwood, Poplar Gum and along the creeks Moreton Bay, Blue Gum, Leichhardt, Paperbark, Cocky Apple, Teatree and various shrubs in the understory. The perennial natives like Black Spear, and Blue grasses have largely been replaced with a regime of introduced species including Rhodes grass, Urochloa, Seca & Verano Stylos, Progardes Desmanthus. These new pasture species have transformed the carrying capacity and animal performance to that of reliable grower or steer fattening capability.
Most of the property is arable farming soil types so, that which is not irrigated could be ploughed and planted to dryland cropping, or further improved pasture regimes. There is a substantial presence of Chinee Apple.
Water: No irrigation water charges apply for water extracted from Majors Creek. Additionally, this is an unregulated bore field area. Billabong has a 600meg water license.
Bores: The area is an unregulated aquifer so bores can be used for irrigation purposes without licence. There are three (3) bores on the property all mains powered and equipped.
Crop production:
Previously farmed-
110ha planted
Rhodes grass 9 bays
Leucaena 12 bays
Older native grasses 14 bays
Rhodes grass established but not currently operated for hay production. Most recently farmed in 2023, this could be brought back into production quickly.
Rhodes grass - average of 5 cuts per year
Leucaena based grazing pasture. Very successful when rotationally grazed.
Infrastructure:
There is Ergon power supply to the property.
The homestead is a large highset, 6-bedroom, 2-bathroom home with large front the rear veranda's. Upstairs and downstairs are self-contained with kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms all is airconditioned. Mains and Solar power.
Homestead Quarters donga with 4 ensuited bedrooms, shaded front veranda, located within the homestead garden area.
The 2nd house & Quarters - located on Dingo Park Road is a 3-bedroom home with large rear deck. Currently used for worker accommodation the building requires renovation. Quarters attached - donga with 4 ensuited bedrooms.
Shed:
A large 24m x 9m colourbond, with 1 bay cemented floor, used for workshop and vehicle storage; Ergon power; Solar panels on roof connected to house.
Cattle Yards:
An outstanding asset costing about $250,000 a set of Clipex galvanised steel cattle yards was constructed in 2022. Equipped with a sophisticated pneumatically operated drafting system, the yards are capable of automatically drafting cattle (according to NLIS tags numbers) based on sex, weight or other chosen criteria.
Plant & Equipment: A basic plant and machinery list is included in the sale.
Cattle:
Cattle will be included in sale as follows-
Breeders 265 mixed Brahman cross and Droughtmaster cows and breeding age heifers. All joined to Droughtmaster bulls.
Progeny all included (125hd counted)
Bulls 7 good quality Droughtmaster sires.
An unders/overs clause applies in the sale contract.
Lifestyle:
The Billabong location with its close proximity to Townsville has everything at your fingertips beaches & islands, fishing and boating, business diversity, education opportunity, Airport and comprehensive health services to name a few!
Body Corporate and Reconfiguration of lot:
Billabong forms part of the Dingo Park body corporate. There is a proposed Reconfiguration of Lot to address current uses on the ground. Further details are available in the Draft contract of Sale available from the Agent.
Disclaimer: The above report on Billabong has been prepared by Slaney & Co based on information supplied by the property owner and other credible sources. Every endeavour has been made to verify its accuracy. Whilst we trust the information to be correct, we make no warranties or guarantees, and prospective purchasers must rely on their own enquiries & research.© Slaney & Co
