Welbon, situated in the highly fertile north west slopes and plains of NSW, has had a long history in the Carrigan family with Alexander Carrigan purchasing the property which included 8,000 sheep, from the Scottish Land Co in 1923. Chris Carrigan increased the area in 1985 with the purchase of the adjoining Duravale and then part of Gilbunna in 1988 to bring it up to the total of 4,784.5ha (11,822.5ac).
Up to 50% of Welbon has been farmed mainly for winter cereals and fodder which was incorporated with sheep and cattle production. In more recent years it has been utilized as a grazing operation.
With the advent of no-till farming and the moisture storing capabilities of soils in the Garah area, farming has diversified to include summer crops such as cotton and sorghum as well as the standard winter cereals of wheat, barley, durum, chickpeas, faba beans and canola.
At present Welbon has a large body of dry feed and is conservatively stocked with the last shearing tallies reaching 8,500 head.
Position, Land & Topography
Welbon is situated 19 km from Garah & 41km from Moree. The access is bitumen to within 1km of Welbon, with the remainder being a good gravel road.
The property is predominately flat, with by the old scale, a fall of 1ft/mile from east to west. Wallon Creek runs along the southern boundary while the Gil Gil flows through the middle of Welbon, running into the Wallon on the western edge.
Soil types are predominately soft black/grey clays with a few small box ridges. Timber is mainly Belah, Brigalow, Wilga, Boonery and Box, with some Coolibah, shading areas along the waterways.
Grass cover is mostly Mitchell, of which three varieties are common, Bluegrass, as well as native medics. Lucerne has been utilised in earlier years including Barrell Medic.
Water & Rainfall
The water infrastructure on Welbon is extremely well planned allowing ease of management. All watering points are designed to allow a maximum of 1km travel for livestock to access water and, with slashed tracks to these points, making it even easier through heavily grassed areas.
The system is underpinned by the Careunga Bore Cap & Pipe Scheme which supplies water to a network of 34 x 17,000L concrete cup and saucer tanks as well as an additional 2 poly cup & saucer tanks throughout the property. This system provides a safe, fresh and reliable source of water through peak times.
In addition, there are 4 earth tanks, the Wallon Creek along the southern boundary and the Gil Gil Creek which flows through the middle of the property, providing some extensive water holes and fishing opportunities.
Water for the garden and the toilets is supplied from a pump station on the Gil Gil Creek (WAL 31209), which is a 5meg Stock and Domestic licence, and is equipped with a 240v Davey Jetpump.
Rainwater is stored in 8 tanks interconnected to the homestead and surrounding sheds, totalling approx. 135,000L of capacity.
The average annual rainfall at Welbon is 525mm (21inch), with the property being aided by beneficial flooding at times.
Homestead
The Welbon homestead still retains the grandeur of when it was built back in 1928 for the Carrigan family by Benjamin Wade and his group of tradesmen from Inverell. This 84 square homestead has stood the test of time and is a credit to the skills of those past carpenters.
The homestead consists of weatherboard construction with a near new colorbond roof which is fully insulated.
• 5 bedrooms
• 2 bathrooms
• 2 offices
• Kitchen
• Laundry
• Large ornate foyer
• Formal dining/ lounge room
• Butlers pantry
• Enclosed verandah including a dining and entertainment area
• 2 gauzed verandahs
• Climate control through 2 x evaporative air-conditioners, 3 x split systems, 5 x open fireplaces and ceiling fans throughout
• Adjoining - 2 bay carport
- 1.8m x 1.8m walk in coolroom
- Gazebo with spa bath
- 3m x 4m weatherboard garden shed
The house yard has an extensive garden and lawns sloping down to the waterhole in Gil Gil Creek.
An underground watering system maintains the house yard utilizing bayonet pop ups.
Woolshed, Yards & Fences
The Welbon woolshed has been renovated in recent times and retains the ability to shed 1,000 grown sheep. Renovations have been in the way of replacing pen floors with steel grating, renewing pen fences, count out pens and addressing overall ventilation and lighting.
The woolshed consists of 5 stands equipped with Heiniger overhead gear, a large wool storage area and an adjoining skillion. There is an ablution block (4mx 3m) which consists of 2 toilets and a wash basin connected to a septic system. The shearers quarters (15.5m x 6.6m) and separate kitchen/dining area (14m x 4.5m) require renovation but would be ideal for a farmstay facility.
There are 5 sets of sheepyards, all of steel construction scattered through Welbon to service livestock processing, with the main set being near the homestead allowing easy access off Dolgelly road and complimented by a sprinkler system to alleviate dust problems. One set of yards is beside the woolshed to allow processing off the board . All the yards have loading ramps.
Welbon is divided into 18 paddocks with a mixture of hingejoint, plain/barb and netting fences. Generally all paddocks are stockproof with it being a rarity to find a gate that doesn't swing.
Sheds & Grain Storage
Welbon has a mixture of infrastructure improvements which include:
• 2 x 72t aerated Sherwell silos
• 2 x 10t seed silos
• 1 x 20t seed silo
• 2 x 55t Lysaght flat bottom silos
• 12m x 40m steel frame & corrugated iron clad grainshed
• 9m x 12m steel frame & corrugated iron clad grainshed with a concrete floor
• 16m x 22m steel frame & corrugated iron clad grainshed/machinery shed with a concrete floor, sliding doors, pallet racking & 3 phase power
• 12m x 17m steel frame & corrugated iron clad storage shed with a skillion
• 8m x 20m, 3 bay workshop with steel frame & cladding, sliding doors, 3 phase power, work benches & LED lights. One bay has been concreted.
Rates
Moree Plains Shire Council $29,016 p.a
North West Local Land Services $3,520 p.a
Careunga Bore Water Trust $1,526.50 p.a.
Water NSW WAL 31209 $275.63 p.a.
Contact Ed Wisemantel for an Information Memorandum
Sale Details
Auction
Thursday 27th April 2023
11am
Moree Town & Country Club
7 Frome Street
Moree NSW 2400
Exclusive Agents
Ed Wisemantel
M 0423 070 103
E ed.wisemantel@raywhite.com
Ray White Rural Moree
157 Balo Street
Moree NSW 2400
