A New Holland T7530 front-wheel assist tractor commanded the highest bid at a clearing sale in Tambellup, selling for $68,000 to an anonymous buyer. The event, held on March 15, 2024, drew significant attention, with around 240 bidders participating in the auction managed by Nutrien auctioneer, Ben Hankinson.
The sale took place on the property of local graingrower Richard Burridge, who presented a total of 231 lots. Bidders displayed strong competition, particularly for high-quality second-hand machinery. Remarkably, no items had reserve prices, and even the few lots that initially went unsold were later sold, achieving a 100 percent clearance rate.
Mr. Burridge, a second-generation farmer, has transitioned his family’s 1,400-hectare property from livestock to exclusively cropping wheat, barley, canola, and lupins on 1,100 hectares. He entered the agricultural business immediately after graduating high school in 1983. The decision to sell his property was influenced by rising machinery costs and the complexities of managing two enterprises on a small farm.
“The cost of trying to upgrade machinery was a big reason why, and there’s only so much profit in an acre or hectare of land,” Mr. Burridge explained. Despite these challenges, the past season was one of his best on record, with barley yielding 4.5 tonnes per hectare, canola 2.2 tonnes per hectare, and wheat approximately 3.5 tonnes per hectare.
Among the other notable sales, a New Holland 9682 four-wheel drive tractor, which Mr. Burridge described as his favorite piece of machinery, sold for $56,000. Meanwhile, a John Deere 7710 tractor attracted considerable interest prior to the sale, fetching $63,000. Mr. Burridge noted the appeal of this model due to its simplicity and durability.
Other high-demand equipment included a John Deere 4940 self-propelled sprayer, which sold for $65,000, and a John Deere 9760 STS header with a 936D front, which achieved $67,000, marking the second-highest price of the day. A grain tipper also garnered attention, concluding at $66,000.
Mr. Burridge expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the sale, crediting the Nutrien team for their effective organization. “We were very happy with the end result,” he remarked.
Glen Phelps, a Nutrien Harcourts agent, highlighted the community’s strong support for the event, noting that it had been some time since Tambellup hosted a clearance sale of this scale. “A lot of people also turned up in support of Jenny and Richard; there’s a strong community there,” he stated, reflecting on the successful turnout and the event’s smooth operation.
The auction not only showcased the resilience of local agriculture but also underscored the community spirit that drives such events in rural Australia.
