COOL, clean and clear drinking quality water runs through Clear Springs and Rippling Water, 7159 hectares of renowned grazing country in the Upper Murray. But even better than being pure, the water is constant- Coppabella Creek, which meanders through Clear Springs continued to run last summer and Rippling Water is safe guarded by six new spring fed dams each holding four megalitres.Lankeys Creek, Horse Creek and Munderoo Creek all help to ensure that the properties, in a generally secure area of 810 to 860 millimetres average yearly rainfall, are protected. V.L. Pastoral Company acquired Clear Springs in 1997, adding it to Rippling Water, held by the company since 1988 to create the cattle finishing operation in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains, 15 kilometres from Jingellic, NSW and 110km from Albury, NSW.The properties share a continual boundary and each have the infrastructure to run sheep or cattle with combined capacity of 60,000dse. Improvements include large modern under cover cattle yards, a second set of steel cattle yards, portable cattle yards, six stand woolshed, four stand woolshed, sheep yards, five haysheds, two silos, machinery shed with workshop, stables and sundry shedding. Manager, Martin Veall, has back grounded 6000 steers “with ease” and advises the previous owners, Australian Mercantile Limited Finance ran 15,000 cross ewes and fat lambs on Rippling Water along with cattle.This year 1500 pure Angus cows will calve to Wagyu bulls in the kind rolling creek flats both properties offer. The Wagyu calves, bound for the Japanese market, are grass fattened in the open valleys where there are currently 1600 yearlings running. These valleys rise to rolling hills and steeper timbered country, including 780ha of radiate pine plantation on Rippling Water. “It’s good cattle country, there’s no question- in a normal spring year it’s more a question of having enough stock to eat all the grass,” Mr Veall said. Pasture improvement, coupled with sound fertiliser history, has been ongoing and comprises perennial ryegrass, phalaris, cocksfoot, fescue and clovers on the improved country. “This is a renowned cattle area, in an average year we don’t feed out and spring here is normally very kind,” he said. “Rippling Water, being 600-800 feet higher than Clear Springs, provides an extended growing season of one month at its highest point, meaning the two properties complement each other well,” Mr Veall said. The properties are fenced into 70 big paddocks with internal roads for ease of management. There are three centrally located houses on each property- once the population of employees at Clear Springs warranted a school bus run- including a four bedroom weatherboard house on Rippling Water and five bedroom manager’s residence at Clear Springs. But the real gem is the Clear Springs homestead. Built in 1989, the Georgian style homestead is nestled deep in the property and takes in expansive views of the valley beneath. Four bedrooms, (two in a self contained guest wing), formal living, dinning and drawing rooms and country style kitchen all take in the formal gardens with in ground pool and picturesque pastoral outlook. Agents expect the property will make in the vicinity of $20 million plus. “Clear Springs and Rippling Water is regarded as one of the leading pastoral holdings of south eastern Australia. Seldom do quality Upper Murray station holdings of this calibre and scale become available,” Tim Gladman, Landmark, said. Tender closes November 28, available as a whole or individually. Contact Landmark agents Tim Gladman, 0418 131 638 or Brian Liston, 0428 931 894.
