Tourism, Cropping, Grazing and Viticulture/Irrigation Potential
Historic 'Fairfield Vineyard' in the renowned Rutherglen wine region
- Situated within a highly regarded and tightly held rural & viticulture region
- Close to main regional town/city services, 35km from Albury/Wodonga, 11 km from Rutherglen and 6km from Howlong
- Excellent access to water with double frontage to Wild Duck Creek, 20 dams and 2 bores
- 99ML High Security Murray River entitlement
- Mix of land classes allowing a variety of enterprises
- Significant historic double storey Italianate homestead [circa 1889] 21 rooms including 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
- Historic stretched bond brick constructed wine cellars and ferment house, blacksmith shop & bond house
- Machinery sheds, workshop, stable, hay sheds and grain storage, 2 x shearing sheds and stock yards.
- Quality soils ranging from rich flood plain loams to free draining red and grey loams
- Reliable climate and rainfall with a median annual rainfall of 565mm [22.2"].
- Excellent access with Murray Valley Highway frontage with government main road access on most sides.
'Fairfield Vineyard' has a long history dating back to 1859 when a young George Francis Morris purchased 220 acres of land on Brown's Plains and discovered the rich red soils were ideal for grape production.
In 1904 'Fairfield Vineyard' was described as the country's largest vineyard and winery complex with 700 acres of vines, extensive cellars and infrastructure and a staff of over 100.
Located just 11km from Rutherglen, 6km from Howlong, 25km from Corowa, 35km from Albury/Wodonga and a comfortable 3 hours' drive from Melbourne, "Fairfield' is situated in the favoured Rutherglen district - the heart of the fertile Murray Valley. The region has a strong focus on agriculture, particularly sheep and cattle breeding & grazing, as well as cereal and cash crop production, viticulture and tourism.
The Murray Valley region is well known for its' vineyards, cellar door wine sales and local tourism industries.
The soils in the region are ideal for agriculture production with viticulture returning in popularity to supplement the renewed tourist interest in the region
Land Classification
Undeveloped irrigation ....................................................... 8ha
Wild Duck Creek Flats ....................................................... 51ha
Dryland cultivation........................................................... 730ha
Native Grazing (Timber) ................................................... 42ha
Support Land ..................................................................... 20ha
TOTAL ............................................................................... 851.5hectares
The 'Fairfield Estate' is offered for sale as a whole or in five seperate parcels plus the high security water allocation.
'Fairfield Homestead' ........................................................ 397ha
'McGarrigles' ........................................................................ 39ha
'Mills' ................................................................................... 194ha
'Popesp ............................................................................... 102ha
'Homeleigh' ......................................................................... 120ha
Total Area ........................................................................... 851.5 ha
Water - 99ML High Security Murray River allocation and 22ML Low Security Murray River allocation.
'Fairview has an outstanding balance of productive and versatile soil profiles; predominantly free draining red loam soils with some areas of flood plain soft grey/brown loams.
The property is watered by two bores reticulating to troughs in most paddocks. This is supplemented by dams strategically placed throughout the property. Wild Duck Creek traverses 'Homeleigh' and a pump on the creek supplies domestic water to the cottage.
There is a High Security Water entitlement of 99ML available and this water along with the watering delivery system [needs some maintenance] could allow the irrigated production of wine grapes. The median annual rainfall for the district is 565 mm (22.2 Inches).
The property has road frontage on all sides allowing excellent main road access to most lots.
The mix of soil types together with the reliable rainfall, water supply and irrigation potential underpin the production capacity of the property and assist in the risk management strategy.
Improvements include the large historic double storey cement rendered brick homestead, two other cottages on separate lots, historic wine making infrastructure including the wine cellar, ferment houses and bond room.
Working improvements include the two x 2 stand shearing sheds, 3 machinery sheds, 3 hay sheds, grain storage facilities including 18 silos and a fully enclosed grain shed and various additional storage sheds.
The sale of 'Fairfield' offers the rare opportunity to acquire a historic double storey mansion built circa 1889 standing on 397 hectares [Fairfield alone] of productive rich red soil in a highly sought after and tightly held district which offers the opportunity to undertake a variety of agricultural pursuits.
In addition, another four blocks ranging in size from 39 hectares to 194 hectares adjoining 'Fairview' are being offered for sale which can be purchased individually or collectively as a whole.
