COLLECTION | SPRING 2023
410 MCKEE ROAD, THERESA PARK NSW 2570
A COLLECTION OF OUR FINEST RURAL HOMES
WELCOME TO THE SPRING MCGRATH RURAL AND LIVESTOCK MAGAZINE
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e’re entering an important time for rural communities; a time when people, more than ever, want expert guidance amidst changing conditions. Against the backdrop of the exceptional 2020-22 farming seasons, McGrath’s Rural and Livestock service o�fering to sellers and buyers - both commercial and private – grew exponentially. We welcomed exceptional rural and livestock specialists to the McGrath Rural and Livestock network over the period. Indeed, we became one of the fastest-growing rural property and livestock networks in Australia. More recently, we’ve grown in a similar fashion. Our unique service o�fering to clients has spawned new McGrath o��ices in the Riverina (Temora, Wagga Wagga, Narrandera and a satellite agency at Leeton) and expansion of existing operations in the NSW Central Tablelands (our Mudgee-based specialists added Rylstone and Lithgow operations to their o�fering), and Upper Hunter (Muswellbrook) while Bathurst is now part of the Orange and Molong group of o��ices. From the Victorian Alps to Central Queensland, the connections and knowledge of our on-the-ground teams, combined with the innovative systems and marketing of our national network, have enabled McGrath Rural and Livestock’s clients to make informed decisions that suit their own objectives. Our clients also bene�it from the collaboration of our rural teams in key
markets. When someone entrusts their property or livestock strategy to a McGrath rural specialist, they bene�it from an integrated network that delivers exposure to more buyers and sellers. The diversity of our markets – from hilly grazing regions to broadacre plains, rolling macadamia farmlands and lifestyle destinations and everything in between – means we have the experience to support the needs of the spectrum of clients. As we transition to new economic times and changing weather conditions, our service o�fering will become more important for our clients. Our insights, proven marketing tools and widereaching connections will help our clients navigate emerging conditions. Uniquely, beyond our rural-based specialists, being part of the McGrath network means we have access to our metropolitan agencies who enjoy strong relationships with city- based clients. The dream of owning their own slice of rural life – whether that’s a hobby farm, AirBnB investment, rural retreat with a boutique vineyard or freehold bushland suitable for dirt-bike camps – has remained strong amongst city-buyers, ever since the pandemic made lifestyle a greater priority among Australians. This spring season, ensure your rural property or livestock move supports your personal objectives. Talk to your McGrath Rural and Livestock specialist to understand how our market knowledge, insights and far-reaching connections can deliver a premium outcome in changing conditions.
REGIONS GROW ON THE BACK OF GOVERNMENT PUSH
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overnments have encouraged migration to rural and regional areas to simultaneously ease congestion and demand for services in the cities while strengthening the economic and social fabrics of towns. Recent population data shows Regional NSW’s population grew faster than Greater Sydney (0.9% compared to 0.7%, respectively) over 2021-22 while in Victoria, regional areas kept pace with Melbourne (1.1% growth) over the same period. Digital advancements driven by Covid freed the shackles on the o��ice desk, allowing many people to work or contract remotely. Others have simply packed-in city life and pursued employment and business ventures in the regions. Through collaboration between McGrath’s Rural and Livestock network and its city and coast-based o��ices, rural sellers have been matched with buyers seeking to both relocate to country life or �ind a weekender to escape to.
While the pandemic ignited the appeal of country towns, it’s the ongoing delivery of amenities to support rural lifestyles that will maintain the heat in the tree change movement. The NSW Government has proposed a number of Special Activation Precincts (SAP) outside of Sydney. The Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct is one such initiative aiming to bring housing, schooling and new recreational facilities to Jindabyne and surrounding Alpine areas to support a year-round economy. The population in the Alpine communities is expected to grow threefold to almost 20,000 in the scheme. “At the moment, Jindabyne has a 16-week economy over the ski-season where rents sky-rocket for workers and then everyone leaves town,” said McGrath Snowy Mountains Principal Shannon Fergusson.
“The Precinct aims to establish a year-round economy with a big focus on sports training, education and recreation.” The additional infrastructure – including a brand-new school – will bene�it the surrounding Monaro agricultural communities, capitalise for producing some of the hardiest cattle and sheep breeding stock in the country. “Having improved infrastructure and business investment nearby will be bene�icial. Having a year-round economy also has the potential for farmers to diversify into other income streams like farmstays and farm tours, capitalising on improved visitation,” said Mr Fergusson. “Summer visitors might go mountain bike-riding for a few days around Jindabyne and then venture out for a farm experience feeding the cattle or to see how honey is made.”
Decentralisation of services has been a popular and e�fective way for governments to support regional economies. Ballarat received one of the Victorian Government’s GovHub developments with the $100m project supporting an additional 600 jobs across various departments including VicRoads and Regional Development Victoria. NSW’s Department of Primary Industries has been based in Orange for three decades. In late 2020, it moved to a state-of-the-art $75m o��ice building on the former Orange hospital site in Prince Street alongside other departments. The building houses 700 sta�f making it one of the biggest employers in the Central West.
Job creation and infrastructure has been a feature of the Central West over the last two decades as more people leave Sydney. The current Base Hospital emerged from the GFC as a major drawcard for relocation with Sydneybased medical specialists opting to take up the region’s more a�fordable, rural lifestyle while still being able to continue their careers in a quality facility (the hospital’s oncology unit is regarded as the premier facility west of the Blue Mountains). “A lot of specialists have moved out this way since the Base Hospital came online and now you have the multi-storey Bloom�ield Precinct with medical suites, conference facilities, allied health, a motel and chemists based there,” said McGrath, Orange, Molong and Bathurst Principal Josh Fitzgerald.
“Good quality health facilities help attract specialists, but they are really important for buyers when they’re considering whether they should move to an area, as well. Whether you have young kids or are approaching retirement, everyone needs good access to medical support.” McGrath’s Rural and Livestock network has been helping sellers capitalise on the migration to the regions through premium sales outcomes. Contact your local rural specialist today to �ind out how your property is placed in the market.
EQUINE PROPERTIES REMAIN IN-DEMAND
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reeders, bloodstock agents and thoroughbred owners arrive from all over the world for Australia’s spring racing calendar. From the TAB Everest Day at Randwick – its $20m headline event has become the richest turf race in the world – to Caul�ield, Moonee Valley and Flemington’s showpieces, stud and spelling farms that are responsible for winners can have their stocks surge over the spring.
Thoroughbred breeders from the UAE (Godolphin and Emirates Park) and Ireland (Coolmore) base their Southern Hemisphere operations in the Upper Hunter. The international operators are drawn to the area’s features which make it conducive to breeding: a gentle topography, temperate climate, good rainfall and high-quality alluvial soil which supports horse bone and muscle development in the paddock.
Governments are supporting the economic value of the thoroughbred industry in rural and regional areas that play a central role in the racing community.
The team at McGrath Upper Hunter has accumulated decades of experience in stud and bloodstock sales and is excited how the investment will propel the local industry.
In the Upper Hunter, Racing NSW and the NSW Government has invested signi�icant capital to transform the Scone racetrack into Regional Centre for Excellence for Racing. A new Polytrack and on-course development of 300 new stables are the key features of the transformation.
“Having 300 horses in work means a lot more are out spelling, so the outlook for properties for stud development – and those that have existing infrastructure is very positive,” said Managing Director Michael Burke.
The Government is contributing $20m and Racing NSW $15m to the project.
“We expect we’ll see further consolidation of the racing and breeding industry, locally, which is already third the largest in the world outside of Kentucky and Newmarket.
“A lot of this consolidation will occur in the more condensed clusters around Scone, Denman and Jerrys Plains.” Rural lifestyle real estate with equine improvements are some of the most keenly-contested properties in the Upper Hunter during the traditional spring selling season, said Mr Burke. “There’s always healthy interest for properties with a quality homestead, reliable water and good paddocks. It’s a lifestyle that’s always in-demand.” Victoria’s high country is also a popular market for equine properties with the region – the backdrop to the iconic The Man From Snowy River - one of Australia’s most celebrated trail-riding areas. The track linking Craig’s Hut at Mount Buller with the Howqua Valley is on the wish-list of trail enthusiasts from around Australia. McGrath Mans�ield Principal Kate McDougall is a keen horse rider, herself, and a specialist in equine property sales in the region.
“There are equestrian properties through the area for all-round use – English, Western and breeding,” said Mrs McDougall. “There’s a strong concentration of properties with equine improvements around Merrijig, at the base of the mountains. “Three-day eventing is very popular around here and having the connection to the Hume Highway less than an hour away makes travelling for competitions in Albury or Werribee and other areas a bit easier.” Even before Covid, there was a movement of rural lifestyle buyers from the Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley heading to the High Country. The pandemic accelerated the trend, Mrs McDougall said, with people selling and moving to the quieter High Country, �inding more land for their horse interests while still pocketing pro�its. As much as eighty-percent of enquiries for equine properties have come from buyers out of the Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley, Mrs McDougall said.
Commonly, buyers are seeking opportunities to complement their recreational activities with some smallscale production, seeking enough space to run some cattle or sheep alongside their horse paddocks. “They’ve been after a broad-range of lifestyle properties here: anything from �ive to 500 acres with loose boxes, arenas and good fencing. Entry level properties are around $1m with the premium rural lifestyle listings attracting up to $10m.” McGrath’s Rural and Livestock network enjoys far-reaching connections through the equine communities and experience marketing properties with horse improvements. Contact your local specialist today to discuss you buying and selling needs.
FARMING AND THE ROAD TO NET-ZERO
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arbon farming can be a divisive issue in rural markets. While Australia’s carbon scheme can o�fer passive revenue streams for landowners, turning over farmland for non-traditional purposes can impact jobs, with the economic and social loss felt in surrounding communities. Nonetheless, there’s no denying the fact the non-traditional agricultural practice is gaining pro�ile as the Australian Government commits to a net-zero emissions target by 2050. Australia’s rural and regional communities are home to almost 1300 ACCU (Australian Carbon Credit Unit) projects, according to Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Carbon farming involves implementing sustainable agricultural techniques to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into soil and vegetation. Farmers earn carbon credits which can be sold on the carbon market or to companies looking to o�fset their emissions. This extra revenue can provide �inancial stability in the face of �luctuating commodity prices and weather-related challenges.
Re-positioning part or all of a property for carbon farming obviously requires a lot of research, planning and approvals. Farmers must identify and plan the speci�ic carbon farming project they want to undertake, such as reforestation, a�forestation, reduced tillage, or other eligible practices. Landowners need to consult an approved adviser to ensure the chosen project aligns with the methodologies and regulations under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), which governs the carbon farming sector. Experts then measure and verify the carbon bene�its of the project – collecting baseline data, implementing the project, and quantifying emissions reductions and carbon sequestration. The CSIRO o�fers more information on these details. The Clean Energy Regulator (CER), is the governing body overseeing the ERF and registers all carbon farming schemes. After successful veri�ication, farmers can generate carbon credits based on the project’s emissions reductions and carbon sequestration. Carbon credits can be listed for sale on the carbon market either directly or through brokers.
A signi�icant amount of compliance and reporting is needed for projects to continue. Considerable scale in the operation is also needed to make carbon farming viable over their crediting period. These projects generate economic returns that cover their risks. However, aggregation may enable smaller landholders to form partnerships to make a larger project, or a larger landholder to have multiple methods active on the one farm to deliver a single carbon project for the purposes of reporting and auditing. In both instances, aggregation can enable economies of scale in implementation and administration. If you’re considering carbon farming as part of your ongoing operation, contact an approved adviser to better understand if it’s the right strategy for you. Alternatively if you are seeking advice on seeking aggregation with other landowners or connecting with buyers, contact your McGrath Rural and Livestock specialist.
Our McGrath Rural & Regional Our McGrath Rural & Regional Specialists Specialists
Adam Woods Central Tablelands Adam Woods 0409 721 703 Central Tablelands Lifestyle Property Specialist 0409 721 703 Lifestyle Property Specialist
Scott Inglis Central Tablelands Scott Inglis 0407 911 375 Central Tablelands Grazing & Lifestyle Property 0407 911 375 Specialist Grazing & Lifestyle Property Specialist
Lucas Sheppard Central Tablelands Lucas Sheppard 0498 777 477 Central Tablelands Lifestyle Property Specialist 0498 777 477 Lifestyle Property Specialist
Stewart Adlington Central Tablelands Stewart Adlington 0400 890 432 Central Tablelands Broadacre, Grazing, Intensive Ag, 0400 890 432 Water Trading, Lifestyle & Broadacre, Grazing, Intensive Ag, Subdivision Specialist Water Trading, Lifestyle & Subdivision Specialist
Scott Petersen McGrath Orange Scott Petersen 0408 583 099 McGrath Orange Broadacre, Grazing, Cropping & 0408 583 099 Lifestyle Property Specialist Broadacre, Grazing, Cropping & Lifestyle Property Specialist
Craig Pellow Riverina Craig Pellow 0428 780 219 Riverina Broadacre, Grazing, 0428 780 219 Dryland/Irrigated Farming & Broadacre, Grazing, Livestock Production Specialist Dryland/Irrigated Farming & Livestock Production Specialist
Andrew Pellow Riverina Andrew Pellow 0488 226 135 Riverina Broadacre & Lifestyle Specialist 0488 226 135 Broadacre & Lifestyle Specialist
Lachlan Pellow Riverina Lachlan Pellow 0488 226 135 Riverina Broadacre & Lifestyle Specialist 0488 226 135 Broadacre & Lifestyle Specialist
Jason Haines Riverina Jason Haines 0488 594 450 Riverina Broadacre, Water Trading, 0488 594 450 Dryland/Irrigated Farming, Dairy Broadacre, Water Trading, & Livestock Production Specialist Dryland/Irrigated Farming, Dairy & Livestock Production Specialist
Shannon Fergusson Snowy Mountains Shannon Fergusson 0429 788 143 Snowy Mountains Broadacre & Lifestyle Property 0429 788 143 Specialist Broadacre & Lifestyle Property Specialist
Anne Stone Southern Highlands Anne Stone 0414 457 868 Southern Highlands Lifestyle Property Specialist 0414 457 868 Lifestyle Property Specialist
Stuart Davies Camden Stuart Davies 0412 945 954 Camden Equine, Grazing, Lifestyle & 0412 945 954 Subdivision Specialist Equine, Grazing, Lifestyle & Subdivision Specialist
Greg Vincent Hawkesbury Greg Vincent 0410 526 904 Hawkesbury Equine & Lifestyle Property 0410 526 904 Specialist Equine & Lifestyle Property Specialist
Chilli Bromage Hunter Valley Chilli Bromage 0414 865 859 Hunter Valley Lifestyle Property Specialist 0414 865 859 Lifestyle Property Specialist
Michael Burke Upper Hunter Michael Burke 0429 692 454 Upper Hunter Equine, Broadacre & Grazing 0429 692 454 Specialist Equine, Broadacre & Grazing Specialist
Bill Johnston Ballina/Lennox Head/Alstonville Bill Johnston 0422 820 048 Ballina/Lennox Head/Alstonville Lifestyle Property Specialist 0422 820 048 Lifestyle Property Specialist
Kate McDougall Mansfield Kate McDougall 0419 303 515 Mansfield Equine, Broadacre & Lifestyle 0419 303 515 Property Specialist Equine, Broadacre & Lifestyle Property Specialist
Sam McDougall Mansfield Sam McDougall 0475 235 669 Mansfield Broadacre & Lifestyle Property 0475 235 669 Specialist Broadacre & Lifestyle Property Specialist
Matthew Edwards Ballarat Matthew Edwards 0401 728 881 Ballarat Lifestyle Property Specialist 0401 728 881 Lifestyle Property Specialist
Scott Kennedy-Green Head Office Scott Kennedy-Green 0412 016 014 Head Office Chief Auctioneer & Head of 0412 016 014 Rural Chief Auctioneer & Head of Rural