Rural Estate

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GUEST OBSERVER
Since the 19th century, Australian drovers have moved their livestock along networks of stock routes.
Often following traditional Indigenous pathways, these corridors and stepping-stones of remnant vegetation cross the heavily cleared wheat and sheep belt in central New South Wales.
The publicly owned Travelling Stock Reserve network of New South Wales is now under government review, which could see the ownership of much of this crown land move into private hands.
But in a study published today in the Australian Journal of Botany we suggest that privatising stock routes may endanger vital woodlands and put vulnerable species at risk.
The review will establish how individual reserves are currently being used. Although originally established for graziers, the patches of bush in the network are now more likely to be used for recreation, cultural tourism, biodiversity conservation, apiary and drought-relief grazing.
This shift away from simply moving livestock has put pressure on the government to seek “value” in the network.
The review will consider proposals from individuals and organisations to buy or acquire long-term leases for particular reserves.
It is likely that most proposals to purchase travelling stock reserves would come from existing agricultural operations.
Travelling stock reserves across New South Wales represent some of the most intact examples of now-endangered temperate grassy woodland ecosystems.
Our research found that changing the status or use of these reserves could seriously impact these endangered woodlands.
They criss-cross highly developed agricultural landscapes, which contain very limited amounts of remnant vegetation (areas where the bush is relatively untouched).
Travelling stock reserves are therefore crucially important patches of habitat and resources for native plants and animals.
This isn’t the first time a change in ownership of travelling stock reserves has been flagged.
Over the last century, as modern transport meant the reserves were used less and less for traditional droving, pressure to release these areas for conventional agriculture has increased.
To understand what a change in land tenure might mean to the conservation values of these woodlands, we spent five years monitoring vegetation in stock reserves in comparison to remnant woodlands on private farmland.
We found that travelling stock reserves contained a higher number of native plant species, more native shrubs, and less exotic plants than woodland remnants on private land.
The higher vegetation quality in travelling stock reserves was maintained over the five years, which included both the peak of Australia’s record-breaking Millennium Drought and the heavy rainfall that followed, referred to as the “Big Wet”.
The take-home message was that remnant woodland on public land was typically in better nick than in private hands.
Importantly, other studies have found that this high-quality vegetation is critical for many threatened and vulnerable native animals.
For example, eastern yellow robins and black-chinned honeyeaters occur more frequently in places with more shrubs growing below the canopy.
The contrast we saw between woodlands in travelling stock reserves and private land reflects the different ways they’re typically managed.
Travelling stock reserves have a history of periodic low-intensity grazing, mostly by cattle, with long rest periods.
Woodland on active farms tend to be more intensively grazed, by sheep and cattle, often without any strategic rest periods.
The uncertain future of travelling stock reserves casts doubt on the state of biodiversity across New South Wales.
The current review of travelling stock reserves is considering each reserve in isolation.
It flies in the face of the belief of many managers, practitioners and researchers that the true value of these reserves is in the integrity of the entire network – that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Travelling stock reserves protect threatened species, allow the movement of wildlife, are seed sources for habitat restoration efforts, and support the ecosystem of adjacent agricultural land.
These benefits depend on the quality of the remnant vegetation, which is determined by the grazing regime imposed by who owns and manages the land.
Of course, not all travelling stock reserves are in good condition.
Some are subject to high-intensity livestock grazing (for example, under longer-term grazing leases) coupled with a lack of funding to manage and enhance natural values.
Changing the land tenure status of travelling stock reserves risks increasing grazing pressure, which our study suggests would reduce ecosystem quality and decrease their conservation value.
The travelling stock routes are important parts of our ecosystem, our national heritage, and our landscape.
They can best be preserved by remaining as public land, so the entire network can be managed sustainably.
This requires adequate funding for the Local Land Services, so they can appropriately manage pest animals, weeds, erosion and illegal firewood harvesting and rubbish dumping.
Travelling stock reserves are more than just The Long Paddock – they are important public land, whose ecological value has been maintained under public control. They should continue to be managed for the public good.
Luke S. O'Loughlin is a research fellow at the Australian National University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/luke-s-oloughlin-183211" target="_blank">here</a>.
Damian Michael is an ecologist at the Australian National University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/damian-michael-409368" target="_blank">here</a>.
David Lindenmayer is a professor for The Fenner School of Environment and Society at the Australian National University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-lindenmayer-4848" target="_blank">here</a>.
Thea O'Loughlin is an ecologist and adjunct researcher at Charles Stuart University and can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/thea-oloughlin-407914" target="_blank">here</a>.
All are authors at The Conversation.
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Review of historic stock routes may put rare stretches of native plants and animals at risk

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Peter Higgins, the entrepreneurial mortgage broker and his wife Rebecca, have sold a small part of their Richmond Lowlands polo estate.
The sale was finalised just before the World Polo Championships, which kicked off on the weekend  at spectacular riverfront location.
There's speculation the UK Royals could turn up as Higgins, has remained in touch since he played polo with the princes in the UK.
Teams from Argentina, United Kingdom, New Zealand, India, Chile and Spain, and Australia will be competing.
The recently sold home, dubbed <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/7-ridges-lane-richmond-lowlands-nsw-2753" target="_blank">Hawkesbury House</a>, has been bought by champion polo player Hugh Parry-Okeden and his wife, Gendy, who are returning to the riverfront lane after about a decade's absence. 
They paid $4.3 million for the 12.3 hectare estate.
Given the timber master craftsman Parry-Okeden established the hardwood building company, Giddiup and his wife, Gendy was co-founder of Hickory Hill Home, the sleepwear and lifestyle brand,gthey no doubt they will makeover the five bedroom homestead.
It looks over the park-like surroundings and grazing paddocks which come with an Argentinian inspired stable block of eight. 
Higgins, who started playing polo in the early 1990s, starred 12 years ago on the entrepreneurial television investment show Dragons Den.
Higgins, a co-founder of Mortgage Choice, began to buy in the Windsor district in 2002, consolidating arounds 50 hectares of alluvial land overlooking the Hawkesbury River during the following six years.
In 2010 he was seeking $20 million for much of the estate when it was offered by veteran agent Bill Bridges in conjunction with Ryan Watsford.
He subsequently endeavoured to hold weddings on the expansive holding but in 2015 Hawkesbury City Council were taken to court by the nearby Marshall Rural Pty Ltd, aka as Kurri Burri Polo Club. 
The country estate with polo fields at the base of the Blue Mountains were featured in the opening scenes of Australian made blockbuster, The Great Gatsby.
No doubt holding of the world championship on the estate would enhance its cache among Chinese trophy estate acquirers. 
Cutcliffe Properties agent Paul Cutliffe sold Hawkesbury House which spent nearly 300 days on the market.
The Parry-Okedens had recently sold their heritage-listed home Ukamurra at Cattai on the Hawkesbury River.
The sandstone home, which was bought for $1.5 million run down in 2008, fetched $7.3 million last year when sold to a company headed up by a syndicate of Chinese buyers.
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph.
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Polo offering in Richmond Lowlands sold by Peter Higgins

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Matt Handbury, the executive chairman of Murdoch Media and Clare Strang, are selling their 259 ha Southern Highlands retreat, Wattle Ridge.
They hope the Hill Top offering will fetch $10 million plus.
It was 2007 when the late Reg Grundy set the Highland's record price, paying $15 million for the 200-hectare Comfort Farm at Sutton Forest.
The Hill Top estate is on the less glamourous eastern lip of the Southern Highlands bounded on three sides by the Nattai National Park.
About half the estate retains its natural vegetation with trails through the bush to the escarpment.
There is a six-bedroom homestead, completed in 1998 in the American Georgian style by architect William Zuccon and with interior decoration by Thomas Hamel.
It is surrounded by 20ha of irrigated gardens, lakes and lawn. The grounds come with an all-weather tennis court, heated pool, dressage arena with two stables and a three-bedroom cottage for guest accommodation.
As a working farm its is capable of carrying 50 breeding cows and horses. 
The agents handling the sale, Meares &amp; Associates and Christies International Real Estate, said Wattle Ridge was one of the outstanding rural estates on the Southern Highlands.
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Wattle Ridge, Hill Top estate listed by Matt Handbury 

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Bellfield, a mixing farming property located 12 kilometres North of Dalby, a town in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, was sold on May 15.
It was sold by Roger Lyne and Andrew Kirtley from Ray White.
Positioned on a 2,012 hectares (approx 4,972 acres), <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/%20https:/www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-mixed+farming-qld-dalby-7931038" target="_blank">the 1251 Bunya Highway property</a> comes with 3,633 acres of cultivation over open downs soils and 1,309 acres of quality grazing for fattening or backgrounding.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/15/dalby%202.jpg" alt="">
The main homestead is circa 1900s and includes six bedrooms.
It also comes with six equipped bores and four earth dams to supply water to the property.
Other features include five cottages, sheds, silos, barns, two cattle yards and extensive stable complex. 
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Dalby mixed farming opportunity hits the market

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McCallum, an organic-style country homestead at Michelago, NSW, on a 720 hectare offering has been listed with $1.85 million to $2 million hopes.
Set on the doorstep of the highlands, the property is 54 kilometres from Canberra and 340 kilometres to Sydney.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-michelago-128192378" target="_blank">The sustainably-built residence</a> built by Robbie Wood and designed to harmonise with the natural landscape.
There's recycled timber and stone all sourced from the property plus part of the big old Cowra bridge.
A verandah with outdoor fireplace wraps around three sides of the home set around 1,100 metres at its highest point, with views extending down the valley to Mount Tenant. 
The main house consists of five bedrooms, four bathrooms, country style kitchen, library and several living spaces.
There is a two bedroom guest house with corrugated iron walls and polished concrete flooring.
The property has 900 juvenile olive trees.
The 759 Micalago Road Michelago home is listed through Leanne Palmer of Belle Property Kingston with offers due June 21.
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McCallum, an organic-style country homestead at Michelago for sale

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Yverdon a 15-acre estate located in Kangaloon is being auctioned in August.
It is expected to sell for over $3.75 million.
The Southern Highlands offering has been listed for sale through <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/1641-kangaloon-rd-kangaloon-nsw-2576" target="_blank">Knight Frank’s</a> Deborah Cullen and Richard Sholl. 
The home comprising four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a home office and media room, along with a mud room and a triple car, automatic garage.
According to Deborah Cullen, Yverdon is was the "perfect country getaway".
The holding includes an Olympic size dressage arena, four bay stabling with tack and feed rooms, three covered day yards and six grass paddocks.
The 1641 Kangaloon Road offering will go to August 9 auction.
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Kangaloon trophy estate set to go under the hammer

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Pepper Tree Creek Estate, one of Kangaloon's oldest properties, has been listed for sale.
The Southern Highlands country estate has hit the market with a reported price guide of $6.5 million.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/3/22/pepper%202.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi-rural-nsw-kangaloon-130694942" target="_blank">The 30 hectare property</a> was established in 1862, around the time the early settlers of Kangaloon and Robertson areas started purchasing land.
The stone cottage, old out buildings and dry stones walls, including the quaint dairy, would have been built during this time.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/3/22/pepper%203.jpg" alt="">
The property at 2128 Kangaloon Road last traded around a decade ago when the buildings were run down and derelict.
A team of landscapers, builders, horticulturalists and green keepers created Pepper Tree Creek Estate, which now features six hectares of gardens known as The Terraces.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/3/22/pepper%204.jpg" alt="">
The original stone cottage, made of stone mined from the property, has been converted into a three bedroom home.
The old dairy now homes a single bedroom which is the bridal suite when the estate hosts weddings.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/3/22/pepper%205.jpg" alt="">
The wide entry space and milking bays is now the open plan kitchen, dining and lounge area and the elevated room, where the milk, butter and cream was stored, is now the bedroom.
Di Jones Southern Highlands agent Kate McCullagh is marketing the property.
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