Confidence in the district’s agriculture industry and the confirmation of the value of local farmland was firmly underlined with the result of the auction of Edgeroi property ‘Calatoota’ in Narrabri on and Thursday.

Calatoota changed hands after 73 years in the Campbell family.

“Some 18 different parties inspected Calatoota, with genuine interest from Queensland through to Victoria,” agent Michael Guest, Rural Property NSW, said.

“The auction, at the Tourist Hotel, was well attended and nine potential purchasers registered to bid.

“Bidding was competitive, but ultimately the Wannan family from Edgeroi prevailed and secured the property for $11.2 million.

“Both the Wannan and Campbell families are extremely happy with the result.”

Calatoota, comprising 872 ha (2154 acres) 17km north east of Edgeroi, has been owned by the Campbell family since 1947.

Calatoota was originally part of the huge Edgeroi Station, about 123,000 acres, when it was resumed for solider settlement in 1947.

At the time, the station was shearing up to 100,000 sheep annually as well as taking 1000 sheep to market every week.

Block 20 of the Edgeroi Station Soldier Settlement Scheme was drawn by Peter Campbell.

Peter had been a navy signalman on HMAS Cessnock during World War II.

He once recalled some of the highlights of his war service which included being aboard Cessnock, a corvette not noted for seagoing stability, during a violent typhoon in the South China Sea and was aboard Cessnock, anchored in Tokyo Bay, when the Japanese surrender was signed on the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945.

Peter Campbell was a new graduate of Hawkesbury Agricultural College when he and his new bride arrived at Calatoota early in 1948.

The story of Calatoota reflects the evolution of many soldier settlement blocks in the Edgeroi district.

It began with Merino sheep, plus some beef cattle. In 1950 the first
wheat crop was grown and through to the 1970s, Calatoota was managed as a mixed farming enterprise including sheep, cattle and cropping.

In 1991 the original family partnership dissolved and Andrew and Tracey Campbell took over Calatoota.

Tracey and Andrew are moving closer to the coast to spend more time with their family.

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