Junction Farm – The Meeting Place of Two Great Rivers

Total area: 981 hectares (2423 acres approximately)

An ideal location being only 15 kilometres to Launceston.
‘Junction Farm’ enjoys approximately 10 kilometres of prime river frontage on the Meander and South Esk Rivers. Expansive broadwaters offer recreational opportunities around every river bend.

FARM MANAGEMENT
Historically Junction Farm has been managed as a mixed livestock grazing property and under the current ownership has recently introduced a pivot irrigator to boost fodder crop production.
Over the past thirty years livestock enterprises have included—
Corriedale ewe flock for breeding dual purpose lambs.
First cross Border Merino ewes breeding second cross lambs for prime lamb meat trade.
Saxon Merino wether flock run for fine wool production.
Trading cross-bred lambs for the local Prime lamb market.
Breeding a self replacement Angus cow herd and turning off weaner calves for Tasmania’s autumn calf sales.

CROPPING
Crops which have been grown under dry land conditions include cereals, grass seed, peas, and poppies.
Green forage crops such as oats, hybrid rye grasses, and turnip and rape crops for livestock fodder.

These enterprises have been selected by managers of Junction Farm so as to maximise the versatile topography and soil types of the land in the Hadspen district.

IRRIGATION
A six span Bauer Pivot irrigator was installed in 2007. It covers 35 hectares, measures 336 mts in length and is serviced by 200mm class 6 pipe. The pump house, situated on the Meander River is connected to 3-phase power. A 6kw submersible Flygt’ pump lifts water into a 30 kW electric mono’ Gould pump to supply the pivot and a hillside reservoir from which livestock troughs are able to be gravity fed.
There is a 112.5 ML right from the South Esk River and a 22.5 ML right from the Meander River. Current water rights when renewed in 2011 will have a live span of 40 years. (a recent innovation as the previous licences had a 10 year validity)

In addition to these entitlements, Hydro Tasmania has indicated their willingness to make available surplus water to the Junction Farm property, if drawn from the South Esk River, down steam from the confluence with the Meander River. A new pump station would need to be installed and the water entitlement cost would be minimal. These privileges have been afforded to only a few farming operations due to their location at the extreme lower reaches of the river system.

LAND USE AND TOPOGRAPHY
Junction Farm’s four land titles lie on the northern and western banks of the Meander and South Esk Rivers. Commencing at the Westwood Road Bridge on the Meander, the country is of an open gently sloping terrain. A band of this arable land follows the river to where it meets the South Esk on a wide river bend. Soils are fertile alluvial deposits. At this point the country rises steeply from above the river into grazing runs and forested bush. There are paddocks for grazing accessed from a gravel road, which travels parallel with the South Esk, before opening up onto more rolling pastures. This area constitutes the largest grazing block at this end of the property and boasts approximately three kilometres single frontage to the river. Further centre pivot development could be attained for this area, utilising the aforementioned generous water entitlement from Hydro Tasmania.
The terrain and vegetation changes from this point into timbered bush and semi improved run country. Following weaning, cows would spend time on these native pastures alongside the population of fine wool Merino wethers.

HOUSING
The main homestead had been built for the owner of the time in 1983. It is of double brick construction and designed to capture views and natural light from its panoramic location. The home offers two large living rooms, a study, four bedrooms, two main bathrooms . All fittings and fixtures are of high quality including the refurbished Kitchen (2007). The complex boasts 6 spaces for vehicle parking, a storeroom, workshop, saddle room and horse yards — all set amongst established gardens.

A Managers cottage is of weatherboard construction and was renovated in 2005. It is located near the shearing shed (elevated, three stand), cattle yards (steel crush and panels) and other quality working facilities (five bay machinery shed and fertiliser storage).