Chinese investors list whopping NSW cattle farms for sale

More than 17,400ha of NSW farmland has stormed the market in separate offerings which could fetch offers worth nine-figures combined.

Chinese investors via Aohai Australia are selling the 7377-hectare Butheroo and 5351-hectare McEvers Park, on the NSW Liverpool Plains.

Chinese investors are preparing to offload almost 13,000 hectares of grazing and mixed farmland sprawled west of Gunnedah on the NSW Liverpool Plains, in a pair of premier listings.

Aohai Australia, a subsidiary of China-based Hunan Aohai Development Co, have listed their 7377-hectare mixed farming enterprise, Butheroo, as well as the five-farm aggregation known as McEvers Park, which spans a further 5351 hectares.

Directed by Sydney-based Yawen Huang, Zuhong Yu and Mingqian Yu, Aohai Australia made their first foray into Australian agriculture with the purchase of Butheroo for $9.5 million in 2016 from the Dunbier Pastoral Company.

Four years later they added to Butheroo, paying about $18 million to acquire five adjoining properties at Goolhi, from the D’Hudson family, now known as McEvers Park.

Both Aohai Australia’s Butheroo and McEvers Park have run as predominantly beef enterprises in recent years.

However, Aohai Australia is now seeking to divest the assets and reinvest the capital from the farm sales elsewhere in their investment portfolio.

No price guide has been offered for the two properties, which are for sale via expressions of interest.

CBRE Agribusiness agents James Beer, Nick Connor, John Harrison and Thomas Quinn are handling the sale.

Since the Aohai Australia’s deals for McEvers Park and Butheroo land values have exploded with notable recent sales in the region, including the $17.3 million, or about $7600 a hectare deal, for Tuwinga at Bundella, through auction.

Butheroo, located between Binnaway and Coolah, has been used for beef and sheep production in recent seasons, while there is about 1100 hectares of arable cropping land, with the balance comprising grazing, support land and further areas of remnant vegetation.

Butheroo is rated to have a carrying capacity of 20,000 dry sheep equivalent, while including a four-bedroom main homestead with a swimming pool and tennis court, as well as five additional dwellings.

About 140km north of Butheroo, is the McEvers Park aggregation at Goolhi, which is rated to carry a more substantial 35,000 dry sheep equivalent.

A mix of beef production and winter and summer cropping runs at McEvers Park, with about 1825 hectares of arable cropping land, and a balance comprising grazing land and support areas.

The historic Millers Creek Station has been listed for sale.

Also on the NSW Liverpool Plains, the historic 4743-hectare mixed-farming and grazing property, Millers Creek Station, has hit the market where it is expected to be worth $25 million-plus.

Located at Willow Tree, about 190km east of Aohai Australia’s Butheroo, offers worth more than $5270 a hectare are expected for Millers Creek Station.

Josie Walton and daughters Zara Holmes a Court and Alice Strang are selling Millers Creek Station, which has been held in the same family for almost 60 years, dating back to when it was purchased by the late Harry Evans in 1966.

Inglis Rural Property are handling the sale of Millers Creek Station via expressions of interest closing October 9.

The estimated carrying capacity is about 1200 cows and followers plus 316ha for cash and fodder crops.

The property also features a fully renovated six-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom homestead including the primary four-bedroom residence and two-bedroom, two-bathroom semi detached guest quarters.