Australia’s biggest 100 farm sales of the year revealed
Twiggy Forrest and Gina Rinehart lead a star-studded cast of rural property players who have spent big this year. See all the buyers and sellers.
From sprawling cattle stations in the north to historic homesteads in the southern states, billions of dollars’ worth of Australian farmland has changed hands this year, despite a series of economic and seasonal headwinds.
In the past 12 months demand in the nation’s rural property market has cooled significantly as an El Nino seasonal outlook and declining livestock prices wilted confidence in the farmer-to-farmer market and opened the door for institutions, buoyed by a favourable exchange rate with the Australian dollar.
A number of the Australia’s most expensive farmland transactions have involved foreign raiders, including China’s Smarts Shirts Ltd paying more than $120 million for the 14,916-hectare Gundaline Station, near Carrathool in the NSW northern Riverina, and Guangxi Qiutian Investment Co. Ltd’s $80-million purchase of the iconic 4033ha Greystones, located northwest of Melbourne.
New Forests and Canada’s Alberta Investment Management Corporation also spent big this year, recently acquiring 2.9 million hectares of cattle stations in northern Western Australia for more than $300 million, while also purchasing the 13,498-hectare Jemalong Station near Forbes NSW and 2860ha Green Park Aggregation near Rand NSW, via their Lawson Grains venture, for $125 million combined.
Fellow North American agricultural investor, Excel Farms, a partnership between Victorian farmer Nick Paterson and Canada’s Fiera Comox, also made three significant purchases this year including the $120-million Ballandry Station near Griffith NSW, along with the $100-million Cherylton Farms and $40-million Southwark Soaks aggregation, both in Western Australia.
LAWD senior director Col Medway said institutional buyer demand had remained steady this year compared to the farmer-to-farmer market.
“The demand is coming from North America and we are starting to see some more from China. Helped by the value of the dollar, the institutions haven’t got the competitive pressure from locals to act as quickly, so they can be more considered compared to previous years,” Mr Medway said.
“The year started really positively, but unfortunately there were some factors which reduced confidence and took the wind out the sales of many farmer-to-farmer buyers.
“The BOM’s forecast had an impact on livestock markets, which crashed, and this flowed through to erode the confidence of property buyers.
“There are some very, very early green shoots, but it is probably difficult to see because the market has largely stalled.
“Most vendors are not going to transact where buyers want to transact, so we won’t see values rise and it will be more of a period of consolidation.”
This year has also seen Australia’s richest person, billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart, continue to structure her agricultural portfolio, offloading four S. Kidman and Co cattle stations which spanned 2.4 million hectares across Queensland and the NT.
Since that divestment Ms Rinehart’s Hancock Agriculture purchased Packhorse Pastoral’s Moolan Downs and Ottley Station for about $80 million it further pursued the Wagyu market.
Fellow Australian billionaire, Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group via Fortescue Future Industries, also made a major rural property play, purchasing Australia’s largest operating sheep station, the 1.011 million-hectare Rawlinna, from the MacLachlan family’s Jumbuck Pastoral.
■ Who owns Australia’s farms 2023
Australia’s biggest farm sales of 2023
$300 MILLION-PLUS
KIMBERLEY CATTLE PORTFOLIO, KIMBERLEY, WA
2.9M HECTARES
Buyer: New Agriculture and Alberta Investment Management Corporation (Canada)
Seller: Yougawalla Pastoral Co and Argyle Cattle Co, Hui family (Australia-Hong Kong)
$120 MILLION
GUNDALINE STATION, CARRATHOOL, NSW
14,916 HECTARES
Buyer: Smart Shirts Ltd (China)
Seller: Optifarm (Netherlands)
$120 MILLION
BALLANDRY STATION, GRIFFITH, NSW
26,839 HECTARES
Buyer: Excel Farms via Nick Paterson and Fiera Comox Partners (Canada)
Seller: David Bartter
UNDISCLOSED
NARYILCO, BEDOURIE, QLD
751,000 HECTARES
Buyer: Appleton family, Clermont QLD
Seller: Gina Rinehart (S. Kidman and Co)
UNDISCLOSED
GLENGYLE, BEDOURIE, QLD
550,000 HECTARES
Buyer: Appleton family, Clermont QLD
Seller: Gina Rinehart (S. Kidman and Co)
UNDISCLOSED
DURRIE, BEDOURIE, QLD
660,000 HECTARES
Buyer: Appleton family, Clermont QLD
Seller: Gina Rinehart (S. Kidman and Co)
UNDISCLOSED
RAWLINNA STATION, RAWLINNA, WA
1.01M HECTARES
Buyer: Fortescue Future Industries (Fortescue Metals Group)
Seller: Jumbuck Pastoral
$118.8 MILLION
THURLOO DOWNS, BOURKE, NSW
437,394 HECTARES
Buyer: NSW Government
Seller: Peter Hughes, Bourke NSW
$107 MILLION
BRUNCHILLY STATION, TENNANT CREEK, NT
457,200 HECTARES
Buyer: Harris family Mungindi NSW (Cleveland Agriculture)
Seller: Gina Rinehart (S. Kidman and Co)
$100 MILLION-PLUS
MACADAMIAS AUSTRALIA
BUNDABERG, QLD
1000 HECTARES
Buyer: PSP Investments (via Stahmann Webster)
Seller: Steinhardt family, Bundaberg QLD
$100 MILLION-PLUS
CHERYLTON FARMS, KOJONUP, WA
8554 HECTARES
Buyer: Excel Farms via Nick Paterson and Fiera Comox Partners (Canada)
Seller: Julian Walter
$85 MILLION
JEMALONG STATION, FORBES, NSW
13,498 HECTARES
Buyer: Lawson Grains (New Forests and Alberta Investment Management Corporation, Canada)
Seller: Optifarm (Netherlands)
$80 MILLION
MOOLAN DOWNS AND OTTLEY STATION, ROMA (QLD) AND INVERELL (NSW)
10,029 HECTARES AND 8371 HECTARES
Buyer: Gina Rinehart (Hancock Agriculture)
Seller: Packhorse Pastoral Company
$80 MILLION
GREYSTONES, ROWSLEY, VIC
4033 HECTARES
Buyer: Guangxi Qiutian Investment Co. Ltd (China)
Seller: Diana Gibson
$70 MILLION
EVERGREEN FARMS, EMERALD, QLD
3793 HECTARES
Buyer: Argyle Capital Partners
Seller: King family, Emerald QLD
$65 MILLION
GEMFIELDS PORTFOLIO, EMERALD, QLD
4386 HECTARES
Buyer: Manulife (Canada) and Craig Pressler, Emerald QLD
Seller: Zadro family, Bundaberg QLD
$60 MILLION
WANDOAN AGGREGATION, WANDOAN, QLD
15,522 HECTARES
Buyer: NSW producer
Seller: QGC
$60-$70 MILLION
WYSEBY, ROLLESTON, QLD
18,500 HECTARES
Buyer: Rural Funds Group and Caldwell family, Berthong NSW
Seller: Pedersen family, Rolleston QLD
$55-$65 MILLION
APIS CREEK STATION, MARLBOROUGH, QLD
21,000 HECTARES
Buyer: Australian Cattle and Beef Holdings, Millungera Station, Julia Creek QLD
Seller: Tim and Lynette Olive, Marlborough QLD
$53.5 MILLION-PLUS
GILGAL STATION, COOTAMUNDRA, NSW
3605 HECTARES
Seller: Palgrove (NZ)
Buyer: Lukas Asset Management’s Land und Fortwirtschaft fund (Germany)
$50 MILLION
BURMAH AGGREGATION, GRAMAN, NSW
5437 HECTARES
Buyer: Gunn Agri Partners via Wilga Farming (CEFC-Australian government and CDPQ-Canada)
Seller: Paraway Pastoral Company (Macquarie Agriculture)
$48 MILLION-PLUS
WARRANE, ARMIDALE, NSW
7489 HECTARES
Buyer: Origin Energy
Seller: Lord Michael Hintze (MH Premium Farms)
$45 MILLION
PICARDY STATION, DYSART, QLD
10,619 HECTARES
Buyer: Central Queensland producer
Seller: Tiverton Agriculture
$44-$54 MILLION
RUGBY RUN, MORANBAH, QLD
11,331 HECTARES
Buyer: Richard and Dyan Hughes and family, Clermont QLD
Seller: Australian Cattle and Beef Holdings, Millungera Station, Julia Creek QLD
$40 MILLION-PLUS
ARATULA, TOCUMWAL, NSW
4850 HECTARES
Buyer: Kilter Rural
Seller: Scott family, Tocumwal NSW
$40 MILLION-PLUS
RUVIGNE, GUNNEDAH, NSW
2685 HECTARES
Buyer: Marshall Baillieu and family
Seller: Gardiner family
$40 MILLION-PLUS
SOUTHWARK SOAKS AGGREGATION, PINGRUP, WA
12,000 HECTARES
Buyer: Excel Farms via Nick Paterson and Fiera Comox Partners (Canada)
Seller: Five WA farming families
$40 MILLION
BENMARA STATION, BARKLEY TABLELANDS, NT
451,200 HECTARES
Buyer: Wealthcheck
Seller: Harris family Mungindi NSW (Cleveland Agriculture)
UNDISCLOSED
GUNDAGURRA, DENILIQUIN, NSW
3000 HECTARES
Buyer: Various
Seller: Russell Tait and Vicki Meyer, Deniliquin NSW
UNDISCLOSED
KYNOCH PORTFOLIO, MCCALLUM, SA
3920 HECTARES
Buyer: Mitolo Family Farms (AustOn Canada)
Seller: Rowett family
$35 MILLION-PLUS
GREEN PARK AGGREGATION, RAND, NSW
2860 HECTARES
Buyer: Lawson Grains (New Forests and Alberta Investment Management Corporation, Canada)
Seller: Macneil family
$33 MILLION-PLUS
ARGYLE, GALONG, NSW
1708 HECTARES
Buyer: Steve Phillips, Harden NSW and Angus Metcalfe, Galong NSW
Seller: Max and Roz Graham, Galong NSW
$33 MILLION-PLUS
SLOGAN DOWNS, CHARTERS TOWERS
15,604 HECTARES
Buyer: Western Grazing
Seller: Gear family, Charters Towers QLD
$33 MILLION-PLUS
SALTBUSH AG, BOOBOROWIE-LEIGHTON, SA
2850 HECTARES
Buyer: Five local buyers
Seller: Handbury family
$33 MILLION
WELBON, GARAH, NSW
4784 HECTARES
Buyer: Andrew Yates, Garah NSW
Seller: Carrigan family, Garah NSW
$32 MILLION
HONEYMAH AND WONGALEE AGGREGATION, BOLLON, QLD
32,000 HECTARES
Buyer: Pastoral Partners Australia (Morrison and Co, NZ)
Seller: Vaughn Houlahan, Bollon QLD
$32 MILLION
MONDALL, MILDURA, VIC
350 HECTARES
Buyer: Warakirri Diversified Agriculture Fund
Seller: private
$31 MILLION-PLUS
BOOBEROI, TOOBEAH, QLD
3146 HECTARES
Buyer: Undisclosed
Seller: Mark Robinson (UK)
$30 MILLION-PLUS
STUART CREEK, ROMA, QLD
8300 HECTARES
Buyer: Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC)
Seller: Packhorse Pastoral Company
$30 MILLION-PLUS
FAIRHOLME AGGREGATION, CONDOBOLIN, NSW
3786 HECTARES
Buyer: Lukas Asset Management’s Land und Fortwirtschaft fund (Germany)
Seller: Sean Duggan, Cowra NSW, and local Condobolin consortium
$30 MILLION-PLUS
TINTINARA FARM, TINTINARA, SA
4029 HECTARES
Buyer: Undisclosed
Seller: South Australian grower
$30 MILLION
CONDOMINE RIVER PORTFOLIO, CHINCHILLA, QLD
4447 HECTARES
Buyer: 10 local buyers
Seller: Aberdare Collieries (CS Energy)
$30 MILLION
WEONIA AND SUNSET VALLEY, BOLLON, QLD
25,650 HECTARES
Buyer: Pastoral Partners Australia (Morrison and Co, NZ)
Seller: Clemesha family, Bollon QLD
$30 MILLION
CHECKERS, CARGO, NSW
3817 HECTARES
Buyer: Cay family, Corowa NSW
Seller: Frederic and Dominique Mathieu, Cargo NSW
$30 MILLION
ALLANVALE, AVENEL, VIC
1233 HECTARES
Buyer: Nick Wakim (Phoenix Lithium)
Seller: Beddison family
$30 MILLION
ROCKTHORPE ESTATE, CRESSY, TAS
784 HECTARES
Buyer: Local dairy farming family
Seller: Stuart Murfett, Cressy TAS
$30 MILLION
CHRISTMAS CREEK STATION, FITZROY CROSSING, WA
140,000 HECTARES
Buyer: Manchee family (Manchee Agriculture), Narrabri NSW
Seller: Lawson Klopper
$29 MILLION
HOLROYD AGGREGATION, COEN, QLD
242,000 HECTARES
Buyer: Paniri Agricultural Co (Corporate Carbon)
Seller: Brynes family, Atherton Tablelands QLD
$28 MILLION-PLUS
KINGOWER, EMERALD, QLD
3262 HECTARES
Buyer: Andrew Keeley, Gindie QLD
Seller: Mosley family, Emerald QLD
$28 MILLION
WARRANOY, YOUNG, NSW
1646 HECTARES
Buyer: Caldwell family, Young NSW
Seller: Bruce and Robyn Smith, Young NSW
$28 MILLION
YAMBAH STATION, ALICE SPRINGS, NT
231,000 HECTARES
Buyer: Muenster family
Seller: Gorey family, Alice Springs NT
$27 MILLION
NOELLA STATION, CHARLEVILLE, QLD
30,757 HECTARES
Buyer: Adrian and Megan Forrest, Augathella QLD
Seller: Mathew’s Farm Investments (China)
$26 MILLION
ELLAVALE STATION and CONGARRA, FORD’S BRIDGE and ENNGONIA, NSW
41,067 HECTARES and 29,200 HECTARES
Buyer: George Grimwade and Michael Gordon
Seller: Hayes Pastoral Co (Ellavale Station) and Dan and Sally Muenster (Congararra)
$25 MILLION-PLUS
MOYHU WAGYU, WANGARATTA, VIC
847 HECTARES
Buyer: Stone Axe Pastoral Company
Seller: Roger Shore, Movern NSW
$25 MILLION
NUNKERI and LOCH LOMOND, WALGETT, NSW
5015 HECTARES
Buyer: Local farming family
Seller: Wandattah Ag, VIC
$25 MILLION
STONEHENGE, STONEHENGE, TAS
3386 HECTARES
Buyer: Allan Fife (Fife Capital)
Seller: McShane family, Stonehenge TAS
$25-$30 MILLION
BANNOCKBURN and TANCRED, TORRENS CREEK, QLD
82,030 HECTARES
Buyer: Southern Queensland producer
Seller: Dart family, Torrens Creek QLD
$24.6 MILLION
ALLAMBIE, CLERMONT, QLD
4307 HECTARES
Buyer: Dennis family, Clermont QLD
Seller: Parker family, Clermont QLD
$23 MILLION
NORTH WEST NSW PORTFOLIO, QUAMBONE, NSW
12,111 HECTARES
Buyer: Various
Seller: Warren Rural Holdings
$23 MILLION
DAISY DOWNS, MULLEWA, WA
22,568 HECTARES
Buyer: BP (Low Carbon Australia)
Seller: PenAgri
$22.8 MILLION
WOODSTOCK AND HORNERS LOT, HOPETOUN, WA
3212 HECTARES
Buyer: Local family
Seller: Local family
$22.66 MILLION
REEDY STATION, KING ISLAND, TAS
1084 HECTARES
Buyer: Crouch family
Seller: Gunn family, King Island TAS
$22 MILLION-PLUS
RIMROCK, ROLLESTON, QLD
10,010 HECTARES
Buyer: Local family
Seller: Clark family, Rolleston QLD
$21 MILLION-PLUS
LUCKY DIP, MOURA, QLD
2826 HECTARES
Buyer: Tim and Lynette Olive (Apis Creek Pastoral Co), Marlborough QLD
Seller: Sue and Robert Engwicht
$20 MILLION-PLUS
GLENEAGLES, WALCHA, NSW
2313 HECTARES
Buyer: Jason Penny
Seller: Cook family, Walcha NSW
$20 MILLION
MERYON AGGREGATION, WARREN, NSW
4516 HECTARES
Buyer: Farming family with Coonamble district interests
Seller: Wrigley family, Warren NSW
$20 MILLION
AMAROO, KULIN, WA
9910 HECTARES
Buyer: Undisclosed
Seller: Hodgson family, Kulin WA
$19.5 MILLION-PLUS
NERRINYERRIE, HARROW, VIC
1664.5 HECTARES
Buyer: Qingnan Wen, Tianyu Wool (China)
Seller: Edgar family, Harrow VIC
$18.5 MILLION
MORPETH, NEBO, QLD
4077 HECTARES
Buyer: Ellrott family, Morinis QLD
Seller: Brendan and Anna Black, Nebo QLD
$18.5 MILLION
KENSAL GREEN AND BRUAN PARK AGGREGATION, GUNNEDAH, NSW
713 HECTARES
Buyer: Tudgey family, Breeza NSW
Seller: Morgan family, Breeza NSW
$18 MILLION-PLUS
JEMALONG, CONMURRA, SA
1211 HECTARES
Buyer: Local farming family
Seller: Wagner family, Conmurra SA
$18 MILLION
RANCHLANDS, INJUNE, QLD
2587 HECTARES
Buyer: Shane Mills, Injune QLD
Seller: Pedersen family
$17.95 MILLION
ROCKDALE AND TEN MILE AGGREGATION, CRACOW, QLD
5930 HECTARES
Buyer: Injune district grazing family
Seller: John and Sharon Cruickshank, Cracow QLD
$17.1 MILLION
8570 BALONNE HIGHWAY, BOLLON, QLD
14,000 HECTARES
Buyer: Pastoral Partners Australia (Morrison and Co, NZ)
Seller: Undisclosed
$17 MILLION
LANGLEY STATION, MIDDLEMOUNT, QLD
4882 HECTARES
Buyer: Consolidated Pastoral Company
Seller: Undisclosed
$17 MILLION
WAIRERE, HEYWOOD, VIC
1156 HECTARES
Buyer: Crawford family, Hamilton VIC
Seller: Daniell family (NZ)
$16.5 MILLION-PLUS
KULLA, BLACKWATER, QLD
3784 HECTARES
Buyer: Jason and Megan Philip, Nebo QLD
Seller: Andrew Rowlands, Comet QLD
$16.35 MILLION
MORANNA, CLARKE CREEK, QLD
4077 HECTARES
Buyer: Kirkwood Grazing, Clermont QLD
Seller: Pat Moran, Central Qld
$16 MILLION
MIDDLE CREEK STATION, KATHERINE, NT
60,200 HECTARES
Buyer: Crown Point Pastoral (Viv Oldfield and Donny Costello)
Seller: Nino Niceforo
$15-$16.5 MILLION-PLUS
BUNYARRA, BRIMIN, VIC
511 HECTARES
Buyer: Private family
Seller: Jeff and Janet Thynne, Brimin VIC
$15.5 MILLION
BOAMBOLO, YASS, NSW
758 HECTARES
Buyer: Murdoch family
Seller: Topfer family, Yass NSW
$15 MILLION
ANNABURROO STATION, POINT STUART, NT
29,010 HECTARES
Buyer: Neil Schembri, Lithgow NSW
Seller: Greg Thompson, Point Stuart NT
$15 MILLION
DOUGLAS SOUTH, DOUGLAS DALY, NT
55,570 HECTARES
Buyer: John and Rae Boland, Emu Hill NSW
Seller: Tony and Michelle Hayne, Douglas Daly NT
$15 MILLION
MALLEE AGGREGATION, LAKE BOGA, VIC
1500 HECTARES
Buyer: Various local buyers
Seller: goFARM Australia
$15 MILLION
ELLENDALE, NEEDILUP, WA
2074 HECTARES
Buyer: Local family
Seller: Trevaskis family, Needilup WA
$14.5 MILLION
EL ROCCO, MOURA, QLD
2012 HECTARES
Buyer: Undisclosed
Seller: Leyland and Karen Sparkes, Moura QLD
$14.5 MILLION
CONWAYS STATION, KATHERINE, NT
139,200 HECTARES
Buyer: Wealthcheck and Viridios Capital
Seller: Conway Country Corp VIC
$14.4 MILLION
BULLARORA, WINGADEE, NSW
5069 HECTARES
Buyer: Michael and Libby Kennedy, Wingadee NSW
Seller: Neighbouring syndicate
$14.25 MILLION
BURWAHST GEORGE, QLD
9943 HECTARES
Buyer: Pastoral Partners Australia
Seller: Scriven family, St George QLD
$14 MILLION-PLUS
TABOOBA, TALWOOD, QLD
5674 HECTARES
Buyer: Rigney family, Talwood QLD
Seller: Geoff and Virginia Phillips, Talwood QLD
$14 MILLION
KOROORA, WANDOAN, QLD
1952 HECTARES
Buyer: Taroom’s Christiansen Ag Pty Ltd
Seller: Undisclosed
$14 MILLION
RYDAN, RUBYVALE, QLD
6979 HECTARES
Buyer: Matt and Sally McKerring, Alpha QLD
Seller: Undisclosed
$14-$15 MILLION
MARONG STATION, DENILIQUIN, NSW
2370 HECTARES
Buyer: Ed Harris and family, Deniliquin NSW
Seller: Muenster family
$14-$15 MILLION
KEMBAH, JACUP, WA
2500 HECTARES
Buyer: Two local families
Seller: Spinks family, Jacup WA
$13.4 MILLION
BINDANGO, ROMA, QLD
2376 HECTARES
Buyer: Jeffrey and Will Ricketts, Roma QLD
Seller: Scott and April Loughnan, Roma QLD
$13.14 MILLION
CURRAMULKA FARMS, CURRAMULKA, SA
353 HECTARES
Buyer: Two neighbouring families
Seller: Longbottom family, Curramulka SA
$12.4 MILLION
LONGREACH PASTORAL COLLEGE CAMPUS, LONGREACH, QLD
17,265 HECTARES
Buyer: PJ and CR Britton, JH and SJ Milson and Outback Pioneers
Seller: Queensland Government
$12.2 MILLION-PLUS
MERRETT FARMS, SERVICETON (VIC, SA)
550 HECTARES
Buyer: Four various
Seller: Merrett family, Kaniva VIC
$12.2 MILLION
BINBIAN DOWNS, CONDAMINE, QLD
2406 HECTARES
Buyer: Croftby Cattle Company, Boonah QLD
Seller: Kennedy family, Condamine QLD
$12 MILLION
NINE MILE CREEK DAIRY, KOROIT, VIC
495 HECTARES
Buyer: Local dairy family
Seller: Harper and Oonagh Kilpatrick, Koroit VIC