Welcome to Ukerbarley

This unique property is situated in the Coonabarabran district adjoining part of the Pilliga Nature Reserve. It comprises 1472 hectares (approximately 3600 acres) of unrestricted freehold land. In shape it is about 6 km long (North/South) and from 1 – 4 km wide. It is located approximately 6 km from Coonabarabran on a good bitumen road, the Baradine Road. We have owned and run it for nearly 30 years.

We brought up our children on the property but now wish to retire. We have no intention of leaving this delightful and interesting part of New South Wales but will relocate within the area.

The Best of Both Worlds - Climate and Topography

The altitude combined with clear skies lead to a climate which is generally pleasant. Summers have hot days but cool nights, and winter nights are often frosty followed by warm wintry days.

Over the past 20 years, rainfall has averaged 750 mm per year and ranged from 375 mm to 925 mm. Rainfall is most abundant in summer but most reliable in winter.

Ukerbarley is composed of high Jurassic sandstone hills dissected by 3 fertile valleys which join at the northern end. There are secondary valleys and hollows. Extensive wetlands are fed by a number of permanent springs and creeks where the main valleys meet. The property also encompasses fertile flat plains and valley floors with sandy loam soils. Some areas have been cleared and farmed while others remain uncleared.

The sandstone escarpments contain structures that accommodate rare fauna species. The uncleared areas are very uncommon in the bioregion. Woodlands provide important habitat for many species.

Permanent Water – Farming and Grazing

While the property is now running only about 50 cattle, we have, in the past, run more cattle and an additional 2000 medium/fine-wool merino sheep as well as cropping. Grazing occurs in the open grassland and throughout the open woodland areas. The present reduced stocking rate has led to an increase in the number and diversity of native grasses in the open areas.

Throughout the recent drought the cattle were run without the need for supplementary feeding or any problems with water availability.

Farming of cereals, sunflowers and lupins has been carried out in the past.

A Special Place - Aboriginal Heritage

Ukerbarley is unique in possessing a huge diversity of Aboriginal site types in a compact area. These include paintings, petroglyphs, grinding grooves, children's hand stencils, camp sites, ochre sites and a burial among other things. There has been no white vandalism of the sites.

Additionally there are many artifacts still on site including wooden fire sticks and a witjuti grub stick.

Business Potential - Ecotourism Venture

By agreement with the local Kamilaroi people, we have conducted tours of the diverse Aboriginal sites for about 8 years. This has been very low-key without major promotion but has strong potential for expansion.

Since the middle of 2003 we offer regular half-day tours to Oz Experience Backpackers who have recently begun staying in the area overnight. This has started to provide a steady and increasing income as word has spread of the enjoyable and educational experience.

We expect that any purchaser would be able to continue the venture.

The valuation was made before these regular tours.

We have also obtained approval from Council for a Development Application for 4 eco-cabins and there would be no problem in obtaining approval for an additional 8 cabins plus bunkhouse accommodation. This approval continues until the end of 2006.

Exceptional Diversity – Flora and Fauna

Between 13 November and 19 November 2001, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service surveyed six 2.5 hectare sites located on Ukerbarley. This was part of a wider survey of North West NSW.

"The survey found Ukerbarley to be exceptionally diverse amongst the properties surveyed, with 515 vertebrates from 139 species recorded, including 10 threatened species," said the survey report.

Birds

Of the total of 61 bird species observed, 6 are threatened. The Masked Owl and Turquoise Parrot are threatened by habitat clearance. The Brown Treecreeper, Grey-crowned Babbler, Diamond Firetail and Speckled Warbler require woodland with well-developed understorey.

The following woodland decliners were also found - Eastern Yellow Robin, Rufous Whistler, Varied Sitella, Crested Shrike-Tit, Emu and Jacky Winter.

A further 60 species of birds have been observed during visits by experienced ornithologists. A full bird list is available.

Mammals

A total of 55 individual mammals from 21 different species were identified during the survey. Of these, 4 species are listed as threatened.

The survey observed nine microbat species. Many of the forest bats roost during the day in the abundant tree hollows and under loose bark. Roosting sites for the Eastern Horseshoe Bat and the Large Pied Bat, a vulnerable species, were found. This is the western extremity of both their distributions. Fewer than 5 current roosting locations throughout Australia are known for the Large Pied Bat. The Greater Long Eared Bat was also an important find as very little is known about this vulnerable species.

The property also displayed high diversity and density of tree-dwelling possums and gliders. The presence of Feather-tailed Gliders and Squirrel Gliders, a vulnerable species, is probably related to the existence of enough tree hollows and nectar-bearing plants.

The Koala was also observed. It is listed as vulnerable but is not uncommon in parts of the bioregion.

The sighting of a Wombat was also significant because they are rarely observed this far west.

Four species of macropods were recorded.

Reptiles and Frogs

The total of 27 species of reptiles and frogs was exceptionally high. These included the spectacular Bandy Bandy Snake, Burton's Legless Lizard, the Northern Pobblebonk Frog and the Warrumbungle sub-species of the Black Rock Skink.

Flora

A flora survey of the fauna survey sites conducted in drought conditions recorded over 100 plant species, 30% greater than the number recorded for the similar survey in the Warrumbungle National Park.

One threatened plant species, Persoonia cuspidifera, was recorded, and there are relatively undisturbed areas of the Endangered Ecological Community, grassy white box woodland.

The varied topography and soil types, permanent wetlands and springs and relatively undisturbed woodlands and open grasslands all contribute to the rich floral diversity.

Improvements

The comfortable 3 – 4 bedroom split level house is located in the north-west corner of the property. We built it and it is a timber-framed fibro dwelling with wide verandahs on three sides and a corrugated iron roof. The floors are timber. While it was not originally designed with energy efficiency in mind, overall it works well.

There are a 2-stand shearing shed and sheep yards near the house and pioneer style sheds and combined sheep and cattle yards about 2 km from the house.

The area is well-fenced and has a number of small dams in addition to the springs.