Who owns Australia’s biggest farms? Top 165 stations and their owners
Scale is king when it comes to Australian agriculture but who exactly owns our biggest farms? See the full list of more than 165 properties and their owners.
FAMILIES still rule when it comes to the ownership of Australia’s biggest farms.
A special investigation by The Weekly Times can reveal 13 of the nation’s top 25 properties are owned by individuals or family companies with 11 held by foreign-backed pastoral companies and one by the Federal Government.
The 2.4 million hectare Anna Creek Station near Coober Pedy in South Australia is the nation’s biggest farm. It was purchased by the Williams family of Williams Cattle Company from pastoral giant S Kidman and Co in 2016.
The second-biggest property is the 1.65 million hectare Clifton Hills Station, also in South Australia on the Birdsville Track, which was purchased by the Oldfield and Costello families of Crown Point Pastoral last year.
The investigation found more than 20 stations were at least one million hectares in size.
Of the 25 biggest stations, three belong to partially-Chinese owned S Kidman and Co and ASX-listed Australian Agricultural Company with Crown Pastoral and Macquarie Bank fund Paraway Pastoral each holding two.
Others are owned by the likes of Queensland Investment Corporation-backed North Australian Pastoral Company, Hughes Pastoral, Western Grazing and Jumbuck Pastoral Company.
Australia’s biggest properties and their owners
1. Anna Creek Station and The Peake, Coober Pedy SA — 2,367,700ha
Williams Cattle Company
2. Clifton Hills, South Australia — 1,650,000ha
Crown Point Pastoral Company
3. Alexandria Station, Camooweal NT — 1,641,416ha
North Australian Pastoral Company
4. Lake Nash Station, Barkly Tableland NT — 1,600,000ha
Hughes Pastoral
5. Davenport Downs, Winton QLD — 1,510,000ha
Paraway Pastoral/Macquarie Ag
6. Innamincka Station, Leigh Creek SA — 1,355,000ha
S Kidman and Co
7. Home Valley, WA — 1,316,400ha
Indigenous Land Corporation
8. Marion Downs Station, Boulia QLD — 1,287,000ha
North Australian Pastoral Company
9. Brunette Downs Station, Tennant Creek NT — 1,221,200ha
Australian Agricultural Company
10. De Grey Station, Port Headland WA — 1,214,100ha
Bettini Bros
11. Quinyambie Station, Broken Hill NSW — 1,206,500ha
Mutooroo Pastoral Company
12. Wave Hill Station, Victoria River NT — 1,200,000ha
Western Grazing Company
13. Macumba Station, Oodnadatta SA — 1,100,000ha
S Kidman and Co
14. Andado Station, Alice Springs NT — 1,085,000ha
Crown Point Pastoral Company
15. Newcastle Waters Station, Newcastle Waters NT — 1,033,101ha
Consolidated Pastoral Company
16. Headingly Station, Mt Isa QLD — 1,003,200ha
Australian Agricultural Company
17. Tanbar Station, Windorah QLD — 1,021,904ha
Paraway Pastoral/Macquarie Ag
18. Rawlinna Station, Rawlinna WA — 1,011,714ha
Jumbuck Pastoral
19. Mt Freeling Station, Lyndhurst SA — 1,002,000ha
20. Barkly Downs, Camooweal QLD — 1,000,000ha
Australian Country Choice/Acton Land and Cattle
21. Commonwealth Hill, Coober Pedy SA — 1,000,000ha
Jumbuck Pastoral
22. Walhallow/Cresswell Downs, Tennant Creek NT. 999,700ha
Brett Blundy Retail Capital
23. Anthony Lagoon/Eva Downs, Tennant Creek NT — 934,900ha
Australian Agricultural Company
24. Strathmore, Croydon QLD. 931,000ha
Scott Harris
25. Durham Downs Station, Eromanga QLD — 891,000ha
S Kidman and Co
26. Adria Downs, Birdsville QLD — 870,000ha
Brook Proprietors
27. Avon and Austral Downs, Camooweal QLD — 863,100ha
Australian Agricultural Company
28. Nockatunga Station, Thargomindah QLD — 852,000ha
Cleveland Agriculture
29. Yougawalla, Kimberley WA — 843,800ha
Hui Wing Mau — China
30. Flora Valley, Kimberley WA — 824,400ha
Heytesbury Cattle Company
31. Cordillo Downs, Birdsville QLD — 780,000ha
Brook Pastoral Company
32. Dunbar Station, Maramie QLD — 777,000ha
McDonald Holdings
33. Naryilco Station, Tibooburra QLD — 751,000ha
S Kidman and Co
34. Mount Doreen Station, Papunya NT — 733,700ha
Passchendaele Cattle Company
35. Nappa Merrie Station, Thargomindah QLD — 720,000ha
Morella Agriculture
36. Todmorden Station, Oodnadatta SA — 716,860ha
Todmorden Cattle Company
37. Madura Plains, Nullarbor Plain WA — 708,200ha
CC Cooper and Co
38. Beetaloo Station and OT Downs, Elliot NT — 707,800ha
Brett Blundy Retail Capital
39. Wollogorang/Wentworth, Gulf of Carpentaria QLD — 705,198ha
McMillan Pastoral Company
40. Hamilton Station, Coober Pedy SA — 701,000ha
Williams Cattle Company
41. Keeroongooloo and Yeppera, Cooper Creek QLD — 700,000ha
Hughes Pastoral
42. Mittiebah Station, Camooweal NT — 695,500ha
North Australian Pastoral Co
43. Glenormiston Station, Boulia QLD — 692,000ha
North Australian Pastoral Co
44. Manners Creek Station, Alice Springs NT — 687,900ha
Gibson Grazing
45. Birrindudu Station, Katherine NT — 673,000ha
Heytesbury Cattle Company
46. Balladonia Aggregation, Norseman WA — 671,277ha
Chinese owners, under offer to sell
47. Pandie Pandie, Birdsville Track SA — 662,500ha
Crown Point Pastoral Company
48. Durrie Station, Birdsville QLD — 660,000ha
S Kidman and Co
49. Tieyon Station, Kulgera SA — 652,730ha
Paul and Jo Smith
50. Balfour Downs, Roy Hill WA — 639,500ha
TBG Agri Holdings
51. Coorabulka Station, Boulia QLD — 637,000ha
North Australian Pastoral Co
52. Morney Plains Station, Windorah QLD — 623,000ha
S Kidman and Co
53. Doongan/Theda Stations, Kimberley WA — 610,000ha
Dunkeld Pastoral Company
54. Frome Downs, Yunta SA. 607,899ha
Tom Brinkworth
55. Wrotham Park Station, Cairns QLD — 596,880ha
Consolidated Pastoral
56. Helen Springs Station, Tennant Creek NT — 570,000ha
S Kidman and Co
57. Nilpanna Station, Coober Pedy SA — 565,800ha
Williams Cattle Company
58. Mulka Station, Marree SA — 560,000ha
Gary Overton
59. Tanumbirini Station, NT — 559,370ha
Rallen Australia
60. Glengyle Station, Birdsville QLD — 550,000ha
S Kidman and Co
61. Inverway and Riveren Station, Victoria River NT — 550,000ha
Hancock Prospecting/Gina Rinehart
62. Napperby Station, Alice Springs NT — 550,000ha
Tim and Emily Edmunds
63. Cluny Station, Bedourie QLD — 546,000ha
Arrabury Pastoral Company
64. Killarney Station, Katherine NT — 541,400ha
Jumbuck Pastoral
65. Mulgathing, Coober Pedy — 530,700ha
Jumbuck Pastoral
66. Henbury Station, Alice Springs NT — 527,300ha
Henbury Unit Trust
67. Limbunya, Katherine NT — 520,000ha
North Star Pastoral
68. Meda Station, Derby WA — 505,857ha
Jumbuck Pastoral
69. Mt Willoughby Station, Coober Pedy SA — 507,500ha
Tjirilya Aboriginal Corporation (managed by the Lennon family)
70. Billa Kalina, Woomera SA — 500,000ha
Greenfield family
71. Canobie Station, Cloncurry QLD — 492,100ha
Australian Agricultural Co
72. Mt Barry Station, Coober Pedy SA — 492,000ha
Williams Cattle Company
73. Nanutarra/Uaroo, Onslow WA — 490,000ha
Minderoo Group/Twiggy Forrest
74. South Galway Station, Windorah QLD — 487,600ha
Australian Agricultural Co
75. Montejinni Station, Victoria River NT — 485,623ha
Australian Agricultural Co
76. Abingdon Downs, Georgetown QLD — 484,000ha
Gunn Agri Partners
77. Calvert Hills, Borroloola NT — 481,000ha
McMillan Pastoral Company
78. Ruby Plains Station, Halls Creek WA — 480,000ha
S Kidman and Co
79. Carlton Hill Station, Kununurra WA — 475,745ha
Shanghai Zhongfu — China
80. Wilgena, Tarcoola SA — 474,194ha
AJ & PA McBride Pty Ltd
81. Mount Margaret and Berellem, Eromanga QLD — 470,504ha
Usher Pastoral Company
82. Idracowra Station, Alice Springs NT — 462,800ha
Angus and Kimberley McKay
83. Brunchilly Station, Tennant Creek NT — 457,200ha
S Kidman and Co
84. Benmara Station, Elliot NT — 450,000ha
Cleveland Agriculture
85. Dungowan Station, Katherine NT — 445,400ha
Consolidated Pastoral
86. Arrabury Station, Betoota QLD. 418,000ha
Arrabury Pastoral Company
87. Curtin Springs Station, Alice Springs NT — 416,400ha
Severin family
88. Auvergne Station, Katherine NT — 414,200ha
Clean Agriculture and International Tourism — Vietnam
89. Mobella, Coober Pedy SA — 413,200ha
Jumbuck Pastoral
90. Aileron, Alice Springs NT — 408,000ha
Caason Group
91. Esmeralda Station, Richmond QLD — 406,000ha
Gunn Agri Partners
92. Drysdale River Station, Kununurra WA — 404,686ha
Sunlight Holdings
93. Banjawarn Station, Laverton WA — 404,000ha
94. North Well, Kingoonya SA — 403,943ha
AJ & PA McBride
95. Moola Bulla, Kimberleys WA — 402,000ha
Consolidated Australian Pastoral Holdings — China
96. Alroy Downs Station, Tennant Creek NT. 400,000ha
Sterling Buntine/Baldy Bay
97. Fossil Downs Station, Fitzroy Crossing WA — 400,000ha
Hancock Prospecting/Gina Rinehart
98. Napier Downs Station, Derby WA — 400,000ha
Kerry Stokes
100. Tipperary Group, NT — 386,001ha
Dunkeld Pastoral Company
101. Mulga Downs Station, Pilbara WA — 384,451ha
Hancock Prospecting/Gina Rinehart
102. Suplejack Station, Alice Springs NT — 381,700ha
Savage family
103. Old Mt Bundey, Darwin NT — 380,000ha
Tony and Julie Harrower
104. Manbulloo Station, Katherine NT — 379,130ha
Buratovich family — Argentina
105. Lambina Station, Marla SA — 378,100ha
AW&K Fennell
106. Kalala Station, Daly Waters NT — 376,000ha
Langenhoven family
107. Monkira Station, Windorah QLD — 373,000ha
North Australian Pastoral Co
108. Wintinna, Coober Pedy SA — 372,500ha
J&F Fennell
109. Gogo Station, Fitzroy Crossing WA — 370,000ha
Cleveland Agriculture
110. Mount Lyndhurst Station, Leigh Creek SA — 348,900ha
Peter Litchfield and family
111. Mungabroom Station, Elliot NT — 346,900ha
Brett Blundy Retail Capital
112. Arcoona Station, Woomera SA — 343,000ha
Handbury Group
113. Millungera Station, Julia Creek QLD — 342,000ha
Australian Country Choice/Acton Land and Cattle
114. Welbourn Hill, Marla SA — 338,700ha
Sampson family
115. Mt Leonard Station, Betoota QLD — 337,000ha
Arrabury Pastoral Company
116. Mulyungarie Station, Cockburn SA — 336,600ha
Mutooroo Pastoral Company
117. Ambalindum, Alice Springs NT — 331,000ha
Hewitt Cattle/PSP Investments
118. Maryvale Station, Alice Springs NT — 324,000ha
Crown Point Pastoral Company
119. Amungee Amungee, Elliot NT — 316,900ha
Brett Blundy Retail Capital
120. Bulgunnia, Coober Pedy SA — 309,600ha
Jumbuck Pastoral
121. Milly Milly Station, Murchison WA — 308,641ha
Milly Milly Pastoral
122. Mt Skinner Station, Alice Springs NT — 303,605ha
McCormack family
123. Delamere Station, Victoria River NT — 300,300ha
Australian Agricultural Co
124. Magowra Station, Normanton QLD — 294,000ha
Western Grazing Company
125. Legune Station, Kununurra NT — 285,270ha
Seafarms Group Limited
126. Victoria River Downs, Victoria River NT — 282,400ha
Heytesbury Cattle Company
128. Camfield Station, Victoria River NT — 279,000ha
Australian Agricultural Co
129. Roebuck Plains Station, Broome WA — 276,000ha
Indigenous Land Corporation
130. Arckaringa Station, Coober Pedy SA — 274,500ha
Williams Cattle Company
131. Bulka, Kimberley WA — 273,163ha
Hui Wing Mau — China
132. Minilya Station, Coral Bay WA — 273,000ha
Minderoo Group/Twiggy Forrest
133. Pine Hill Station, Alice Springs NT — 270,000ha
Napier Pastoral Company
134. Gregory Downs Station, Mt Isa QLD — 266,425ha
Paraway Pastoral/Macquarie Ag
135. Epenarra Station, Barkly Tablelands NT — 265,000ha
Bass Cattle Company
136. Liveringa Station, Looma WA — 265,000ha
Hancock Prospecting/Gina Rinehart
137. Oban Station, Mt Isa QLD — 261,000ha
Western Grazing Company
138. Mt Amhurst Station, Fitzroy Crossing WA — 260,000ha
Consolidated Australian Pastoral Holdings — China
139. Broadmere, Borroloola NT — 259,000ha
Peter Sherwin
140. Wertaloona Station, Blinman SA — 257,000ha
Princess Royal
141. Blina Station, Fitzroy Crossing WA — 254,648ha
Jumbuck Pastoral
142. Wondoola Station, Normanton QLD — 252,500ha
Australian Agricultural Co
143. Muttooroo Station, via Broken Hill SA — 250,300ha
Mutooroo Pastoral Company
144. Tolarno Station, Menindee NSW — 250,000ha
Robert McBride
145. Eildon Park, Winton QLD — 249,800ha
Chris Skelton
146. Mt Sanford NT — 249,700ha
Heytesbury Cattle Company
147. Isis Downs Station, Isisford QLD — 246,057ha
Consolidated Pastoral
148. Newry Station, NT — 246,700ha
Clean Agriculture and International Tourism — Vietnam
149. Ucharonidge Station, Tennant Creek NT — 245,550ha
Cleveland Agriculture
150. Minderoo Station, Onslow WA — 240,000ha
Minderoo Group/Twiggy Forrest
151. Babbiloora Station, Augathella QLD — 237,325ha
Australian Country Choice/Acton Land and Cattle
152. Evelyn Downs, Coober Pedy SA — 234,500ha
Caroline Thomas & John Knight
153. May Downs, Mt Isa QLD — 234,000ha
Lord Cattle
154. Yambah Station, Alice Springs NT — 231,000ha
Gorey family
155. Kirkimbie Station, Victoria River NT — 230,400ha
Consolidated Pastoral
156. Brick House Station, Carnarvon WA — 225,000ha
Minderoo Group/Twiggy Forrest
157. Mt Sarah Station, Coober Pedy SA — 224,800ha
Williams Cattle Company
158. Narndee Station, Paynes Find WA — 223,101ha
Robert and Julie Broadhurst
159. Boolbie and Archervale, Winton QLD — 219,676ha
Grummitt and Reddan families
160. Margaret River, Kimberley WA — 214,483ha
Hui Wing Mau — China
161. Clonagh Station, Cloncurry QLD — 214,270ha
Paraway Pastoral/Macquarie Ag
162. Armraynald Station, Burketown QLD — 214,090ha
Paraway Pastoral/Macquarie Ag
163. Coolullah Station, Cloncurry QLD — 214,000ha
North Australian Pastoral Co
164. Crown Point Station, SA — 209,000ha
Crown Point Pastoral Company
165. McDonald Downs NT — 207,000ha
Scott Cattle Company
166. Beefwood Park Station, Fitzroy Crossing WA — 206,000ha
Consolidated Australian Pastoral Holdings — China
167. Moolooloo, Victoria River NT — 203,600ha
Heytesbury Cattle Company
168. Nerrima Station, Looma WA — 203,000ha
Hancock Prospecting/Gina Rinehart
169. Numery, Alice Springs NT — 202,200ha
Hewitt Cattle/PSP Investments
170. Amburla Station, Alice Springs — 202,000ha
Amburla Nominees
171. Mt Elizabeth Station, Fitzroy Crossing WA — 200,000ha
Shanghai Zenith — China
172. Baladjie aggregation, Bodallin WA — 200,000ha
Saudi Agricultural Livestock Investment Company
173. Pardoo Station, Port Hedland WA — 200,000ha
Pardoo Beef Corporation — Singapore
174. Vermelha Station NT — 200,000ha
An Vien Pastoral Holding and Ag — Vietnam
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