An Oasis in South Australia Come to Market

The drought proof rural property ‘Spring Creek’, on the edge of South Australia’s beautiful Flinders Ranges, is coming to auction.

A welcome sight in tough agricultural times, the aerial view of this remarkable property appears as though an oasis; verdant green pastures of fodder and hay, giant red gums, and sleek Black Angus cattle ambling in the shade of magnificent old red gums.

The value in this 253.3 hectare property, 15km out of both Wilmington and Melrose, is it’s abundant and unrestricted water supply and reliable and versatile production capacity.

Vendor John Knight reflects on his father’s good decision to buy the property more than 40 years ago.

“We lived in Alice Springs. My Dad worked in the pump business and had a plane that he would fly all over. Every Christmas we’d all get in the six seater and fly down to Melrose to visit family.”

The view of the land, and the waterways which include the actual Spring Creek, appealed to the man who had spent his career finding water sources.

“In 1974, when this property came up, Dad bought it.” says Mr Knight.

The Spring Creek ‘floods out’ into the Spring Creek property, and below the land is the rich Willochra Basin underground springs. Although at the time, Mr Knight recalls there wasn’t much to see by the naked eye.

“It was a scrub block, with absolutely nothing on it,” says Mr Knight. However in 1982 his father, with the help of a teenage John and a ‘mate of Dad’s from the Territory, a real bushie,” started dropping the bores, seven in all, and the land and the lifestyle turned a corner.

The supply of water to this property is so plentiful that the term ‘drought proof’ is not hyperbole.

Ray White South Australia’s Geoff Schell says he expects widespread interest from across Australia , because of its outstanding water assets and ability to perform in all years when many other areas of the country are extremely dry.

“Spring Creek‘ would work so well with a pastoral property” he says,” because the property would be an ideal drought reserve for fodder production and to help retain valuable breeding stock. Thousands of tonnes of quality hay has gone north and into NSW from the Mid North region of SA over the last two years”

John and his wife Leanne Knight have been more than custodians of the property. They have developed and improved the property and livestock , while enjoying not only the success of their farming enterprise, but also the lifestyle, the community and the heritage of the area. They never tire of the majestic view of Mt Remarkable on their doorstep, or of the grandeur of the massive redgums. They feel a connection to the area, and the water that feeds it.

“In 1865,” says Mr Knight, “ a journal from the time reports a wool scouring business would be set up around Melrose 'because of a fine supply of water’. They set up the business and planted Mulberry trees at the same time. The trees are still there.”

The property is being sold without stock, the shiny Black Angus are moving out so the paddocks will be free for more cattle or indeed sheep on top of the hay and fodder crops. According to the Knights ‘Spring Creek’ may be a relatively small property, but it is very productive, versatile and easy to manage.

The fellowship of farmers is strong, and Mr Knight seems almost shy about boasting of his green pastures and successful business while in NSW he says “It’s been hellishly dry.”

But the hay from ‘Spring Creek’ has supported, and will continue to support properties around the country.

“There are a lot of properties that are gems in South Australia.” says Ray White’s Geoff Schell, “but Spring Creek is quite exceptional. There really are few properties like it.”

‘Spring Creek’ will be auctioned on Thursday 28 November, in the Melrose Town Hall

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HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES ARE HERE
PROPERTY LINK IS HERE

CONTACTS

Ray White South Australia
Daniel Schell
0415 436 379
Geoff Schell
0418 842 421

Ray White Media
Prue Miller
0402 102 887
media@raywhite.com