Who owns Australia’s biggest farms 2024: 180 stations and their owners
With some of Australia’s biggest properties changing hands in the past year, we list 180 of the nation’s largest – and reveal who owns them.
More than 15 of Australia’s biggest farms and stations have changed hands in high-profile deals in the past 18 months, as influential farming families and investor-backed corporate buyers trade some huge parcels of land.
Most notably the MacLachlans, one of the country’s oldest and most powerful farming families and the nation’s third-largest landowner via Jumbuck Pastoral, has sold Australia’s biggest sheep station and divided its family empire.
The sprawling Rawlinna Station was bought by Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest, via his ASX-listed Fortescue Metals Group’s Fortescue Future Industries last year, while fourth-generation managing directors Jock and Callum MacLachlan departed the family company, taking ownership of several stations each.
Jumbuck Pastoral’s 5.2 million-hectare portfolio was divided between Hugh MacLachlan and his children, with Callum taking control of the Killarney, Wave Hill and Springfield stations, and Jock managing the Meda and McCoys Well properties.
Elsewhere, in Western Australia a 2.9 million-hectare portfolio including seven East Kimberley cattle stations changed hands for more than $300 million as Hong Kong-Australian billionaire Hui Wing Mau sold the portfolio to Canada’s mega-superfund Alberta Investment Management Corporation and Sydney-based partner New Agriculture.
A handful of new players have also entered the frame including Wealthcheck, which purchased the 670,000ha Limbunya and Maryfield Stations at Katherine and the 450,000ha Benmara Station at Elliot.
In addition Dale Appleton and family have massively expanded their Appleton Cattle Company, acquiring the Durrie, Glengyle and Naryilco properties – totalling almost two million hectares – from Gina Rinehart’s S Kidman and Co last year.
However, it is Northern Territory mates and pastoralists, Viv Oldfield and Donny Costello, who hold the title as Australia’s largest private landholders.
Their portfolio spans more than nine million hectares – larger than Tasmania and more than twice the size of Switzerland – via their Crown Point Pastoral Company.
Oldfield and Costello’s most recent purchase of 730,000-hectare Mount Doreen, northwest of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, from the Braitling family, was worth a reported $34.7 million.
AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST FARMS AND THEIR OWNERS
1. ANNA CREEK STATION AND THE PEAKE, COOBER PEDY SA — 2,367,700 HECTARES
Williams Cattle Company
2. CLIFTON HILLS, SA — 1,650,000 HECTARES
Crown Point Pastoral Company
3. ALEXANDRIA STATION, CAMOOWEAL NT — 1,641,416 HECTARES
North Australian Pastoral Company
4. LAKE NASH STATION, BARKLY TABLELAND NT — 1,600,000 HECTARES
Hughes Pastoral
5. DAVENPORT DOWNS, WINTON QLD — 1,510,000 HECTARES
Paraway Pastoral-Macquarie Ag
6. INNAMINCKA STATION, LEIGH CREEK SA — 1,355,000 HECTARES
Crown Point Pastoral Company
7. HOME VALLEY, WA — 1,316,400 HECTARES
Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation
8. MARION DOWNS STATION, BOULIA QLD — 1,287,000 HECTARES
North Australian Pastoral Company
9. WAVE HILL STATION, VICTORIA RIVER NT — 1,250,000 HECTARES
Callum MacLachlan
10. BRUNETTE DOWNS STATION, TENNANT CREEK NT — 1,221,200 HECTARES
Australian Agricultural Company
11. DE GREY STATION, PORT HEDLAND WA — 1,214,100 HECTARES
Bettini Bros
12. QUINYAMBIE STATION, BROKEN HILL NSW — 1,206,500 HECTARES
Mutooroo Pastoral Company
13. NARWIETOOMA AGGREGATION, ALICE SPRINGS NT – 1,100,000 HECTARES
Hewitt Cattle Australia-PSP Investments (Canada)
14. MACUMBA STATION, OODNADATTA SA — 1,100,000 HECTARES
Crown Point Pastoral Company
15. ANDADO STATION, ALICE SPRINGS NT — 1,085,000 HECTARES
Crown Point Pastoral Company
16. NEWCASTLE WATERS STATION, NEWCASTLE WATERS NT — 1,033,101 HECTARES
Consolidated Pastoral Company
17. HEADINGLY STATION, MT ISA QLD — 1,003,200 HECTARES
Australian Agricultural Company
18. TANBAR STATION, WINDORAH QLD — 1,021,904 HECTARES
Paraway Pastoral-Macquarie Ag
19. RAWLINNA STATION, RAWLINNA WA — 1,011,714 HECTARES
Sold to Andrew “Twiggy” Forest’s Fortescue Metals Group via Fortescue Future Industries by Jumbuck Pastoral
20. MT FREELING STATION, LYNDHURST SA — 1,002,000 HECTARES
21. COMMONWEALTH HILL, COOBER PEDY SA — 1,000,000 HECTARES
Jumbuck Pastoral
22. WALHALLOW-CRESSWELL DOWNS, TENNANT CREEK NT — 1,003,400 HECTARES
Listed for sale by Brett Blundy Retail Capital in 2021 and 2022.
23. BARKLY DOWNS, CAMOOWEAL QLD — 942,500 HECTARES
Australian Country Choice
24. ANTHONY LAGOON/EVA DOWNS, TENNANT CREEK NT — 934,900 HECTARES
Australian Agricultural Company
25. STRATHMORE, CROYDON QLD 931,000 HECTARES
Scott Harris
26. DURHAM DOWNS STATION, EROMANGA QLD — 891,000 HECTARES
S Kidman and Co
27. ADRIA DOWNS, BIRDSVILLE QLD — 870,000 HECTARES
Brook Proprietors
28. AVON AND AUSTRAL DOWNS, CAMOOWEAL QLD — 863,100 HECTARES
Australian Agricultural Company
29. NOCKATUNGA STATION, THARGOMINDAH QLD — 852,000 HECTARES
Harris family’s Cleveland Agriculture
30. YOUGAWALLA, KIMBERLEY WA — 843,800 HECTARES
Sold to Alberta Investment Management Corporation (Canada) and its investment partner New Agriculture by Hui Wing Mau (Hong Kong)
31. FLORA VALLEY, KIMBERLEY WA — 824,400 HECTARES
Heytesbury Cattle Company
32. RUBY PLAINS AND STURT CREEK STATIONS, HALLS CREEK WA — 796,000 HECTARES
Crown Point Pastoral Company
33. CORDILLO DOWNS, BIRDSVILLE QLD — 780,000 HECTARES
Brook Pastoral Company
34. DUNBAR STATION, MARAMIE QLD — 777,000 HECTARES
McDonald Holdings
35. NARYILCO STATION, TIBOOBURRA QLD — 751,000 HECTARES
Sold to the Appleton Cattle Company (Dale Appleton and family) by S Kidman and Co
36. MOUNT DOREEN STATION, PAPUNYA NT — 733,700 HECTARES
Sold to Crown Point Pastoral Company by Passchendaele Cattle Company (Braitling family)
37. NAPPA MERRIE STATION, THARGOMINDAH QLD — 720,000 HECTARES
Morella Agriculture
38. TODMORDEN STATION, OODNADATTA SA — 716,860 HECTARES
Todmorden Cattle Company
39. MADURA PLAINS, NULLARBOR PLAIN WA — 708,200 HECTARES
CC Cooper and Co
40. BEETALOO STATION AND OT DOWNS, ELLIOT NT — 707,800 HECTARES
Listed for sale by Brett Blundy Retail Capital and partners Jane and Scotty Armstrong
41. WOLLOGORANG-WENTWORTH, GULF OF CARPENTARIA QLD — 705,198 HECTARES
McMillan Pastoral Company
42. HAMILTON STATION, COOBER PEDY SA — 701,000 HECTARES
Williams Cattle Company
43. KEEROONGOOLOO AND YEPPERA, COOPER CREEK QLD — 700,000 HECTARES
Hughes Pastoral
44. MITTIEBAH STATION, CAMOOWEAL NT — 695,500 HECTARES
North Australian Pastoral Co
45. GLENORMISTON STATION, BOULIA QLD — 692,000 HECTARES
North Australian Pastoral Co
46. MANNERS CREEK STATION, ALICE SPRINGS NT — 687,900 HECTARES
Gibson Grazing
47. ROCKLANDS, CAMOOWEAL QLD – 677,964 HECTARES
Paraway Pastoral-Macquarie Ag
48. BIRRINDUDU STATION, KATHERINE NT — 673,000 HECTARES
Heytesbury Cattle Company
49. BALLADONIA AGGREGATION, NORSEMAN WA — 671,277 HECTARES
Murchison River Pastoral Company
50. LIMBUNYA AND MARYFIELD STATIONS, KATHERINE NT — 670,000 HECTARES
Sold to Wealthcheck by North Star Pastoral
51. PANDIE PANDIE, BIRDSVILLE TRACK SA — 662,500 HECTARES
Crown Point Pastoral Company
52. DURRIE STATION, BIRDSVILLE QLD — 660,000 HECTARES
Sold to the Appleton Cattle Company (Dale Appleton and family) by S Kidman and Co
53. TIEYON STATION, KULGERA SA — 652,730 HECTARES
Paul and Jo Smith
54. BALFOUR DOWNS, ROY HILL WA — 639,500 HECTARES
Sold to Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest and Nicola Forrest’s Harvest Road by TBG Agri Holdings (China)
55. COORABULKA STATION, BOULIA QLD — 637,000 HECTARES
North Australian Pastoral Co
56. MORNEY PLAINS STATION, WINDORAH QLD — 623,000 HECTARES
S Kidman and Co
57. DOONGAN/THEDA STATIONS, KIMBERLEY WA — 610,000 HECTARES
Dunkeld Pastoral Company
58. FROME DOWNS, YUNTA SA. 607,899 HECTARES
Brinkworth family
59. WROTHAM PARK STATION, CAIRNS QLD — 596,880 HECTARES
Consolidated Pastoral Company
60. HELEN SPRINGS STATION, TENNANT CREEK NT — 570,000 HECTARES
S Kidman and Co
61. NILPANNA STATION, COOBER PEDY SA — 565,800 HECTARES
Williams Cattle Company
62. MULKA STATION, MARREE SA — 560,000 HECTARES
Gary Overton
63. TANUMBIRINI STATION, NT — 559,370 HECTARES
Rallen Australia – Langenhoven family
64. GLENGYLE STATION, BIRDSVILLE QLD — 550,000 HECTARES
Sold to the Appleton Cattle Company (Dale Appleton and family) by S Kidman and Co
65. INVERWAY AND RIVEREN STATION, VICTORIA RIVER NT — 550,000 HECTARES
Sold to Hughes Pastoral Company by Hancock Prospecting/Gina Rinehart
66. NAPPERBY STATION, ALICE SPRINGS NT — 550,000 HECTARES
Sold to Hewitt Cattle Australia-PSP Investments (Canada) by Tim and Emily Edmunds. Now forms part of the 1.1 million-hectare Narwietooma aggregation
67. CLUNY STATION, BEDOURIE QLD — 546,000 HECTARES
Arrabury Pastoral Company
68. KILLARNEY STATION, KATHERINE NT — 541,400 HECTARES
Callum MacLachlan
69. MULGATHING, COOBER PEDY — 530,700 HECTARES
Jumbuck Pastoral
70. HENBURY STATION, ALICE SPRINGS NT — 527,300 HECTARES
Henbury Unit Trust
71. MT WILLOUGHBY STATION, COOBER PEDY SA — 507,500 HECTARES
Tjirilya Aboriginal Corporation (managed by the Lennon family)
72. WILGENA, TARCOOLA SA — 507,300 HECTARES
AJ & PA McBride Pty Ltd
73. MEDA STATION, DERBY WA — 505,857 HECTARES
Jock MacLachlan
74. BILLA KALINA, WOOMERA SA — 500,000 HECTARES
Greenfield family
75. CANOBIE STATION, CLONCURRY QLD — 492,100 HECTARES
Australian Agricultural Co
76. MT BARRY STATION, COOBER PEDY SA — 492,000 HECTARES
Williams Cattle Company
77. NANUTARRA/UAROO, ONSLOW WA — 490,000 HECTARES
Minderoo Group/Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest
78. SOUTH GALWAY STATION, WINDORAH QLD — 487,600 HECTARES
Australian Agricultural Co
79. MONTEJINNI STATION, VICTORIA RIVER NT — 485,623 HECTARES
Australian Agricultural Co
80. ABINGDON DOWNS, GEORGETOWN QLD — 484,000 HECTARES
Gunn Agri Partners
81. CALVERT HILLS, BORROLOOLA NT — 481,000 HECTARES
McMillan Pastoral Company
82. CARLTON HILL STATION, KUNUNURRA WA — 475,745 HECTARES
Shanghai Zhongfu (China)
83. MOUNT MARGARET AND BERELLEM, EROMANGA QLD — 470,504 HECTARES
Usher Pastoral Company
84. IDRACOWRA STATION, ALICE SPRINGS NT — 462,800 HECTARES
Angus and Kimberley McKay
85. BRUNCHILLY STATION, TENNANT CREEK NT — 457,200 HECTARES
Sold to Harris family (Cleveland Agriculture) by S Kidman and Co
86. BENMARA STATION, ELLIOT NT — 450,000 HECTARES
Sold to Wealthcheck by Harris family (Cleveland Agriculture)
87. MURRUNJI STATION, KATHERINE NT – 447,500 HECTARES
Bunderra Cattle Company
88. DUNGOWAN STATION, KATHERINE NT — 445,400 HECTARES
Consolidated Pastoral Company
89. MIRANDA DOWNS STATION, NORMANTON QLD – 438,000 HECTARES
Hughes Pastoral Company
90. ROXBOROUGH DOWNS AND MUDGEREBAR STATION, BOULIA QLD – 423,494 HECTARES
McMillan Pastoral Company
91. ARRABURY STATION, BETOOTA QLD. 418,000 HECTARES
Arrabury Pastoral Company
92. CURTIN SPRINGS STATION, ALICE SPRINGS NT — 416,400 HECTARES
Severin family
93. AUVERGNE STATION, KATHERINE NT — 414,200 HECTARES
Clean Agriculture and International Tourism (Vietnam)
94. MOBELLA, COOBER PEDY SA — 413,200 HECTARES
Jumbuck Pastoral
95. AILERON, ALICE SPRINGS NT — 408,000 HECTARES
Listed for sale by the Caason Group
96. ESMERALDA STATION, RICHMOND QLD — 406,000 HECTARES
Gunn Agri Partners
97. DRYSDALE RIVER STATION, KUNUNURRA WA — 404,686 HECTARES
Sunlight Holdings
98. BANJAWARN STATION, LAVERTON WA — 404,000 HECTARES
99. MOOLA BULLA, KIMBERLEYS WA — 402,000 HECTARES
Consolidated Australian Pastoral Holdings (China)
100. ALROY DOWNS STATION, TENNANT CREEK NT. 400,000 HECTARES
Sterling Buntine/Baldy Bay
101. FOSSIL DOWNS STATION, FITZROY CROSSING WA — 400,000 HECTARES
Hancock Prospecting/Gina Rinehart
102. NAPIER DOWNS STATION, DERBY WA — 400,000 HECTARES
Kerry Stokes
103. TIPPERARY GROUP, NT — 386,001 HECTARES
Dunkeld Pastoral Company
104. MULGA DOWNS STATION, PILBARA WA — 384,451 HECTARES
Hancock Prospecting/Gina Rinehart
105. SUPLEJACK STATION, ALICE SPRINGS NT — 381,700 HECTARES
Savage family
106. NORTH WELL, KINGOONYA SA — 381,400 HECTARES
AJ & PA McBride
107. OLD MT BUNDEY, DARWIN NT — 380,000 HECTARES
Tony and Julie Harrower
108. MANBULLOO STATION, KATHERINE NT — 379,130 HECTARES
Buratovich family (Argentina)
109. LAMBINA STATION, MARLA SA — 378,100 HECTARES
AW & K Fennell
110. KALALA STATION, DALY WATERS NT — 376,000 HECTARES
Rallen Australia – Langenhoven family
111. MONKIRA STATION, WINDORAH QLD — 373,000 HECTARES
North Australian Pastoral Co
112. WINTINNA, COOBER PEDY SA — 372,500 HECTARES
J & F Fennell
113. GOGO STATION, FITZROY CROSSING WA — 370,000 HECTARES
Harris family (Cleveland Agriculture)
114. MOUNT LYNDHURST STATION, LEIGH CREEK SA — 348,900 HECTARES
Peter Litchfield and family
115. MUNGABROOM STATION, ELLIOT NT — 346,900 HECTARES
Listed for sale by Brett Blundy Retail Capital and partners Jane and Scotty Armstrong
116. ARCOONA STATION, WOOMERA SA — 343,000 HECTARES
Handbury Group
117. MILLUNGERA STATION, JULIA CREEK QLD — 342,000 HECTARES
Australian Country Choice/Acton Land and Cattle
118. WELBOURN HILL, MARLA SA — 338,700 HECTARES
Sampson family
119. MT LEONARD STATION, BETOOTA QLD — 337,000 HECTARES
Arrabury Pastoral Company
120. MULYUNGARIE STATION, COCKBURN SA — 336,600 HECTARES
Mutooroo Pastoral Company
121. KIANA STATION, LARRIMAH NT – 331,800 HECTARES
Darcy family
122. AMBALINDUM, ALICE SPRINGS NT — 331,000 HECTARES
Hewitt Cattle Australia-PSP Investments (Canada)
123. MARYVALE STATION, ALICE SPRINGS NT — 324,000 HECTARES
Crown Point Pastoral Company
124. AMUNGEE AMUNGEE, ELLIOT NT — 316,900 HECTARES
Brett Blundy Retail Capital
125. BULGUNNIA, COOBER PEDY SA — 309,600 HECTARES
Jumbuck Pastoral
126. MILLY MILLY STATION, MURCHISON WA — 308,641 HECTARES
Milly Milly Pastoral
127. MT SKINNER STATION, ALICE SPRINGS NT — 303,605 HECTARES
McCormack family
128. DELAMERE STATION, VICTORIA RIVER NT — 300,300 HECTARES
Australian Agricultural Co
129. MAGOWRA STATION, NORMANTON QLD — 294,000 HECTARES
Western Grazing Company
130. LEGUNE STATION, KUNUNURRA NT — 285,270 HECTARES
AAM Investment Group
131. VICTORIA RIVER DOWNS, VICTORIA RIVER NT — 282,400 HECTARES
Heytesbury Cattle Company
132. CAMFIELD STATION, VICTORIA RIVER NT — 279,000 HECTARES
Australian Agricultural Co
133. ROEBUCK PLAINS STATION, BROOME WA — 276,000 HECTARES
Indigenous Land Corporation
134. ARCKARINGA STATION, COOBER PEDY SA — 275,000 HECTARES
Williams Cattle Company
135. BULKA, KIMBERLEY WA — 273,163 HECTARES
Sold to Alberta Investment Management Corporation (Canada) and its investment partner New Agriculture by Hui Wing Mau (Hong Kong)
136. MINILYA STATION, CORAL BAY WA — 273,000 HECTARES
Minderoo Group/Twiggy Forrest
137. PINE HILL STATION, ALICE SPRINGS NT — 270,000 HECTARES
Greg Vickers
138. GREGORY DOWNS STATION, MT ISA QLD — 266,425 HECTARES
Paraway Pastoral-Macquarie Ag
139. EPENARRA STATION, BARKLY TABLELANDS NT — 265,600 HECTARES
Bass Cattle Company
140. LIVERINGA STATION, LOOMA WA — 265,000 HECTARES
Hancock Prospecting/Gina Rinehart
141. OBAN STATION, MT ISA QLD — 261,000 HECTARES
Western Grazing Company
142. MT AMHURST STATION, FITZROY CROSSING WA — 260,000 HECTARES
Consolidated Australian Pastoral Holdings (China)
143. BROADMERE, BORROLOOLA NT — 259,000 HECTARES
Sold to Anh Tuan Do (Vietnam) by the estate of late Peter Sherwin
144. WERTALOONA STATION, BLINMAN SA — 257,000 HECTARES
145. BLINA STATION, FITZROY CROSSING WA — 254,648 HECTARES
Jumbuck Pastoral
146. WONDOOLA STATION, NORMANTON QLD — 252,500 HECTARES
Australian Agricultural Co
147. MUTTOOROO STATION, VIA BROKEN HILL SA — 250,300 HECTARES
Mutooroo Pastoral Company
148. TOLARNO STATION, MENINDEE NSW — 250,000 HECTARES
Robert McBride
149. EILDON PARK, WINTON QLD — 249,800 HECTARES
Chris Skelton
150. MT SANFORD NT — 249,700 HECTARES
Heytesbury Cattle Company
151. ISIS DOWNS STATION, ISISFORD QLD — 246,057 HECTARES
Consolidated Pastoral Company
152. NEWRY STATION, NT — 246,700 HECTARES
Clean Agriculture and International Tourism (Vietnam)
153. UCHARONIDGE STATION, TENNANT CREEK NT — 245,550 HECTARES
Cleveland Agriculture
154. MINDEROO STATION, ONSLOW WA — 240,000 HECTARES
Minderoo Group/Twiggy Forrest
155. BABBILOORA STATION, AUGATHELLA QLD — 237,325 HECTARES
Australian Country Choice
156. EVELYN DOWNS, COOBER PEDY SA — 234,500 HECTARES
Caroline Thomas & John Knight
157. MAY DOWNS, MT ISA QLD — 234,000 HECTARES
Lord Cattle
158. NARCISSUS, BOULIA QLD – 232,000 HECTARES
Todd McCormack
159. YAMBAH STATION, ALICE SPRINGS NT — 231,000 HECTARES
Sold to Dan and Sally Muenster by the Gorey family
160. KIRKIMBIE STATION, VICTORIA RIVER NT — 230,400 HECTARES
Consolidated Pastoral Company
161. BRICK HOUSE STATION, CARNARVON WA — 225,000 HECTARES
Minderoo Group/Twiggy Forrest
162. MT SARAH STATION, COOBER PEDY SA — 224,800 HECTARES
Williams Cattle Company
163. YUDNAPINNA, PORT AUGUSTA SA – 224,000 HECTARES
AJ & PA McBride
164. JUBILEE DOWNS, FITZROY CROSSING – 221,408 HECTARES
Minderoo Group/Twiggy Forrest
165. NARNDEE STATION, PAYNES FIND WA — 223,101 HECTARES
Robert and Julie Broadhurst
166. BOOLBIE AND ARCHERVALE, WINTON QLD — 219,676 HECTARES
Grummitt and Reddan families
167. CLARAVILLE STATION, CROYDON QLD – 217,000 HECTARES
Curr family
168. MARGARET RIVER, KIMBERLEY WA — 214,483 HECTARES
Sold to Alberta Investment Management Corporation (Canada) and its investment partner New Agriculture by Hui Wing Mau (Hong Kong)
169. CLONAGH STATION, CLONCURRY QLD — 214,270 HECTARES
Paraway Pastoral-Macquarie Ag
170. ARMRAYNALD STATION, BURKETOWN QLD — 214,090 HECTARES
Paraway Pastoral-Macquarie Ag
171. COOLULLAH STATION, CLONCURRY QLD — 214,000 HECTARES
North Australian Pastoral Co
172. BELLEVUE AGGREGATION, CHILLAGOE QLD – 211,664 HECTARES
American interests
173. CROWN POINT STATION, SA — 209,000 HECTARES
Crown Point Pastoral Company
174. MCDONALD DOWNS NT — 207,000 HECTARES
Scott Cattle Company
175. BEEFWOOD PARK STATION, FITZROY CROSSING WA — 206,000 HECTARES
Consolidated Australian Pastoral Holdings (China)
176. MOOLOOLOO, VICTORIA RIVER NT — 203,600 HECTARES
Heytesbury Cattle Company
177. NERRIMA STATION, LOOMA WA — 203,142 HECTARES
Emanuel family, Western Australia
178. NUMERY, ALICE SPRINGS NT — 202,200 HECTARES
Hewitt Cattle Australia-PSP Investments
179. AMBURLA STATION, ALICE SPRINGS — 202,000 HECTARES
Amburla Nominees
180. MT ELIZABETH STATION, FITZROY CROSSING WA — 200,000 HECTARES
Shanghai Zenith (China)
181. PARDOO STATION, PORT HEDLAND WA — 200,000 HECTARES
Pardoo Beef Corporation (Singapore)
182. VERMELHA STATION NT — 200,000 HECTARES
An Vien Pastoral Holding and Ag (Vietnam)