"CWMAVON" has been farmed by the family since 1950 and showcases what can be achieved by over a century's careful management of farmland with the goal of sustainable high productivity balanced with solid landcare objectives.
Located at the junction of Twolganup Brook and the Pallinup River where rolling hill paddocks are interspersed with fertile river valleys and the Stirling Ranges form a picturesque southern backdrop the farm is approximately 13 kilometers by main road from the town of Gnowangerup.
Central to the farm is a comfortable three bedroom homestead is set in a picturesque location well back from the road and surrounded by reticulated lawn and native shrub garden beds. Originally constructed circa 1918 and consisting of four rooms built from stone and iron the home grew as the property was developed. Major extensions were undertaken around 1930 and the home has been lovingly cared for ever since with renovations continuing up until recently with the completion of a new bathroom.
A full compliment of farm buildings appropriate for a property of this scale are situated a respectable distance from the homestead and range from older structures in solid condition through to the near new large capacity machinery and workshop sheds. The workshop is large, light and open with numerous power and air sockets and extensive workbench space. The machinery shed features a drive through design with high clearance to accommodate large farming equipment. The current shearing shed is the third to be built on the property since clearing commenced and features a traditional four stand layout with steel bugle shaped sheep yards adjacent to the shed.
Like many properties in the region the balance between livestock and cropping enterprises has varied over the years with the current mix being in the order of 65 percent crop and 35 percent sheep by area.
Regular soil testing and appropriate fertiliser and lime applications have been carried out for many years now and the latest tests show nutrient levels are high. Fertiliser is routinely applied to both crops and pastures with many paddocks having been re-sowed to clover and medic based pasture as they come out of a crop rotation phase. Careful management of the paddocks in pasture years contributes to a low weed burden when under crop as well as the obvious grazing benefits.
Crop rotation and yield figures including yield mapping are available and benchmarking of the property by a leading farm management consultancy shows the property to be performing above many farms in the region on a rainfall to production basis.
Landcare objectives on the property have included fencing off remnant vegetation along rivers and creeks, installation of drainage lines, strategic tree replacement program, meticulous weed control regime in creek lines, riverbanks and vegetated areas and ongoing monitoring of ground water levels and soil health.
Water supplies for spraying and homestead use consist of extensive rainwater storage in tanks fed from roof catchments and piped around buildings and yards. For stock numerous dams have been installed across the property, many of which are linked together with drains feeding overflow from one dam to the next thereby harvesting as much runoff as possible. Two key tanks have been built on the highest point on the farm from where water is piped to troughs as backup for the system of dams and drains. It would take a very dry year indeed for the sheep on CWMAVON to go thirsty.
2018 is shaping up to be yet another good year on this Great Southern property that has enjoyed so many good seasons over the years. 2019 is expected to be the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the farm when new owners guide the property toward a bright future built on the foundation of sound past management practices.
The property will be auctioned at 11.00am on Friday 14Th September 2018 at the Gnowangerup Bowling Club.
