Rural agent says it pays to escape the city

The popularity of cash flow positive hobby farms is being driven by a Covid-influenced migration of urban professionals to regional Australia, a rural agent confirms. 

Rural and farmland sales agent George Southwell, 25, says buyers are attracted to the income generating opportunities small hectares bring. 

“We’re seeing an influx of decisive relocators from Canberra and Sydney, and lately they’re looking beyond the big homes on broad blocks at small farms with income potential,” he said. 

George Southwell stated that the move is enticing both due to the lifestyle on offer and now a broader awareness of the financial benefits. 

“With international borders closed and a newfound ability to do the job outside the office, weekend escapes to the country, bush retreats, lifestyle properties and increasingly hobby farms, have gone from being retirement pipedreams to right-now realities.”

Hobby farms in the Canberra Region, South Coast, North Coast, and around regional centres like Orange and Bathurst, have had an influx of interest in recent months. The Regional Australia Institute (RAI) recently published research showing that since Covid struck one in five city residents are looking to move to the regions, with more than half wanting to make the jump within the next 12 months.

“The Capital Region and southern tablelands rural towns are no longer a hidden secret."  

Mr Southwell says relocators are showing plenty of interest in two of his current hobby farms for sale. 

"Martin’s Ridge is on 225ac* (90.67 ha*), or 910,543sqm in city terms, and sits nine minutes outside the little southern tablelands town of Yass, which is just over an hour to Canberra,” Mr Southwell said.

“Cattle have successfully been run on Martin's Ridge, and you could easily run 500 head of sheep here thanks to the five paddocks, five dams and improved pastures. On today’s commodity prices, between the wool and meat income, you’re looking at generating over $120,000 per year if you did that...”

He says hobby farms that make money are scarce in Australia.

Nearby, another property on the market after 49 years with current owners Clive and Rosie Phillips is “Springbourne”. It has held sheep, cattle, ponies and horses over the years.

“Cattle have always been our income stream running 30 cows calving every year. We now run steers, the mixture of sown and natural grasses means we can run around 40 steers, luckily we have never run out of water with four dams on the place all having excellent catchment,” Mrs Phillips said.

"It is now time to move on and allow another family to enjoy the peace and enrichment of living in this beautiful place," she said.

The couple built a home on the land 38 years ago, and a tennis court thereafter. 

"A special track was mown to the top of our hill, we call it the Magic Path, which is brilliant for walking, seeing many of our native animals and birds especially the echidnas. The riding is so easy here, peaceful with stunning views of the mountains." 
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