$60m-plus tipped for Australian Fresh Milk Holdings’ Echuca farms

One of Australia’s biggest dairy farming operators is selling its whopping 4000ha northern Victorian aggregation. See the details.

One of Australia’s biggest dairy farming operators has listed a 4000ha northern Victorian aggregation for sale where it is set to command a huge sum.

Australian Fresh Milk Holdings (AFMH) has listed the Torrumbarry Farms Aggregation for sale with offers set to exceed $60 million as a whole.

AFMH have used the property for wheat, barely, canola, silage and fodder crops while also supporting dairy heifer rearing.

It is understood AFMH has decided to sell the property as it is now surplus to its requirements, following purchase of a dairy heifer rearing property.

Australian Fresh Milk Holdings was founded by the Moxey family, however in 2015 a consortium was formed between Chinese agriculture group New Hope, the Perich Group, the Moxey family and ASX-listed Freedom Foods.

Torrumbarry Farms has been used for dairy heifer rearing and extensive cropping.

AFMH spent millions purchasing the Torrumbarry Estate and the 2500-cow Coomboona Dairy at Undera in the Goulburn Valley in 2019.

In August last year Noumi, owned by the Perich Group, sold 53 per cent of its AFMH stake to the Perich family’s Leppington Pastoral Company for $16.7m.

Forty-four per cent of its stake was sold for $12.9 million to a subsidiary of China’s big New Hope Group, NewAustralia.

The deal means the Perich family holds an equal 43.2 per cent of AFMH with New Hope.

AFMH annually produces 180 million litres of milk on its NSW Lachlan Valley farms and major dairy near Shepparton, supplying Noumi, Bega Dairy and Drinks and the A2 Milk Company.

Torrumbarry Farms aggregation comprises 1887ha developed for irrigation with 1111ha developed to centre pivot or lateral move irrigation.

776ha at Torrumbarry Farms is laser levelled flood irrigation.

1636ha are suited to dryland cropping while the remaining 500ha comprises grazing and remnant vegetation.

Significant water is also attached to the property via 1939ML of High Reliability Murray Zone 7 and Goulburn 1A and 174ML of Low Reliability Murray Zone 7.

Potential development to horticulture or high value cropping pursuits is being marketed with the property.

Existing infrastructure is also extensive with machinery shedding, hay shedding, grain silos (780-tonne combined capacity), fertiliser storage and nine dwellings including lifestyle properties with Murray River frontage.

LAWD senior director Danny Thomas and director Erica Semmens are handling the sale with expressions of interest closing Thursday, August 10 at 12pm.