In this week's rural property update: MacLachlan family to sell down large SA holding, Queensland cattle station secures $22.5m and Batlow Apple empire hits the market.Jumbuck Pastoral lists 1.28 million hectares of SA sheep country for sale
Size: 1,289,700ha
Location: Glendambo region, SA
Sale method: EOI
Price guide: Potentially $40 million-plus
Australia’s largest contiguous sheep station aggregation has officially hit the market, with the sprawling 1.289 million hectare Jumbuck Pastoral portfolio expected to attract significant interest from major domestic and international investors chasing large-scale exposure to sheep meat and wool production.
The South Australian aggregation, comprising Commonwealth Hill, Mobella and Bulgunnia stations near Glendambo in the state’s Far North pastoral zone, is being marketed by Elders on behalf of the MacLachlan family-owned Jumbuck Pastoral.
Offered either in one line or as separate holdings on a walk-in walk-out basis, the aggregation spans 1,289,700ha and carries a prescribed stocking capacity of more than 83,300 sheep, alongside a 53,333-head merino flock featuring high-performing genetics.
While the price guide for the aggregation remains undisclosed, industry sources say it could top $40 million if sold as a whole.
The scale of the offering is immense, covering an area more than five times the size of the ACT and larger than dozens of sovereign nations worldwide.
Elders Real Estate Chief Executive Officer Tom Russo said the listing represented a rare opportunity to secure a nationally significant pastoral enterprise during a period of strong global demand for Australian agricultural products.
“This represents a rare opportunity to acquire Australia’s largest contiguous sheep station aggregation during a period of unprecedented growth in demand for quality Australian fibre and protein,” Mr Russo said.
“These assets offer exposure to globally relevant production.
“Global sheep meat export volumes have grown faster than overall production over the last decade, resulting in rising reliance on international trade and reinforcing Australia’s role as a key exporter.
"Investing now to participate in the response to this ever-growing demand is a compelling opportunity, especially when it is anchored by quality and finite real assets.”
The aggregation is being brought to market amid strong seasonal conditions, with abundant feed across the country following favourable rainfall.
Sheep meat prices also remain near record highs, while the wool market is experiencing some of its strongest conditions in years, supported by tightening inventories and increased processor demand.
The portfolio includes extensive infrastructure including numerous dwellings, sheds, sheep yards, water distribution systems, airstrips, plant and equipment, as well as aircraft and vehicle fleets.
The stations also benefit from strategic Stuart Highway access.
Mr Russo said the scale and operational efficiencies of the aggregation were likely to appeal to a broad range of buyers.
“Given the strategic advantages and efficiencies that can be achieved by operating an enterprise at this scale, we anticipate receiving offers from both large private and corporate investors within Australia and internationally," he said.
"Having said that, we will be running a flexible expression of interest process that will accommodate bids on single stations or the entire aggregation, thereby providing the opportunity for a large range of interested parties to participate in the process.”
Established in 1888, Jumbuck Pastoral is one of Australia’s largest sheep and cattle producers, with pastoral holdings across South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales.
The aggregation has been held by the MacLachlan family since the 1940s, with the sale forming part of a long-term succession planning process.
“The portfolio of pastoral assets that has been acquired by Jumbuck nationally over many years of sustained investment is truly extraordinary”, Mr Russo said.
“The decision to divest some of that portfolio is clearly one that is not taken lightly in the context of such a storied and much-admired dynasty.
“That said, the time has come to undertake this restructure and set the platform for the next chapter of that story.”
Size: 25,700ha
Location: Alpha, QLD
Sale price: $22.5 million
A tightly held slice of Central West Queensland grazing country has changed hands for the first time in more than a century, with the landmark cattle station Durrandella selling under the hammer for $22.5 million.
The 25,700ha leasehold property, located 51km south of Alpha, was successfully auctioned at Emerald’s Western Gateway Motel in late May following strong interest from across the country.
Seven parties registered to bid on the historic holding, with four buyers actively competing during the auction campaign handled by Elders Rural Queensland agent Robert Murolo.
Bidding opened at $16 million before quickly escalating through $1 million rises, later slowing to $500,000 increments as competition intensified.
The successful purchasers were the Northern Territory-based Holzwart family, who also own the 160,000ha Avago Station near Daly Waters, along with pastoral interests in Queensland’s Springsure and Roma districts.
Mr Murolo said the result reflected the rarity of large-scale grazing properties being offered to the market in the tightly held Alpha district.
“Alpha's a very tightly held area, not much changes hands,” Mr Murolo said.
“This particular property had been in the same family for 101 years.”
Offered for sale bare of livestock, Durrandella has historically operated as a beef breeding and finishing enterprise and is estimated to carry around 2,355 adult equivalents.
The property is naturally divided by a section of the Great Dividing Range into two distinct areas known as the Back Country and the Front Country.
The Back Country features established buffel grass country mixed with brigalow, ironbark and box country, while the Front Country comprises lighter grazing country supported by areas of buffel grass closer to the homestead.
Infrastructure across the holding includes multiple dwellings, cattle yards, a laneway system, workshop and shedding, supported by bores and dams throughout the property.
Size: 687ha
Location: Batlow, NSW and Stanthorpe, QLD
Sale method: EOI closing on July 9 at 2pm (ACST).
Price guide: N/A
One of Australia’s best-known apple growing operations has hit the market, with the large-scale Batlow and Stanthorpe Apple Orchards Portfolio expected to attract strong interest from institutional investors and offshore capital seeking exposure to premium horticulture assets.
The portfolio, which spans key growing regions in southern NSW and Queensland’s Granite Belt, has been listed for sale through Colliers and includes a vertically integrated orchard business operating under the Batlow Fruit Company and Ausfarm Fresh brands.
Together, the holdings comprise about 687ha across Batlow and Stanthorpe, including about 196ha of established and developing orchards, alongside significant packing, cold storage and logistics infrastructure.
The aggregation is being marketed as a rare opportunity to secure a fully integrated orchard-to-market platform with existing supply relationships to major supermarket chains and fresh produce markets.
Colliers National Director of Transaction Services and Agribusiness Tim Altschwager said the scale and structure of the operation positioned it as a standout offering in the horticulture sector.
“Batlow Apples represents a true institutional-grade horticulture platform, combining scale, premium varietal exposure and integrated infrastructure with one of Australia’s most recognised fresh produce brands,” Mr Altschwager said.
“The ability to acquire a fully integrated supply chain spanning production, packing and distribution across multiple growing regions is exceptionally rare.”
The NSW assets comprise about 350ha, including roughly 67ha of orchards in Batlow, while the Queensland component spans approximately 331ha at Stanthorpe, including more than 129ha of mature orchards.
The orchards produce a mix of premium apple varieties including Cosmic Crisp, Bravo, Envy, Kanzi and Jazz, as well as Pink Lady apples, targeting higher-margin domestic demand.
A major feature of the portfolio is its extensive infrastructure, headlined by a recently upgraded packing and processing facility at Batlow with a gross building area of about 20,829sq m and capacity to process around 70,000 bins of fruit.
Additional packing and cold storage infrastructure is also located at Stanthorpe.
Colliers Senior Executive of Transaction Services and Agribusiness Nick Warmington said the geographic spread of the orchards strengthened the long-term appeal of the business.
“This is a highly efficient orchard-to-market operation with established relationships with major supermarket groups and a long-standing reputation for premium Australian produce,” Mr Warmington said.
“The geographic spread across NSW and Queensland also provides meaningful climatic diversification, supporting supply continuity and reducing seasonal risk.”
Batlow apples date back to 1922 and have become one of the country’s most recognisable fresh produce brands.
The portfolio also includes expansion potential through additional plantable land and ongoing orchard redevelopment opportunities.
The Batlow and Stanthorpe Apple Orchards Portfolio is being offered for sale either in one line or as separate parcels via expressions of interest closing on July 9 at 2pm (ACST).
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.