The land known today as Billopp was first occupied by the Lawrence family in 1836. The total area of the farm is 1,114.86 hectares and is comprised in 4 Land Titles.

Irrigated and dry land crops are grown annually alongside livestock enterprises which include Coopworth cross prime lambs and Angus beef cattle. About half of the farm acreage presents as fertile and arable soil types. Approximately 400 hectares has been nominated to be included in a 3 year cropping rotation of which 135 hectares could be planted to crop annually. Soil analysis suggests PH level to range between 5 and 6. Poppies, winter wheat, canola and barley are grown in rotation with short term ryegrasses. Crops such as potatoes, clover and rye grasses were grown for seed production in the past. Irrigated crops are grown under a fixed centre pivot (27 hectares) whilst other areas are watered with hard hose irrigators. The total area capable of being irrigated is approximately 90 hectares. A 240ML dam was constructed in 2003. This provides adequate low cost irrigation water. The current Water Licence No. 9146 provides an annual right to take 290ML from the tributaries of Dairy Creek. There is also the opportunity to double this capacity of on farm storage as there has been a second dam site surveyed to hold an additional 380ML.

The paddock country has been an estimated to be approximately 450 hectares. This area could be incorporated in a pasture/cropping program if additional irrigation water became available.
Hill country dominates the remaining 535 hectares which incorporates the southern areas of Billopp. These runs are predominately covered with silver tussocks and some native trefoil species with intermittent areas of light eucalypt forest. Such terrain provides relief for livestock grazing when the more intensive paddocks are under seasonal pressure.

LOCATION
The Cressy farming region is central to most agricultural service providers whether it be irrigation, agronomy, seed cleaning, poppy processing, livestock marketing or wool storage.

LIVESTOCK
An Angus cow herd of 230 females recently calved in September/October 2013. These numbers include approximately 60 maiden heifers. Normal practice is to retain the majority of heifer calves for selection as keepers. The steer portion are generally run on and grown out to 18 month old feeder steers’. Coopworth Ewe flock of 4,000 ewes have been bred up from a Coopworth Merino cross flock. Approximately 700 ewe lambs are retained as replacement annually. These are joined as lambs. Lambing commences in the first week of October. Including maidens, 150 % lambing is achievable. Lambs are weaned in January/February. Some lambs are sold off their mothers whilst in the summer of 2013 4,000 lambs were sold into the re-stockers market as stores.

STOCK WATER
Stock currently water from creeks, dams and some troughs.

PLANTATIONS
A total area of 87 hectares was surveyed by Gunns Ltd to be planted in Radiator Pines.

HOMESTEAD
The 1836 original Shepard’s cottage enjoyed extensions over time. The most substantial work was completed in 1876. Today, the well-kept 7 bedroom brick home is surrounded by a notable garden framed by English trees, which were planted in the mid 1800′s. The garden and home have been well maintained both internally and externally. Some notable features include; high ceilings, fine architectural design creating natural light in formal lounge, dining and the bedrooms. The north east facing front door welcomes visitors into a generous, full length, wide hallway. This section of the house is surrounded on 3 sides by a substantial timber clad protective verandah which ingratiates the formality of the garden, lawns and old deciduous trees. The kitchen has been opened into the western garden in the 1980′s when a family sunroom was included in the design. The house and other buildings were completely re-wired in the past 10 years.

OTHER BUILDINGS include:
- 3 bedroom modernised weather board Managers House (open plan kitchen, dining, living plus study)
- 2 station hands cottages and a single Man’s quarters
- 4 stand shearing shed (capacity 500 adult wooly’ sheep) associated sheep yards, original stables (which have been converted to grain storage silos)
- Steel cattle yards (capacity of 250-300 adult cattle), steel constructed hay barn, grain silos, grain store, steel engineering fabrication workshop and storage sheds

AGENTS COMMENTS
“Billopp” is a large, historic, rural holding that has been in the Lawrence family ownership for the past 178 years. Today it is farmed with long term sustainability objectives and has the potential for on-going development and increased production.