Blue ribbon NT cattle station sold for almost $50 million

A renowned 64,700ha coastal flood plain station, east of Darwin, has changed hands in a huge deal with a Northern Territory cattle baron.

The 64,700ha Woolner Station, east of Darwin, has been sold to the Langenhoven family.

A South African expat cattle farming family have further expanded their northern Australian holdings acquiring a 64,700ha station, located 150km east of Darwin on the flood plains of the Mary River.

It is understood the Langenhoven family has acquired Woolner Station, adding the highly regarded cattle backgrounding property to their expansive 1.1 million-hectare pastoral portfolio in the Top End.

During the past 15 years Woolner Station had been backgrounding cattle for third party clients such as northern breeder enterprises, before it was listed for sale, bare of livestock, plant and equipment, last year by well-known Northern Territory businessman David Walker.

It is understood the Langenhoven family have bought the Woolner Station for $49 million, or the equivalent of about $757 a hectare.

Woolner Station is now the Langenhoven family’s seventh northern cattle property, following a $200 million expansion since 2018, making the family one of the largest private landholders in the state.

Five years ago they paid $58m, walk-in walk-out, for the 376,000ha Barkly Tableland breeding property Kalala Station, which included 20,000 breeders and followers.

In early 2020 they also purchased the Tanumbirini and Forrest Hill Stations, near Daly Waters NT, for about $70 million, including about 36,000 cattle.

Pierre Langenhoven and Luciana Ravazzotti lead the family’s pastoral enterprise under the Rallen Australia banner.

Rallen Australia director Pierre Langenhoven. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Ms Ravazzotti is the daughter of Giovanni Ravazzotti, the founder and majority owner of tiler and bathware retailer Italtile, regarded as one of South Africa’s richest men.

Andrew Gray Land and Livestock principal Andrew Gray handled the sale of the Woolner Station but did not comment on the transaction.

Located in a 1700mm annual rainfall region with 18km of coastal frontage, the Woolner Station comprises 48,000ha of fertile black soils, suitable for various tropical pasture species.

Marine plain country at the Woolner Station.

In recent seasons the property has been used to background up to 15,000 cattle between April to December, growing calves out to about 250kg.

Comprising about 75 per cent of low lying to level coastal and alluvial flood plains, the property is estimated to be capable of carrying 20,000 head of cattle.