Aussie farming family snaps up historic SA station

A major SA farming family has secured a tightly held 3345ha station, expanding its property portfolio to more than 1.4 million hectares.

One of Australia’s biggest farming families has expanded its South Australian farmland portfolio to more than 1.4 million hectares, snapping up a 3345ha station near Kingston SE, in the state’s southeast.

Renowned woolgrowers AJ & PA McBride have purchased the Keilira cattle and sheep station, keeping it in McBride family hands after purchasing it from a syndicate of five other family members.

Members of the wider McBride family listed the property for sale last spring on walk-in walk-out terms after more than 60 years of ownership. No price guide was offered for the property.

The value and terms of the transaction remain undisclosed.

Located near existing South East South Australian stations owned by AJ & PA McBride, the property has been purchased to add to the company existing farming ventures including the goal to produce 10,000 bales of wool annually.

Keilira Station has been sold by wider members of the McBride family to AJ & PA McBride.

“Keilira Station was purchased in 2024 after being held by the wider McBride family for over 60 years. The property is familiar to the company as it is located between our Nepowie and Ashmore properties in the Avenue Range,” the company said on its website.

“The property consists of well-drained black soil flats and sandy hills planted to lucerne.

“The dominant enterprise is a merino flock which produces approximately 400 bales. This enterprise is supported by a Merino-White Suffolk lamb flock and an Angus Herd.”

The son of an Irish settler, Albert James McBride founded AJ & PA McBride with his son, Phillip, more than a century ago.

The wool growing giant carries about 375,000 sheep, producing 8328 bales annually across nine properties in SA and the 47,677ha Telopea Downs aggregation in far western Victoria.

The Keilira Station comprises more than 2000ha of heavy grazing flats, which could be converted to cropping, and more than 1200ha of undulating hills grazing country.

The property has a carrying capacity of 28,000 dry sheep equivalent.

Existing infrastructure at the property includes three dwellings for owners and staff, a 12-person shearers’ quarters, six-stand shearing shed with yards, cattle yards, and extensive machinery and hay shedding.

Colliers Agribusiness and Elders Real Estate handled the sale of Keilira Station.