Which major Australian rural properties are for sale heading into 2022?

As the new year begins, there are a number of major rural properties still on the market. Which farms could fetch the most?

As 2022 begins, eyes will be watching the Australian rural property market closely to see what major farm sales might define the next 12 months.

2021 was a year in farming which saw the rise and rise of rural property demand with a number of record deals made across the country.

The past twelve months also saw the emergence of several buyer trends including the popularity of Aussie farmers forming syndicates to purchase mammoth areas of land.

So which properties will catch the headlines in 2022?

Australian rural property deals watchlist:

$230 million- Walhallow and Amungee Mungee stations, Daly Waters, NT (1.32 million ha)

$120 million- Cowal Agriculture aggregation, Emerald, QLD, (5976ha)

$60 million- Yarrabee Park, Morundah, NSW, (11,260ha)

$15 million-plus- TI Campbell and Sons’ aggregation, northern Riverina, NSW, (6219ha)

EOI: Apache Agriculture portfolio- Newdegate, WA (45,057ha)

Walhallow and Amungee Mungee stations, Daly Waters, NT
One of the biggest stations on the market in 2021 is still there after Covid and the wet season got in the way.

Since June 2021, the Walhallow and Amungee Mungee stations have been on offer priced at about $230m.

Bentleys Queensland managing partner Ben Cameron said the stations have received plenty of interest, but it was circumstances that got in the way of negotiations progressing further.

“For now we have put it on hold, and we will move through to a shortlist of possible buyers,” he said.

“With COVID in the southern states and then the wet weather, the vendor made a decision to park it.”

The one million-hectare Walhallow Station in the Northern Territory’s Barkly Tablelands region, currently owned by Australian-born, Bahamas-based billionaire Brett Blundy. Picture: Supplied

Mr Cameron said since the property has been listed there has been “keen” interest with some coming from local farmers and foreign investment groups.

“There is plenty of interest because both stations are very well developed,” he said.

“There is healthy water supply and fencing, which is a bit less common for the NT.

“The stations have also got scale with the possibility for 90,000 head of cattle at Walhallow and 35,000 head of cattle for Amungee Mungee.”

Both stations are located in the NT, but with considerable distance between the two, Mr Cameron was anticipating the two stations to have split ownership.

“I would say it is more likely to be split and go separate ways,” he said.

“But the stations make sense for buyers with the price of Queensland and New South Wales rural land at the moment.

“We have got the shortlist and will call for finals and hopefully run a quick campaign.”

Cowal Agriculture aggregation, Emerald, QLD
Another property that will be one to watch in 2022 is the 5976ha Cowal Agriculture aggregation, near Emerald, Queensland.

LAWD senior director and rural property specialist Danny Thomas was looking after the sale and said negotiations have entered an exclusivity phase.

Mr Thomas said there was a very high level of interest during the early stages of the listing.

He also said that during the expressions of interest there was some attention from local interests along with foreign interests looking to stake their claim.

Mr Thomas also said the 331ha prawn processing farm, Pacific Reef Fisheries, at Alva Beach and the 9,004ha Lake Boga Agribusiness Portfolio could also go under the hammer in 2022.

Yarrabee Park located in the southern Riverina of NSW is for sale.

Yarrabee Park, Morundah, NSW
In September, one of the biggest cropping farms on the east coast hit the market with an $60m price tag expected.

Expressions of interest for the sale closed in mid-November, but there have been no further developments announced.

With a hefty price tag, the 11,260ha Yarrabee Park site near Wagga Wagga is one to watch in 2022.

TI Campbell and Sons’ aggregation, northern Riverina, NSW
Three NSW farms are on the market for the first time since they were settled in 1885 with a price guide around $15m.

TI Campbell and Sons’ three properties in the northern Riverina are for sale via expressions of interest.

The three properties, two at Goolgowi and one at Gunbar – about an hour north of Griffith – will see a total of 6219ha up for grabs.

The property has been on the market since December and should attract all kinds of interest.

Apache Agriculture portfolio, Newdegate, WA
More than 45,000ha of prized broadacre, cropping and grazing land has become available in Western Australia after one of the states most renowned farm holders John Nicoletti listed the aggregation for sale.

The Apache Agriculture Portfolio comprises 45,057ha split across two aggregations, located in the Shires of Lake Grace and Mount Marshall, Western Australia.

No price tag or asking price has yet been set yet for the land, with the rare listing of WA land set to be the centre of an interesting campaign.