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.

China’s Guangxi Qiutian Investment Co. Ltd purchased their second historic Victorian rural estate earlier this year.

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.

The Hui family sold their 2.9 million Kimberley Cattle Portfolio for more than $300 million.

“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

Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group purchased Rawlinna Station earlier this year.

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