Foreign owner to sell two North Queensland cattle stations

Two cattle stations spanning more than 170,000ha have hit the market, where they could field offers worth $100m or more in total.

The Alexandra River flows through the Neumayer Valley Station, near Normanton in Queensland’s Gulf Country.

Two substantial cattle stations in North Queensland have hit the market, listed for sale by the farming company of a late Swiss aviation executive.

Swiss Australian Farm Holdings are selling both the 143,000ha Neumayer Valley Station near Normanton and the 30,000ha Elrose Station near Cloncurry, which are set to field offers worth $100m or more combined.

Both of the stations are part of Swiss Australian Farm Holdings’ notable beef and sheep farming portfolio, which spans from North Queensland down to the 74,000ha sheep station, Netley, near Broken Hill, NSW.

Swiss Australian Farm Holdings also own the 7500ha Naweena at Padthaway and 7000ha Glenstrae at Willalooka in the South East region of South Australia.

Naweena has 1000 Angus cows calving in autumn and 1000 Angus cows calving in spring, while Padthaway has 10,000 Merino ewes for production of wool and lambs. Netley also carries 10,000 Merino ewes for production of wool and meat.

The substantial agricultural portfolio was gradually acquired by the late Oskar J. Schwenk, a former chairman and chief executive of the Pilatus Group — a manufacturer of single-engine turboprop corporate and military aircraft. Mr Schwenk died in 2023.

Cattle yards at the 143,000ha Neumayer Valley Station.

In recent years Swiss Australian Farm Holdings have run Elrose Station in conjunction with Neumayer Valley Station, fattening 4000-5000 steers, while Neumayer Valley carries a herd of 20,000 Brahman Cattle including followers.

Colliers Agribusiness agents Rawdon Briggs, Jesse Manuel, Nicholas Warmington and Prophurst’s Bram Pollock are handling the sale of the two North Queensland cattle stations, offered via expressions of interest individually.

“We are excited to present such premium cattle properties and equally notable breeder herd to the market during a period of increasing interest in Australian beef supply due to diminishing global herd numbers, and particularly the numbers in the Americas,” Colliers head of agribusiness Rawdon Briggs said.

A herd of 16,000 head of Brahman cattle are for sale with the Neumayer Valley Station.

“Rarely in the market does a package become available where a property and its herd have such a significant and commensurate reputation in the industry,” Northern Australian livestock specialist and Prophurst principal Bram Pollock said.

“Neumayer Valley has high branding rates and some of the highest average weaner weights I have seen in this region in the last decade.”

Neumayer Valley Station fronts the Alexandra and Leichardt Rivers, including extensive floodout and downs country, and is offered as a going concern with about 16,000 head of Brahman cattle.

There is also a Grey Brahman herd and 1600ML water licence offered as part of the sale.

Elrose Station has changed hands only once in more than 100 years and for decades was home to one of Queensland’s best known Brahman Studs and selling complexes.

The property comprises a combination of freehold and leasehold country with vast Mitchell grass and Flinders grass downs country is complemented by an extensive network of rivulets and channels associated with the seasonal Fullarton River system.

Elrose Station is offered for sale bare.