UK-based businessman Anthony Crichton-Brown purchases Natue Station near Hay in the Riverina

A UK buyer has snapped up a 16,200ha slice of the NSW western Riverina.

Significant player: UK businessman Anthony Crichton-Brown has purchased Natue Station near Booligal in the NSW western Riverina.

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A UK buyer has snapped up a 16,200ha slice of the NSW western Riverina.

Selling agents Inglis Rural Property today confirmed Australian-raised, London-based businessman Anthony Crichton-Brown, a former chairman of Lumley Insurance, had purchased Natue Station at Booligal, northwest of Hay.

The holding, which comprises the Fairleigh and Box Creek properties, has been held by the Robinson family for about 130 years.

Selling agent Sam Triggs of Inglis Rural Property said Natue had attracted significant buyer interest since it was listed late last year with about 15 submissions from interested parties.

Mr Triggs said Natue, which has traditionally been run as a Merino sheep-breeding operation, would provide “critical mass” to Mr Crichton-Brown’s existing pastoral interests, which includes the 34,000ha Toronga Station near Hay, purchased in 2010, and the 388ha Merrilla property near Goulburn, purchased last year.

Mr Crichton-Brown’s Coolong Pastoral Australia formerly owned the showpiece Deltroit and Humula stations east of Wagga Wagga.

Mr Triggs said while the Natue sale price was undisclosed, grazing land around Booligal was commanding $250-$370/ha “depending on the standard of improvements including water systems, fencing, housing and yards, shearing sheds and so on”.

“If there are some extenuating circumstances or features, the values can be stronger,” he said.

Inglis director Jamie Inglis said demand for rural properties in the NSW Riverina was strong with “continued interest from investors seeking to secure … low-input grazing land, high-input developed irrigation assets along with water entitlements”.

“The introduction of cotton has undoubtedly put significant upward pressure on land and water, along with other groups chasing assets for permanent plantings including walnuts and almonds,” Mr Inglis said.

Furthermore, Mr Triggs said Inglis had been commissioned by “an existing Australian landowner looking to expand” to secure a Riverina grazing property with the capability of carrying 30,000 to 40,000 dry sheep equivalents.