Jack Martin adds NSW olive estate to portfolio
The Martin family, through the established feature-tree and premium horticultural business, Heritage Acres, has snapped up a 745-hectare Southern Tablelands olive farm.
Hopeful Ranch at 3326 Peelwood Road, Peelwood, spans three titles, with 460ha of grazing country with an estimated carrying capacity of 3100 dry sheep equivalents, rain-fed dams and 200,000 litres rainwater storage.
With about 4.5km of Cooksvale Creek frontage, there are also two dwellings, the main, an 1870s homestead with six bedrooms.
Colliers’ Nicholas Warmington and Adrienne Harvey represented the vendor, industry veteran Robert Armstrong.
Heritage Acres’ existing operation spreads 81ha at Currumbin Valley, 20 kilometres south of the Gold Coast.
The Martin family’s portfolio contains commercial and residential assets in Queensland, where it is based, and New South Wales.
End of an era
Mr Armstrong bought the property from his step-father in 1999, when it was a sheep farm.
The first Hopeful Ranch harvest was produced four years later, with the ALTO business going on to produce extra virgin olive oils and table olives that have won awards including the New York and Los Angeles International EVOO Competitions, Olive Japan and the Sydney and Melbourne Royal Fine Food Shows.
There are 15 olive varieties.
The business has also supplied to restaurants including Saint Peter in Sydney and Rockpool in Melbourne, as well as Canberra’s Parliament House.
The estate is 45km from Crookwell, 89km from Goulburn and 156km from Canberra.
With the sale, Mr Armstrong and his wife, Emilia, plan to move closer to the coast (continues below).
Heritage expands south
Heritage Acres business manager, Leon Bragg, said the acquisition gives the business a southern base,
“Hopeful Ranch is a rare asset – 20,000 mature olive trees across 15 high-performing varieties, with genuine provenance and a national reputation,” he added.
“It’s a natural extension of what Heritage Acres does best: supplying premium, mature trees with a story behind them,” according to the executive.
“This gives us a southern footprint and the inventory to service the Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra markets at the standard our clients expect”.
Exceptional grazing asset: agents
Mr Warmington said the combination of the olive operation, grazing country and water infrastructure generated buyer interest during the campaign.
“We’re pleased to see the property transition to Heritage Acres, who recognised the long-term value of this exceptional agricultural asset and the quality of its olive portfolio,” according to the executive.
Ms Harvey added the water infrastructure was an important part of the property’s appeal.
“The property also offers two unique residences that provide flexibility for owner occupation, staff accommodation or tourism opportunities, which was another feature that attracted strong interest,” she said.
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