The local farming holding, easily recognised by its distinctive entry gates on the Northern Highway with the long avenue of established Lombardy poplars, is going under the hammer on Friday April 11 at 2 pm.

Initial expectations are for a sale in excess of $1.6 million.

Agent Peter Hawkins from Pat Rice & Hawkins said it is a property of scale, with a freehold area of 251 hectares, which is highly regarded by many in the district.

“The current owners have had the property for more than 10 years and in that time they have utilised it as a cropping property for wheat, oats and canola,” he said.

“It is such a magnificent Campaspe river frontage property; it is suited as a cattle stud or horse stud ideally.

“It has got a high reliability right to the river title which allows you to pump water for stock purposes so you have a water main right through the property and a permanent water supply.

“All improvements are noted for their quality and visual impact.

 “The local area is very tightly held by long established farming families while recent developments nearby include important thoroughbred and harness horse breeding enterprises.

“There are endless opportunities with Lombardy to create a new enterprise base to capitalise on the numerous physical features that are highlighted by the high quality land and a permanent water supply.

“The auction presents a unique opportunity to acquire a property holding that is a signature offering of the immediate north central area of Victoria.

 “Already we have had a lot of enquiries of interest.”

The property, which was previously an ostrich farm, includes two homes and a large multi-purpose feature building as well as steel cattle yards, an adjoining concrete fenced horse working area and a former shearing shed now used for storage plus a machinery shed.

The paddock subdivision includes four major cropping paddocks plus twelve horse paddocks and there is a 50 acre dry billabong treed area ideal for grazing.