In this week's rural property update: New chapter for Nolan Meats with historic Hewitt deal, Maranoa cattle station sells for $14.5m, Aware Super's big move and large horticultural assets hit the market.
Australia’s largest certified organic meat producer is set to acquire one of Queensland’s longest-running family-owned beef processors, with Hewitt entering an agreement to purchase Gympie-based Nolan Meats.
The proposed deal, which remains subject to customary conditions precedent including regulatory approvals, is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026.
In statements, Hewitt and Nolan Meats confirmed the acquisition, with the latter assuring stakeholders it would continue operating on a “business as usual” basis.
“Following completion, Nolan Meats business operations will continue from the current facility in Gympie, Queensland, to provide continuity for all employees, customers and suppliers,” the company said.
Founded by Pat and Marie Nolan as a small butcher shop in Gympie in 1958, Nolan Meats has grown into one of regional Queensland’s major meat processing operations, supplying domestic and export markets across Asia, the Middle East and the United States.
The vertically integrated business now spans breeding, feedlotting, processing, distribution and wholesaling, with its export-accredited processing plant capable of handling more than 1,100 cattle per day.
Over the decades, Nolan Meats has become known for several industry milestones, including becoming the first meat processor in Australia to operate under the Australian Export Meat Inspection System and opening what was, at the time, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest fully automated meat chilling and distribution centre in 2017.
Hewitt has also grown from strong family roots, tracing its history back to 1904 when Deane Hewitt moved from Parramatta to Queensland to work as a jackaroo.
The business formally became the Hewitt Cattle Company in 1987 and has since expanded into one of Australia’s largest integrated organic meat and agriculture operations, overseeing more than 5.6 million acres and 200,000 livestock.
Today, the company operates across the supply chain, from livestock production through to retail-ready products and exports, including its Cleaver’s Organic brand.
Size: 9726ha
Location: Mitchell, QLD
Sale price: $14.5 million
Two established Queensland cattle farming families have joined forces to secure a major Maranoa grazing holding, paying $14.5 million for the 9726ha Glenalba aggregation near Mitchell.
The property, located 18km south of Mitchell and 105km west of Roma, was sold under the hammer at Roma’s Explorers Inn following a competitive public auction campaign that attracted strong interest from local grazing operators.
A syndicate formed between the Jones and Jukes families emerged as the successful purchaser after bidding against another active party, with six registered bidders competing for the well-regarded breeding and backgrounding country.
The final sale price equated to about $1490 per hectare and reflected ongoing confidence in quality western Queensland grazing assets, particularly those offering strong seasonal conditions, reliable water and operational simplicity.
Offered on behalf of Surat vendor Doug Slack, Glenalba spans more than 24,000 acres across eight freehold and two GHFL titles, plus a special lease title.
The holding is regarded as versatile cattle country, capable of running about 1000 adult equivalents or 700 cows across a mix of open Mitchell, Flinders and bluegrass creek flats, along with cleared and cutter-barred country featuring heavy red and chocolate soils.
Large areas of the property are considered suitable for farming, while timbered sections include brigalow, bottle tree, womal, box and bendee ridge country. Winter herbages across the station include Crows Foot, Clover and Lambs Tongue.
Water security was another major drawcard, with Glenalba benefiting from 20 dams, three sub-artesian bores, four creek systems with semi-permanent waterholes and additional infrastructure including solar pumps servicing tanks and troughs.
The property is divided into 20 paddocks plus holding paddocks and laneways, with fencing described as being in tidy condition throughout.
Accommodation and operational infrastructure include renovated three-bedroom quarters, a four-bedroom cabin with ensuites, two cattle yards with undercover working areas and scales, an old five-stand shearing shed, a large hay and machinery shed and a smaller seed shed.
The sale continues a run of strong activity across Queensland’s western grazing market and follows the recent post-auction sale of the nearby 4040ha Woonoona aggregation near Roma.
Woonoona was initially passed in at $15.5 million before being sold shortly afterwards to neighbouring producers Paul and Kellie Christensen of Pinnacle at Roma for an undisclosed sum understood to be above the final bid.
Size: 4,738ha
Location: Victoria, NSW and South Australia
Sale method: EOI closing June 19
Price guide: N/A
An institutional-scale almond portfolio spanning three states is being brought to market, offering investors a rare foothold in one of Australia’s tightly held permanent plantings sector.
Owned by Aware Super, the Almond Portfolio comprises five non-contiguous holdings totalling about 4,738ha across Victoria, NSW and South Australia.
The aggregation includes 2,368ha planted to almonds, 284ha of citrus at Amaroo, and a mix of developable, grazing and support land, all underpinned by 18,250ML of Murray River water entitlements.
The entire portfolio is leased to Select Harvests Limited, providing long-term income backed by one of the world’s largest fully integrated almond producers.
The assets are being marketed by LAWD, with agent Danny Thomas describing the offering as a rare large-scale opportunity.
“Permanent planting opportunities of this scale are increasingly scarce, particularly in almond production,” Mr Thomas said.
“Aware Super’s Almond Portfolio is an extremely high-quality asset featuring mature, productive orchards. If you were talking in commercial real estate terms, the Portfolio would equate to Collins Street- or Pitt Street-grade properties.”
Each of the five properties contributes to the portfolio’s scale and diversification across key horticultural regions.
In South Australia’s Riverland, Amaroo is a 1,719ha holding near Renmark, supporting about 1,130ha of almonds alongside a 284ha citrus orchard planted to navel oranges and mandarins.
The property benefits from direct Murray River access via two pump stations, delivering reliable irrigation through drip and micro spray systems.
In Victoria’s Sunraysia region, Farm 7 is a 186ha property at Cullulleraine, featuring a 158ha almond orchard with a weighted average tree age of nine years, supported by water sourced from Lake Cullulleraine under a water use licence.
Nearby, Mullroo spans about 408ha, with close to 293ha planted to almonds and additional undeveloped and support land, irrigated via Murray River water reticulated through established infrastructure.
Across the border in New South Wales, Bunargool is the largest holding at just over 2,007ha near Euston, with 578ha planted to almonds and the balance comprising undeveloped land, support areas and remnant vegetation. The property includes an 80ML on-farm storage dam to support irrigation reliability.
Also in NSW, Billa Downs covers about 418ha, with 209ha planted to almonds and the remainder used for support or undeveloped purposes, with irrigation supplied via Bunargool’s water infrastructure.
Mr Thomas said the combination of secure income, scale and global market exposure was expected to drive strong interest.
“The lease provides an attractive entry point for large investors seeking exposure to the almond sector, offering long-term stable income and real-asset exposure,” he said.
He added favourable global conditions, including reduced supply from California, water constraints in the United States and sustained demand, were supporting strong pricing and margins in the almond sector.
The portfolio is expected to attract interest from international pension funds, sovereign wealth groups and large family offices, and is being offered for sale via an expression of interest campaign closing June 19.
Size: Koompartu Farms (9,340ha), Nambucca Farms (547ha)
Location: SA and northern NSW
Sale method: Koompartu Farms EOI closing July 2 at 2pm (ACST)/ Nambucca Farms EOI closing July 2 at 2pm (AEST)
Price guide: N/A
Two of Australia’s most significant horticultural assets are set to be offered to market, with institutional-scale almond and macadamia operations in South Australia and northern NSW tipped to attract strong interest from local and offshore investors seeking exposure to permanent crops.
Colliers has been appointed to manage the Expressions of Interest campaign for Koompartu Farms in South Australia and Nambucca Farms in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, with the assets available individually or in one line.
Koompartu Farms, located in the Riverland region, comprises more than 2,500ha of almond plantings, making it the largest almond orchard in South Australia and one of the largest nationally.
Nambucca Farms, near Ballina, is one of only two large-scale macadamia orchards in the Northern Rivers, spanning about 460ha of planted area.
Colliers national director Jesse Manuel said the scale, maturity and sustainability credentials of the assets made them highly compelling investment opportunities.
“Together, Koompartu Farms and Nambucca Farms represent best-in-class horticultural developments, underpinned by modern varietals, professional management, ESG leadership and meaningful scale, a combination seldom available in the Australian market,” Mr Manuel said.
“With developments complete and the establishment phase behind them, Koompartu and Nambucca represent de-risked agricultural investments from a development perspective.
“Purchasers are positioned to benefit immediately, with prime productive years ahead and a long runway of cash flows.”
At Koompartu Farms, the orchard has been developed as one large contiguous operation, designed to maximise efficiency across production, labour and logistics.
The property features modern water infrastructure, a centrally located administration and operations hub, high-quality staff amenities and a varietal mix combining proven commercial almond varieties with self-fertile and self-pollinating plantings.
Colliers’ Tim Altschwager said sustainability and energy infrastructure were standout features of the property.
“The property hosts the largest private, non-mining microgrid in Australia, incorporating a 9MW solar array, battery storage, diesel and grid power, enabling the orchard to source more than 85% of its long-term power requirements from renewable energy,” Mr Altschwager said.
He added the estate also included more than 6,143ha of protected native mallee vegetation secured under a heritage agreement.
Further north, Nambucca Farms has been developed as a fully rain-fed macadamia orchard, benefiting from annual rainfall exceeding 1,750mm and avoiding irrigation-related capital and maintenance costs.
Colliers head of agribusiness Rawdon Briggs said the region was uniquely suited to macadamia production.
“The Northern Rivers is the natural home of macadamias, offering fertile soils and annual rainfall exceeding 1,750mm,” Mr Briggs said.
“The single-variety block planting design allows separate processing by variety, a rare advantage that creates optionality for targeted marketing and pricing outcomes.”
Nambucca Farms also features modern farm infrastructure, staff amenities and extensive sustainability initiatives, including native species hedgerows designed to improve soil protection, reduce nutrient run-off and enhance pollinator habitats.
Kylie Dulhunty is a journalist with more than 20 years experience covering everything from court to health. Today, Kylie loves nothing more than turning market trends, industry insights and epic property sales - residential, rural and commercial - into captivating stories.