This Month
Orchard and vineyard values down 15pc as livestock farms rally
Farmland planted with permanent crops such as wine grapes and nuts has fallen 15pc on average over the past 12 months, according to a key index.
- Larry Schlesinger
- Exclusive
- Agriculture
Macquarie buys $175m stake in fresh fruit producer
Macquarie Asset Management adds a controlling stake in one of the country’s largest citrus, berry and table grape producers to its $4.7 billion agricultural portfolio.
- Campbell Kwan
Trophy farms worth $120m change hands in year-end deals bonanza
Among the five properties sold was the 1900-hectare wool aggregation Avington – and its 16,000 Merino sheep – in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges.
- Updated
- Larry Schlesinger
November
‘Horsing heartland’: Merlin Park up for grabs for over $30m
The horse training ground outside Melbourne may could become a residential development.
- Campbell Kwan
Snowy Mountains lodge developed by ex-Citibank exec hits the market
The luxury Nimbo Fork Lodge near Tumut, developed by fishing enthusiast and former banker Chris Fehon, is for sale. Meanwhile, the historic Waverley Estate in South Australia has sold.
- Larry Schlesinger
Outback property the size of Sydney once coveted by Twiggy now on sale
Mining giant Fortescue has ditched plans to develop a renewable energy project on Rawlinna Station, which is Australia’s largest sheep station.
- Larry Schlesinger
CPE Capital snags $200m Perth meat business
CPE is still in talks with sell-side adviser PwC, sources said. However, the deal is expected to be signed “imminently”.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
October
SA livestock farm with historic homestead fetches $28m
Ian and Louise Johnson have acquired a slice of South Australian farming history after emerging as the buyers of the Crower and Fellwood grazing aggregation.
- Larry Schlesinger
Farmland buyers are back after sales slump
LAWD’s Danny Thomas says confidence is back and everyone is rushing to get deals done by Christmas – after sales volumes hit new lows in the first half of 2024.
- Larry Schlesinger
Pub baron puts ‘horse heaven’ lodge on the market for $30m
Former Spotless boss Bruce Dixon says he has done all he can at Macedon Lodge near Melbourne, and it’s time to hand the reins to a racing horse person.
- Larry Schlesinger
Italian banking family puts $31m New England cattle farm up for sale
The Trabaldo Togna family, which owns banks in Lugano, Switzerland and Milan, is selling the last of its Australian farms, St Aubyns Station near Walcha in NSW.
- Larry Schlesinger
Project Crescent: Ellerston taps into WA’s wheat belt with agri bet
The deal terms mean it can force an IPO of the leading John Deere agricultural equipment distributor after three years.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Rich Listers to turn Ferrero nut orchards into olive groves
goFARM, which is half owned by Costa Asset Management, has paid about $60 million for the former hazelnut orchards near Narrandera.
- Larry Schlesinger
A 62ha development site in Tweed Shire hits market with $182m hopes
The family-owned former fruit farm in part of northern NSW that has been rezoned for development is just a 13-minute drive from the Gold Coast.
- Michael Bleby
Queensland’s koala farmland fund hits fund-raising trail
Upscale Funds Management is targeting $6.6 million for its Koala Farmland Fund 2.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
September
Treasury sells Karadoc winery near Mildura to wool brokers
The Karadoc winery, which made brands like Wolf Blass and Yellowglen, has been sold to the managing director and chief financial officer of Quality Wool Group.
- Larry Schlesinger
- Exclusive
- Property market
NSW house prices to flatline this year, valuer general says
A strong first half has pushed values up in the NSW capital, but those gains are unlikely to be repeated.
- Michael Bleby
Farmer co-op shops $51m raising to energy players
Regen has raised $500,000 through crowdfunding efforts and $5 million in government and foundation grants, but this effort represents the group’s biggest push to date.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Rich Listers snap up top equestrian centre for less than $30m
Paul Solomon, stepson of Shopkins billionaire Manny Stul, and his wife Georgia have bought Boneo Park on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
- Larry Schlesinger
Cotton power couple list $70m ‘carbon positive’ farm
David and Danielle Statham are selling their largest holding – St Ronans in Far North Queensland – as they focus on developing a large renewable energy project.
- Larry Schlesinger