20 of the NSW Riverina’s biggest farming families
From vast pastoral properties in the west to huge cropping and beef farms in the east, the NSW Riverina is home to some famous farming families.
From sprawling sheep stations in the northwest across the Hay Plains, to undulating grazing properties in the east, and expansive cropping enterprises in between, the NSW Riverina is a powerhouse of Australian agriculture, led by some distinguished farming families.
Some have called the region home many generations, while others are forging a new path.
See the full list:
HUGH MACLACHLAN AND FAMILY
Jumbuck Pastoral
112,000 hectares
Gunbar Station-Tierra, Gunbar NSW
Across a landmass larger than the size of Hong Kong, the MacLachlan family’s Jumbuck Pastoral carry about 26,000 Merino sheep at their Gunbar Station, run in conjunction with outstation Tierra.
Regarded as one of Australia’s largest wool growers, Jumbuck Pastoral underwent a significant restructure last year as part of family succession planning.
Joint managing directors and brothers Jock and Callum MacLachlan left the business, with Hugh MacLachlan and his daughters retaining control of Gunbar Station alongside the 513,000ha Commonwealth Hill and 309,600-hectare Bulgunnia Station in South Australia and 254,648-hectare Blina Station in Western Australia’s Kimberley.
Jock MacLachlan is now running the 505,857-hectare Derby Station in Western Australia and the 58,680-hectare McCoys Well station in South Australia, while Callum owns the 1.2 million-hectare Wave Hill Station in the NT and the 541,400-hectare Killarney Station.
SHIPPEN FAMILY
Banyandah Pastoral Company
115,000 hectares-plus
Moulamein, Wagga Wagga NSW
Devoted sheep and wool producers Ian and Camilla Shippen, alongside family Will, Emma and James, have established a huge pastoral empire across the NSW Riverina, as well as expansion south of the border into Victoria’s Western District.
Their large-scale Merino operation began when the couple purchased the 1821-hectare family farm Banyandah from Ian’s parents. Now they are mostly based across the Hay Plains, with 5700-hectares of it located at Wagga Wagga.
The Shippen’s Banyandah Pastoral Company runs about 75,000 Merino ewes, 15,000 Merino wethers and 10,000 crossbred ewes across key properties including Banyandah, Bundyulumblah, Chah Singh and Rhyola and Inverness, near Moulamein NSW.
The Merino operation is run at Moulamein, while the Shippens run their crossbred sheep enterprise at Wagga Wagga.
FERGUS McLACHLAN
Tupra Pastoral Company
102,000 hectares
Tupra Station, Oxley NSW
Owned by Fergus McLachlan, the cousin of Jumbuck Pastoral’s MacLachlan family, Tupra Station covers the expansive and flat Hay Plains, about 75km northwest of the Hay township and ideal for pastoral operations.
In a good year, Tupra can carry more than 50,000 sheep, supported by native pastures and natural watercourse from the nearby Lachlan River.
Fergus is the son of former federal defence minister and NFF president in the 1980s, Ian McLachlan.
The Tupra operation includes the 10,000-hectare Oxley Station at Oxley, purchased in 2016.
MORPHETT FAMILY
94,000 hectares
Alma Station, Booligal NSW
Based at Booligal, in the west of the NSW Riverina, generations of the Morphett family have developed their renowned Alma Merinos stud breeding enterprise across the region’s saltbush plains.
First established in 1878, Alma is a broadacre grazing station which the Morphett family have stewarded since the 1960s.
Graham Morphett runs the enterprise alongside wife, Helen, and sons, Peter and Will, joining more than 22,000 breeding ewes this year.
In addition, the Morphetts will be offering 600 flock rams through their annual stud sale in September.
Recently, the Morphetts purchased the 4630-hectare Clancy property from fellow Riverina farmers Simon and Sarah Bunyan.
JHW PATERSON & SONS
60,700 hectares
Maude, Hay NSW
Powered by the 13,000-hectare Hell’s Gate feedlot at Maude, the Paterson family have continued to develop their formidable farming portfolio.
James Paterson is at the helm of JHW Patersons & Sons, working alongside his now late grandfather Gordon, combining their pastoral grazing with irrigated cotton cropping too.
Two years ago JHW Patersons & Sons paid about $63 million for the neighbouring 19,896-hectare Kooba Ag Hay Aggregation, which included South Farm (7760 hectares), Glenmea (6223 hectares) and Pevensey (5896 hectares).
The family cattle breeding and fattening enterprise also includes a 10,120-hectare aggregation in Victoria’s Western District.
FIELD FAMILY
TA Field Estates
56,000 hectares-plus
Holbrook, Jugiong, Carrathool NSW
Sydney-based Michael and Angela Field’s TA Field Estates has established a huge NSW farming footprint, with more than 56,000 hectares in the Riverina and almost 20,000 hectares in the state’s north.
Its origins dating back to 1906 after TA Field purchased a property at Grafton, then moved into the Riverina in 1912, forming a partnership with the Vickery family until 1936, to purchase Willandra, a Merino stud near Hillston.
TA Field Estates’ key Riverina assets now include the 52,000-hectare Wyvern Station, southwest of Griffith, owned by the family since 1946.
Here TA Field Estates produces 1100 bales of medium wool averaging 17-19 micron, Merino sheep breeding and carries a herd of 550 breeding cows.
Elsewhere the Field family also own and operate the 1770-hectare Aberfeldy at Holbrook, purchased in 2019, and the 3000-hectare Benangaroo Station, at Jugiong, purchased in 1997.
HENWOOD FAMILY
47,000 hectares-plus
Carrathool, Coleambally, Grong Grong and Hillston NSW
The Henwoods are a renowned Riverina farming family, running both beef and cropping operations in the region.
At the 40,469-hectare Howlong Station, near Carrathool, brothers Philip and Roger Henwood run the family’s grazing operation, under the TJ Henwood Family Trust banner, carrying 3000 Merino ewes and a self-replacing Angus herd of about 3000 breeders in recent seasons.
Northwest of Wagga Wagga, Philip and his cousin James Henwood are farming at Coolamon, under the Stan Henwood Trust, on behalf of their late grandfather who passed away eight years ago.
The family also run the 5261-hectare Yammatree Station, at Bethungra NSW, while Philip and Michelle Henwood farm at Panorama Park at Coleambally.
GEORGE GRIMWADE AND MICHAEL GORDON
Grimwade and Gordon
40,400 hectares
Deniliquin, Hay NSW
A son of renowned sheep graziers Jane and Martin Grimwade, and a former jackaroo have partnered to build a considerable grazing portfolio across western and southern NSW and in outback Queensland.
George Grimwade and Michael Gordon, who made initial fortunes in the childcare sector, own more than 40,000 hectares in the NSW Riverina, forming part of their greater portfolio which now spans in excess of 200,000 hectares.
Key assets for the pair include the 9105-hectare Old Cobran station at Deniliquin, which produces a mix of sheep, wool and grain crops.
Two years ago the pair also purchased the 28,000-hectare Toronga property, north of Hay, for almost $26.6 million, acquiring it from the Crichton-Brown family’s Coolong Pastoral Company.
McNABB FAMILY
CM Pastoral Co
37,430 hectares
Moama, Ivanhoe NSW
Across two properties in the NSW Riverina, Craig and Carolyn McNabb run their significant cattle breeding operation.
Under the CM Pastoral Company banner, the couple breed their herd at their 34,400-hectare Lignum Park properties near Ivanhoe, before bringing their weaners down to the 3035-hectare Corringle Station, located 20km from Moama.
The McNabb’s have run their operation across the past 20 years, focusing solely on breeding their Charolais and Angus cross Santa Gertrudis cattle.
The couple are also passionate about the nation’s campdrafting events, travelling far and wide to compete.
HOOKE FAMILY
East Loddon Pastoral Company
36,000 hectares-plus
Booroorban, Wanganella NSW
Winners of The Weekly Times Coles 2021 Farmer of the Year Sheep award, the Hooke family’s East Loddon Pastoral Company now holds more than 36,000 hectares in the NSW Riverina.
The family partnership, consisting of Bill and Diane Hooke (parents), Tom and Marcus (brothers) and their respective partners Sarah and Cassandra Hooke, run their East Loddon Merino stud alongside 15,000 commercial breeding ewes across four properties within the Wanganella-Booroorban district.
In 2022 the family bought the 10,293-hectare Booroorban Aggregation and water entitlements for $17.806 million via an auction in Deniliquin, adding it to Warwillah, at Wanganella and Nyangay and Elmsleigh at Booroorban.
BRINKWORTH FAMILY
Willoway Farming
35,000 hectares
Hay NSW
South Australian and NSW farming giants, the Brinkworth family, hold one of their key assets in the NSW Riverina, owning the 35,000-hectare Uardry Station, at Hay.
A historic property first established in 1840, Uardry Station was purchased by the late Tom Brinkworth in 2012 before it was subsequently bequeathed to Willoway Farming.
During their tenure, 1717 hectares have been developed for both irrigated and dryland cropping while there are also sheep and cattle enterprises.
Willoway Farming, run by Ben and Anthea Brinkworth and family, owns more than 940,000 hectares in total including the 608,000-hectare Frome Downs and Lakeside stations, at Broken Hill, while its South Australian assets include a 36,300-hectare, 32-farm portfolio in the state’s South East.
RON HARRIS AND FAMILY
Ravensworth Agriculture Company
34,300 hectares
Maude, Balranald NSW
Wheat, cotton, beef, and sheep production are all part of the Harris family’s Ravensworth Agriculture Company, which spans farmland in both NSW and Victoria.
The Ravensworth story began when Ron Harris and family first arrived in the Riverina region in the 1990s, at the Ravensworth Station and beef feedlot near Maude.
Spanning 14,300 hectares, 50km west of Hay, the Ravensworth feedlot can hold 15,000 head and is the home of the Harris family’sbeef and cotton production.
The Harris family also run Lake Marimley Station, at Balranald, growing lamb, cotton and a medley of mixed crops across about 20,000 hectares.
ARMSTRONG FAMILY
30,000 hectares
Maude NSW
Melbourne-based Martin and Toni Armstrong have owned Nap Nap Station since 1986, reshaping it into the 30,000-hectare holding it is today.
When Nap Nap was acquired by the Armstrong family almost 40 years ago it spanned about 17,000 hectares, however, since then they have added Nimmie Station, Gelam and Pibroch on the northern side of the Murrumbidgee and Willow Grove to the northwest.
Ten years ago, the Armstrongs sold about 6000 hectares of Nap Nap’s floodplain country as part of the Murray Darling Basin water buyback scheme.
HOLT FAMILY
28,733 hectares-plus
Coonong Station, Urana NSW
Owned and operated by Tom and Sophie Holt, Coonong Pty Ltd and the Coonong Station has been held in the family’s hands for more than 50 years.
As part of their sprawling sheep enterprise the Holt family, including son Thomas, also run further NSW Riverina properties Coolbaroo Station and Glencairn at Jerilderie and Walteela at Urana.
The family carry 30,000 Dohne sheep across their farms producing 600 bales of 19.5-micron wool a year in recent seasons across a total of more than 28,000 hectares.
HUGGINS FAMILY
Woodpark Poll Merino
22,500 hectares
Hay, Wanganella NSW
The Huggins family name has been synonymous with Poll Merinos for almost 50 years, after introducing them to their 150-year-old Merino stud in the 1980s.
Woodpark Poll Merino stud, now run by Carol and Stephen Huggins and family, was founded by Stephen’s uncles and aunt, Doug, Owen and Helen Huggins, at Jerilderie.
About 20 years ago the stud was transferred to Steve and Carol’s home property, the 11,336-hectare Eurolie at Hay, where they have based operations ever since.
The family also own the neighbouring 4410-hectare Narrawong, added in 2005, and 6749-hectare Wanganella district property, Booabula Station, purchased in 2022.
DOWLING FAMILY
Keri-Keri Merino
24,280 hectares
Balranald NSW
With a history dating back to 1926 when Ray Dowling went searching for the biggest rams he could find, Keri-Keri Merinos now spans more than 24,000 hectares between Hay and Balranald.
Led by Andrew and Tarsh Dowling, the Keri-Keri Merino stud produces sheep known for their large bone, soft open faces, large plain bodied frame, growth rate and heavy cutting soft wool.
Before Andrew it was his father Peter, who retired in 2006, that ran the Keri-Keri enterprise.
ROLLINSON FAMILY
21,541 hectares
Goolgumbla, Jerilderie NSW
Acquired by the Rollison family in 1998, Goolgumbla is the home of their Riverina sheep station, stewarded by Bruce and Adriana Rollison and their four children.
However, the Rollison family have been dedicated to the sheep industry for more than a century, with Bruce raised on his family property Selisian Downs in Victoria.
In 1979 the family expanded into the Riverina, purchasing Hawks Nest, near Jerilderie, before Bruce’s father initiated the purchase of the Goolgumbla stud.
COUGHLAN FAMILY
21,400 hectares
Morundah, Holbrook NSW
Graziers Michael and Anna Coughlan hold a significant footprint in the Riverina thanks to their pair of properties; Tarabah, at Morundah, spanning 17,000 hectares and the 4400-hectare Mt Narra Narra Station, at Holbrook.
The couple have long-standing connections to farming, with Mr Coughlan’s family running their Morundah operation since 1925 and Mrs Coughlan’s family farming at Khancoban, in the NSW Snowy Valley for more than a century.
The Coughlans are also founding members of the 8 Families farming group, which is committed to using holistic farming management practices in the eastern Riverina.
Two years ago the Coughlan’s also purchased a 1013-hectare grazing property in Victoria, Wykeham at Dunkeld, south of the Grampians in the state’s west.
DAY FAMILY
14,000 hectares-plus
Oaklands NSW
Four generations of the Day family have laid the foundation for their expansive Riverina cropping operation at Oaklands, north of Savernake.
In recent years the family, led by Shannon Day, had farmed across 14,000 hectares with 10,000 hectares in broadacre crops.
Pat Day helped form the enterprise which is established now, after previously working as a local transport operator serving farmers in the region.
In the 1970s the family began acquiring properties, gradually adding them to their operations, which runs alongside Riverina transport company, Days Logistics.
BAXTER FAMILY
14,000 hectares
Berrigan NSW
In the NSW southern Riverina it is a team effort for the Baxter family to manage about 14,000 hectares of cropping land near Jerilderie and Berrigan.
Noel Baxter, his brother, Glen, and father Kelvin, and their families are all part of the family’s huge cropping venture.
Producing a 50:50 split of irrigated and dryland crops, the family has grown a mix of cotton, maize, sorghum seed, wheat, canola and barley.
Last year, the family celebrated a century of farming in the NSW Riverina, while also running the Baxter Transport enterprise, at Berrigan.
FIRB approves monster Aussie farmland deal
The federal government has given the green light to one of Australia’s biggest-ever rural property deals — to a Cayman Islands company.
Read more
$25m price tag for Victorian dairy farms
An emerging dairy processor is selling a 900ha dairy aggregation, spanning four farms in northern Victoria. See the details.
Read more