Plumthorpe Station, near Barrabra, NSW, sold prior to auction

In one of the biggest farm sales this spring, a 11,323ha northern NSW cattle station has been sold in a whopping deal.

The historic 11,323ha Plumthorpe Station in northern NSW has been sold in a deal understood to be worth more than $80 million in one of the largest rural property sales this spring.

It is understood a private Australian family with other rural interests has purchased the Plumthorpe Station in a walk-in walk-out deal.

The aggregation, which comprises three adjoining farms near Barrabra, NSW, was sold prior to its scheduled auction on Wednesday, November 9.

After a number of offers from interested buyers, a private family syndicate, which has reportedly owned Plumthorpe Station since 2008, sold the aggregation for an undisclosed price.

When the station was listed for sale in September it was expected it could fetch about $80 million or $20,000 to $28,000 per cow area.

It is understood the sale exceeds this figure and is a walk-in walk-out deal which includes about 3500 cows, 1000 dry cattle, plant and equipment.

Plumthorpe Station includes a circa-1936 11-bedroom homestead fully-restored and well-maintained.

Located in the Banoon Valley, Plumthorpe Station comprises Plumthorpe (4110.05ha), Campo Santo (2747.50ha) and Mayvale (4465.64ha) farms.

As a whole, the aggregation has a capacity to carry about 80,000 to 85,000 dry sheep equivalent or about 4000 to 4500 breeding cows.

There was more than 30 inspections of Plumthorpe Station as predominantly existing farming family enterprises from across Australia’s eastern states tried to secure the historic station.

Meares and Associates rural property principal Chris Meares and Hart Rural Agencies principal Charlie Hart handled the sale.

Plumthorpe Station has a capacity to carry about 80,000 to 85,000 dry sheep equivalent or about 4000 to 4500 breeding cows.

“In all my years as a practising agent in the Barraba district there is no doubt that the adjoining properties of Plumthorpe, Campo Santo and Mayvale are three of the outstanding large rural livestock and farming holdings of northern NSW,” Mr Hart said when Plumthorpe was listed for sale.

The Plumthorpe Station was originally formed in 1888, and includes a circa-1936 11-bedroom homestead fully-restored and well-maintained.

Recently, the Plumthorpe Station was run as a beef breeding, backgrounding and fattening property, usually conservatively running about 4000 Angus breeding cows and followers.

Earlier this year Greg Upton and family sold their 2668ha northern NSW cattle property, Upton Farms, prior to auction for a figure about $80 million, reportedly to the Rea family.