It's almost completely surrounded by water. With the Lachlan River and its tributary winding their way around them, Carranor and ajoining The Nook, have river banks to their north, south and west.
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Not surprisingly, the 225-hectare lucerne hay and lamb property just 15 minutes from Forbes in NSW's central west is blessed with deep alluvial soils and plenty of water.
Upstream of Jemalong Weir and the mountains, Carranor has a 267-megalitre general security irrigation water licence to top up the 500 millimetre average annual rainfall.
Johnston Rural Group agent Sam Johnston said the setting had all the beauty of a lifestyle property and all the productivity of a very commercial operation. It's so private, there's only 1.35 kilometres of shared boundary fencing.
"River and creek frontage is becoming increasingly sought after amongst buyers and is beginning to be viewed the same way that harbour frontage is in our cities," he said.
"These naturally beautiful waterways not only provide a magnificent environment to reside, but their commercial and production benefits are also being recognised due to their often undervalued free-watering seepage river and creek flats."
Aquifers close to the surface feed the deep lucerne tap roots and, just to leave no doubt about the reliability of any season, Carranor has 60ha developed for border check surface irrigation.
But vendors John and Jacki Milton don't take Mother Nature for granted: 100 hectares is protected by a licenced levee system and there are several flood mitigation developments across Carranor.
Owned and operated by the family for over 70 years, Carranor was originally part of the 16,000-acre Carrawobitty Estate owned by James Collits in the 1800s.
After World War II, roughly 17 parcels were carved out of Carrawobitty Estate for soldier settlement by the Australian Government.
Returned serviceman Nearden C. Milton was awarded those that now make up Carranor.
"John and Jacki Milton have made the tough, albeit timely and wise generational decision to offer their farm and long-term home for sale as they look to transition away from full-time farming," Mr Johnston said.
"Years of hard work, strategic planning and astute decision making is evident in the way Carranor presents physically, which is a testament to the couple and their ongoing teamwork."
Under their management, there has been a big focus on the renewal of fencing, flood mitigation and surface irrigation development, and prime lucerne hay and lamb production.
In a normal season, Carranor finishes 2000- 3000 lambs a year in conjunction with the commercial lucerne hay operation and annual cropping programs, Mr Johnston said.
From time to time, the property had also carried 50 head of cattle on an opportunistic basis.
Mr Johnston said almost all of the fencing had been renewed over the last 10 years.
Improvements include a three-bedroom brick house, two-bedroom weatherboard cottage, two hay sheds, two machinery sheds, workshop, shearing facility with adjoining sheep yards, stables, two sets of cattle yards and silo.
Although they will be offered for sale as a whole, the 160ha Carranor and 66ha The Nook are subdivided, providing a potential future exit strategy
Carranor and The Nook are being offered for sale as a whole. Expressions of interest close on May 12 and the price guide is $3.4-3.9 million for the land, water and fixed improvements.
Contact Johnston Rural Group agents Sam Johnston on 0412 896 602 or Gary Johnston on 0427 574 270.
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Marian Macdonald
Writing for farmers in the Stock & Land, The Land, Queensland Country Life, Stock Journal and FarmWeekly, farming in Gippsland.
Writing for farmers in the Stock & Land, The Land, Queensland Country Life, Stock Journal and FarmWeekly, farming in Gippsland.
