Wirradale

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Wirradale

Intro

Wirradale, a 10,000 acre freehold property, is located 45km west of the township Barraba, on the western edge of the Nandewar Range, midway between the major townships of Tamworth, Narrabri and Inverell.

It is a tranquil, private pocket of the outback, with high ridges and steep gorges flanking it to the east, Mt Kaputar National Park on the south and west, and our closest neighbours 10km to the north.

The property is unique and exclusive, situated on the southern end of the Mt Lindsay Plateau, in the shadows of an extinct volcano, Mt Kaputar. It subsequently benefits from its own extraordinary microclimate, with 40 inch average rains falling on rich volcanic soils to create a productive powerhouse alongside rich and varied native flora and fauna.

$E:\2010-03-25-1916-29\IMG_3567.jpg$ mustering the sheep

$E:\2010-03-25-1916-29\IMG_3542.jpg$ feeding the lambs

A commercial Dorper Cross herd of 6000 sheep is the predominant enterprise, breeding prime lambs for the domestic market. 2-300 beef cattle are also run depending on season. Other animals residing and working for a living here include camels (eco weed control), sheep dogs, alpacas (eco fox control), horses, chooks, pigs, milking cows and 1 pet goat! The management system is based around sustainable production with native pastures, and includes absolute minimal chemical input, rotational grazing and rest, maintenance of ground cover and designated pristine areas.

GEOGRAPHY

The dominant soil type is highly fertile volcanic black basalt, with areas of lighter grey loams. Vegetation is mostly silver top and red stringy bark, manna gum, apple box and kurrajong, with large areas of white box, yellow jacket and some pockets of ironbark and cypress pine. The understory is generally silver wattle, blackwood, hopbush and some areas of grasstrees.

Native animals are varied and abundant, including eastern grey kangaroos, black wallaroos, swamp wallabies, koalas, echidnas, possums, bats, 185 different bird species, lizards, frogs and snakes. Endangered animals, here but rarely seen, include the platypus, brush tailed rock wallaby, spotted quoll, regent honey eater and the Boorolong frog.

HISTORY

The mountains and valleys of Wirradale were formed about 17 million years ago when the Nandewar volcano erupted. Subsequent years of wind, rain and ice have fashioned the stunning landscape into what we see today, dominated by deep, narrow valleys, steep ridges, basalt outcrops and cliff edged lava terraces. Our elevation is 600-1000 meters, and on a clear day you can see right across the Liverpool and Breeza Plains to the Warrumbungle Range, over 400 km away.

The region was first inhabited by the Kamileroi native Australians, who followed a transient lifestyle, moving with the seasons up and down the ranges. The name “Barraba” in Kamileroi language means “camp by the riverbank”.

John Oxley explored the area in 1818, and was followed by squatters in the 1830s. Gold in the 1850s was followed by pastoralism up to the present day. Wirradale itself was taken up in the early 1900s and we are the third owners since that time.

The attractiveness of Wirradale stems from its privacy and seclusion, its dramatic and ever-changing scenery, and its serious but sustainable agricultural scale alongside large areas of pristine wilderness.

A great place to live, raise a family, and contribute to feeding the ever hungry world.