DEREK Owens hopes young farming families will take notice of the Wagga Wagga property "Freshwater", which is currently listed for sale.
After all, he says, it has proved to be a good home and enjoyable farming lifestyle for his own young family through the years.
Derek and his wife Cate Redfern-Owens have six children.
Both Derek and Cate were previously married, but had lost their partners within months of each other.
"My best friend was married to her best friend," Mr Owens said.
"We met at a kids' cricket game and the rest is history."
They married in 2007 and based themselves on the 105-hectare (260-acre) "Freshwater", the property Cate and her late husband Jim Redfern purchased a few years earlier.
At the time, the property was in need of rejuvenation, and one of the major improvements to "Freshwater" was the renovation and extension of the house, which is 108 years old.
It had originally served as the manager's house of the neighbouring property.
The renovation was done in stages, with a major stage taking place in 2011 with the addition of a large family room.
"I think the house is really quite spectacular - it has an amazing feel of both the old and the modern," Mr Owens said.
"It is open and spacious, and we have had eight people living here for the past nine years - everybody has their space."
The brick house has five bedrooms, three bathrooms and now boats an impressive open plan living and dining area.
There is an entertaining area outside, as well as a tennis court and a swimming pool.
With the children getting older, the family is selling to pursue new opportunities, including hopes for more travel.
"Freshwater" is listed for sale by tender, closing on October 7, through Tim Corcoran, Delta Livestock and Property, Wagga Wagga.
For several years the property was running about 30 Angus cows, but with fulltime work commitments off the farm, the cattle had been sold off.
The cows were sold in the spring of last year, while the yearlings were sold in February.
About 55ha of the property was share farmed, with that portion having grown wheat and canola.
Some areas of the property have been sown to phalaris and clover.
The property has a strong emphasis on electric fencing, and there are either troughs or dams in every paddock.
Soil types are red clay loams typical of the area, while country is flat through to undulating.
Infrastructure includes steel cattle yards, a machinery shed and a stable complex.
Nick Heydon
The Land's property editor.
The Land's property editor.
