Deltroit Station	Mundarlo – Near Wagga Wagga NSW
Location Brochure Contact Agent Auction: Thursday 15th December 2011 INSPECTIONS By appointment only

Historic rural splendour combined with quality, versatility and scale – a pastoral powerhouse of eastern Australia
and long regarded as one of the finest properties on the South-West Slopes

This magnificent property is in a class of its own - combining exceptional homestead, grounds and amenities with an equally outstanding pastoral enterprise all within easy reach of either Sydney, Melbourne or Canberra.

• 2,545 hectares (6,290 acres) of outstanding balanced valley country with high performance perennial pastures, cropping areas on rich creek flats and beautiful undulating country having superb shade timber and an ironbark plantation.
• Exceptional sheep and cattle breeding and fattening country, estimated to carry in excess of 30,000 DSE, including cash crop and fodder farming.
• Excellent location: Midway between Sydney (409km) and Melbourne (474km) with easy access to the Hume Highway and Wagga Wagga airport (a comfortable 30 minute drive) with daily flights on Qantas Link and Regional Express to Sydney and Melbourne. Proximity to regional markets.
• Glorious and majestic Federation brick homestead built 1903, refurbished in 2000
  to an outstanding specification, retaining all important architectural features and ideal for contemporary living.
• Five bedrooms, three bathrooms, spacious entertaining areas, billiard room, study and deep verandahs, set in 15 acres of magnificent established gardens with lake, beautiful heated swimming pool and tennis court.
• Delightful air conditioned two bedroom, two bathroom self-contained guest accommodation in converted Coach House, and separate one bedroom guest/staff flat.
• Historic, stone-built, modernised four bedroom Cobb & Co. coaching inn, The Junction Hotel, dating from 1868.
• Excellent modern four bedroom Manager’s residence, and separate three bedroom Station Hand’s cottage.
• Well designed equestrian facilities.
• Two sets cattle yards, shearing shed and sheep yards, expansive laneway system.
• Outstanding stock water reticulation system – 46 dams, 61 troughs, windmills and equipped bores.
• Over 6km double frontage to reliable Hillas Creek.
• Extensive hay, grain and silage storage, together with machinery sheds and work shop.
• Infrastructure maintained to high standard.

History

Deltroit Station has always been regarded as one of the finest properties in eastern Australia.

Established in the 1860’s when settled by free English migrant, William Richardson, it was originally part of the famous run of nearby Yabtree.Three generations of the Richardson family developed Deltroit over 100 years, creating a magnificent commercial Shorthorn herd and fine wool Merino flock.

In 1963 Robert Kleberg, President of King Ranch, USA, who had long coveted the Deltroit Shorthorn that by now had won world-wide acclaim, purchased Deltroit and its entire herd for internationally renowned King Ranch Group. With the death of Kleberg, King Ranch sold all their Australian properties, including Deltroit in the late 1970s and the property was ultimately purchased by the present owners in 1990.

The Richardson family strategically accumulated adjoining land along the Hillas Creek to form today’s holding, which remains very much on the same footprint, with double frontage to Hillas Creek and incorporating the wide and fertile creek flats along the valley.

Additionally in 1880, the Richardsons purchased the charming stone-built coaching inn, The Junction Hotel, and its surrounding land that stands on Deltroit’s western boundary, along the Old Hume Highway (formally the Port Phillip Road).

Built by John Griffiths, a free settler from England who came to Australia in the Gold Rush, the hotel gained tremendous notoriety as a lively watering-hole and was once described as being a “lawless and uncivilized place”. The hotel closed in 1916 and ever since, has been used as accommodation for Deltroit employees.

Deltroit Station Homestead

Deltroit House

One of the finest examples of Australian Federation architecture, combining the very best of Old English and Gothic design, this exceptional single storey homestead is surrounded by 15 acres of beautiful, park-like gardens overlooking the picturesque Hillas Creek and the Deltroit lake.

Designed and built in 1903 by Sydney architect William Nixon, the homestead was described at that time by a contemporary journalist as being of “noble proportions” and “a perfection of architectural design”. An outstanding home of magnificent proportions and exacting standards, it includes features such as a steep slate roof, several small, decorative gables and a charming pentagonal corner bay window. Built entirely of red bricks made from clay found on the property, the homestead features several very tall chimneys, spectacular pressed metal ceilings and elegant marble fire places throughout.

Kitchen/Dining Area

The open plan design, with living areas flooded with natural light provide stunning views through the garden to the landscape beyond.

Following renovations in 1979 and 2000, the kitchen and dining areas have been skillfully added without disturbing the layout and architecture of the original homestead. A huge fireplace dominates this area which has been given a contemporary feel by the laying of magnificent exposed Jarrah wood floors.

Drawing Room

An elegant drawing room (also a modern addition) is accessed from the kitchen/dining area for easy entertaining. A central limestone fireplace and French doors throughout opening onto the verandah and a bay window with plantation shutters, gives this room a light, airy feel.

Study

Part of the old homestead, is the original kitchen which is now used as the study and den. Here the cast iron range is still intact and is a special feature of the room.

Importantly, the original section of the homestead remains structurally unchanged and includes;

Entrance Hall

The imposing entrance hall is spanned by three high arches with decorative plaster work.
All the main rooms in the homestead can be accessed from this central lobby.

Principal Bedroom

This magnificent master bedroom is of very generous proportions. It features two bay windows and expansive views east and southover the gardens, lake and the swimming pool. An ensuite bathroom adjoins.

Second Principal Bedroom

Also a very spacious room, with a charming and unusual pentagonal bay, looking south and west over the gardens and tennis court.

Further Bedrooms

There are three further bedrooms – one currently used as an office and another which was originally the main dining room,all of which have high ceilings and exceptional garden views.

Bathrooms

There are three large bathrooms (one ensuite) all beautifully designed and finished.

Billiard Room

The billiard room was originally designed as the morning room with views over the garden and lake.

External Features

The exterior of the homestead is equally magnificent. With a north-easterly aspect, it is encircled entirely by wide verandahs which keepthe house wonderfully cool in summer. The homestead and its setting evoke the grand era of Australian Federation and are the epitome of the pastoral ideal.

The homestead has an infloor ducted reverse-cycle air conditioning system with individual control zones.

Deltroit Gardens

The 15 acres of mature gardens are reminiscent of an English park and surround the homestead entirely.

Extensive irrigated lawns and huge English elm trees, planted over 100 years ago, amid native eucalypt and fragrant white cedar, create an oasis and sanctuary for both people and birds, especially in the
heat of summer. Large beds of white and cream roses, agapanthus, lavender, silver bush and peony,
give the garden an utterly romantic look. Star jasmine and gardenia add to the white colour
scheme and to the heady scent of the blooms.

On the south side of the garden, there is a beautiful 19 metre heated swimming pool, cleverly landscaped with slate and dark green glass tiles to blend with the surroundings. Also on this side is an “all weather” tennis court, shaded by mature elms. A large lake is home at various times to ducks, swans, pelicans and ibis.

Original Stables & Coach House

The original Stables and Coach House, set within the homestead garden have been fully renovated.

The Coach House has been converted to a stylish, air conditioned, self-contained guest house with two bedrooms, two ensuite bathrooms, a kitchen and sitting room. Adjoining is a self contained, air conditioned one bedroom guest/staff flat.

The Farm

Deltroit Station has rightly been described as one of the pastoral powerhouses of eastern Australia and ‘the pick’ of the properties on the South-West Slopes/eastern Riverina, combining quality, presence, versatility and scale. Its carrying capacity prowess emanates from a combination of superior soil types, fertility variance, favourable aspects and both a natural and a highly developed reticulated water system.

The Station today comprises 2,545 hectares (6,290 acres) of highly productive land, ranging from magnificent creek flats on both sides of the reliable Hillas Creek rising to well drained red and brown loam granitic soils in the undulating low hill country, most of which is easily accessed by vehicle.

The property has a significant coverage of beautiful shade timber, including yellow and white box, kurrajong and wattle. Approximately 130,000 natives have been planted and established since 1992.

There are approximately 1,300 ha of arable country, with a further 800 ha trafficable by direct drill. Nearly 50% sown to high performance perennial pastures - phalaris, sub clovers, ryegrass, cocksfoot, prairie grass, and lucerne, together with cropping country. Approximately 625 ha in the south west sector consist of improved annual pastures with a beneficial native base of microlaena, red grass and wallaby grass.

The Station has an excellent top dressing and fertilizer history with the whole property receiving 125kg/ha of Single Super in 2008 and all crops established with fertilizer. Much of the farming country has been limed.

Water is one of the features of the Station - with its 6.5km double frontage to the reliable Hillas Creek, 46 main dams and 61 troughs supplied with reticulated water from the creek and 7 operational bores. The system is integrated through two main 30,000 gallon concrete storage tanks located north and south of the creek. The property is strategically subdivided into approximately 64 main paddocks with an efficient 16km laneway system supporting ease of management.

Accommodation

Manager’s Residence

Built 1994. Large, spacious 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, home, in expansive
established gardens. Two car garage and storage/workshop area.

Overseer’s Residence (Cobb & Co. coaching inn)

The original Junction Hotel, and therefore steeped in the history of Deltroit – now a very comfortable 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home.

Station Hand’s Residence

Older style 3 bedroom, renovated, air conditioned weatherboard cottage.

General

Area

2,545 hectares (6,290 acres). Unrestricted freehold.

Paddocks

64 main paddocks (average size 39 hectares). Outstanding 16km laneway systems throughout.

Rainfall

650 mm (approx.) per annum

Operating Improvements

The Station has a complete and extensive range of operating improvements, with all infrastructures maintained to the highest standards.

Private airstrip

Livestock improvements include:-

• 2 sets of all steel cattle yards – north (capacity 400 head) and south (capacity 800 head) of Hillas Creek
• 5-stand electric shearing shed, with auto draft, steel sheep yards attached.

Equestrian facilities include:-

• seven box stables
• feed and tack rooms
• round yard
• dressage arena

Fodder and grain improvements include:-

• 9 silos – approx. 600 tonnes storage capacity
• 4,500 tonnes of pit silage capacity
• 4 hay sheds (capacity 800 large bales)
• Plant and machinery improvements include:-
• 2 large machinery sheds, workshop and store rooms

Carrying Capacity

Rated to carry in excess of 30,000 winter DSE, Deltroit Station’s enterprise
mix covers breeding and fattening Shorthorn and Angus cattle, fattening
lambs and carrying out a farming programme with fodder/cereal crops.

LOCATION