In this week's rural property update: Major Gulf Country grazing properties head to auction,hHistoric Farina Station sells for $2.75 million at auction, tight supply pushes Australian farmland prices to another record and Tamworth's iconic Meadow Bank offers rare equine and landbank opportunity.
Size: Yappar River (41,900ha) and Ella Vale (10,800ha)
Location: North Queensland
Sale method: Online auction on July 30
Price guide: N/A
Two substantial Gulf Country grazing properties have been brought to market, offering buyers the chance to secure quality cattle breeding country in one of Australia's most tightly held pastoral regions.
Yappar River and Ella Vale stations, located between Normanton and Croydon in North Queensland's renowned Gulf cattle country, are being offered for sale separately through Colliers Agribusiness in conjunction with Prophurst Livestock and Rural Property.
The properties will go under the hammer via online auction on July 30.
Yappar River Station spans about 41,900ha and is being offered on a walk-in, walk-out basis, including about 3,465 Brahman and Brahman-cross cattle, along with plant and equipment.
The property features extensive frontage to both the Norman River and Yappar River, approximately 36 dams, numerous permanent and semi-permanent water sources, eight paddocks, seven holding paddocks and two operational cattle yards.
Infrastructure also includes a substantial homestead complex comprising a four-bedroom residence, workshop, machinery shed and associated operational improvements.
Following an extended wet season, a comprehensive first-round muster was completed in early June. All cattle included in the sale have been fitted with NLIS tags, with the muster processing and stock count independently verified.
Ella Vale Station covers approximately 10,800ha and is located about 25km west of Croydon.
The property is being offered bare of livestock, plant and equipment and is supported by three bores, six dams, seasonal creek systems and modern cattle handling facilities. Improvements include a Mary Kathleen-style residence and established fencing designed to support efficient livestock management.
Colliers Head of Agribusiness Rawdon Briggs said opportunities to acquire quality Gulf breeding country of this scale were becoming increasingly rare.
"This region remains one of Australia's most tightly held pastoral areas, with quality breeding country rarely changing hands and demand continuing to outpace supply," Mr Briggs said.
"The individual combinations of productive land systems, water security and established operational infrastructure will appeal to a broad range of buyers from family operators, established pastoral companies and institutional investors."
Prophurst Livestock & Rural Property principal Bram Pollock said the properties represented a rare opportunity to secure well-developed breeding country in a region underpinned by strong market fundamentals.
"The Gulf cattle market continues to benefit from strong underlying demand, supported by established domestic and export beef supply chains," Mr Pollock said.
"Opportunities to acquire grazing assets with this combination of scale, carrying capacity and operational development are seldom offered to the market."
Colliers Agribusiness senior executive Nicholas Warmington said the properties offered buyers immediate operational scale while remaining well connected to major livestock marketing channels and export infrastructure across northern Australia.
"The properties provide immediate operational scale and the flexibility to suit a range of ownership and management strategies," Mr Warmington said.
Yappar River and Ella Vale stations will be auctioned separately online at 1pm AEST on Thursday, July 30.
Size: 22,700ha
Location: Lyndhurst, SA
Sale price: $2.75 million
Historic South Australian pastoral holding Farina Station has changed hands at auction, with the Barnes family securing the 22,700ha sheep and cattle property for $2.75 million.
Jason and Jane-Marie Barnes, who currently lease Gidgealpa Station near Innamincka, purchased the property on a walk-in, walk-out basis, including 1,460 breeding ewes and about $250,000 worth of plant and equipment.
Farina was offered for sale in May by retiring owners Kevin and Anne Dawes after 44 years of ownership.
Located on the Outback Highway, 26km north of Lyndhurst and 55km south of Marree, the station combines productive grazing country with an established tourism enterprise.
Carrying a pastoral rating of 2,700 DSE, the property has traditionally operated as a self-replacing Merino sheep enterprise while also supporting Dorper sheep and Angus and Hereford cattle.
The successful purchaser will also have the opportunity to take up the annual licence for the adjoining 5,526ha Lyndhurst Common, increasing the property's grazing capacity to about 3,300 DSE.
The sale follows an exceptional start to the 2026 season, with significant rain events in February and March transforming the property's feed base and filling its extensive water infrastructure.
Leigh, Witchelina, Mundy and Farina creeks traverse the station before converging near the homestead, creating productive flood-out country renowned for quality grazing.
The property is further supported by 10 dams and three seasonal catchments, all currently full.
Infrastructure includes a four-bedroom homestead, workers' accommodation, machinery sheds, a five-stand shearing shed, steel sheep and cattle yards and shearers' quarters.
Alongside its livestock operation, Farina generates a significant secondary income from tourism through its popular Farina Campgrounds, self-drive four-wheel-drive track and short-stay accommodation.
The tourism business has become a destination for travellers visiting the nearby Farina township and its famous underground bakery, which attracts thousands of visitors during its annual eight-week operating season.
Australian farmland prices have climbed to another record high despite a sharp slowdown in sales, as strong livestock returns and reluctant vendors continue to tighten the supply of quality grazing country.
New Digital Agricultural Services data analysed by Ray White Group Head of Research Vanessa Rader shows the national median farmland price reached $11,032 per hectare in the March 2026 quarter, while the number of transactions slumped 35 per cent year-on-year to just 1,055 sales.
Ms Rader said the decline in listings was not a sign of weakening confidence but reflected producers choosing to hold onto productive assets.
“Landholders who did come to market achieved strong prices, and the state-level data shows considerable variability in both directions,” she said.
Queensland recorded a 14 per cent increase in median values to $11,032 per hectare despite transaction volumes falling 45 per cent.
Victoria posted the strongest price growth nationally at 19.7 per cent, reaching $16,268 per hectare, while Western Australia continued its long-term rise to $7,650 per hectare, up from $6760 per hectare.
South Australia was the only state to remain largely unchanged, with prices sitting at $10,415 per hectare.
Sales activity fell across every major farming state in the March quarter, highlighting the ongoing shortage of quality farmland coming to market.
Queensland recorded the largest decline, with transaction volumes dropping 45 per cent year-on-year, while Victoria also experienced a sharp fall in sales numbers, down 42 per cent, despite posting the strongest price growth nationally.
New South Wales recorded a 31 per cent decline in transaction volumes, while South Australia was a more resilient market, with sales easing by just 7 per cent.
Western Australia also bucked the broader trend to some extent, recording the smallest decline among the larger states, with transaction volumes down 4 per cent as strong production fundamentals continued to support buyer confidence.
According to Ms Rader, buoyant livestock markets have played a major role in keeping properties off the market.
"When a grazing property is generating returns at that level, the incentive to sell the land underpinning it weakens considerably," she said.
Ms Rader said the same trend was evident across sheep and wool enterprises, where strong lamb and wool prices were encouraging producers to retain their holdings despite mounting operating costs.
While cattle and sheep producers have benefited from favourable markets, cropping businesses are facing a far tougher outlook.
The latest ABARES Agricultural Commodities Report forecasts broadacre farm profits will fall 70 per cent in 2026-27 as higher fuel and fertiliser costs bite.
Diesel prices have risen more than 30 per cent following conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, while urea prices have surged by more than 80 per cent.
Despite those pressures, Ms Rader said lower profitability was unlikely to trigger a wave of farm sales.
"Compressed margins tend to discourage vendors from selling at precisely the moment buyers might anticipate price softening, reinforcing the supply constraints already evident in the transaction data," she said.
Ms Rader said farm values remained well supported heading into the second half of the year, with limited supply continuing to underpin prices.
"The farm property market is well supported heading into the second half of 2026," she said.
"Prices are holding and in most states still rising, underpinned by vendor confidence and a supply environment that remains among the tightest on record."
Whether those conditions persist, she said, will largely depend on the success of the eastern states' winter cropping season and whether livestock markets maintain their current strength.
Size: 60ha
Location: Tamworth, NSW
Sale method: EOI closing July 27 at 5pm
Price guide: N/A
One of northern NSW's premier equine and campdrafting properties has been listed for sale, offering buyers a rare opportunity to secure a purpose-built horse enterprise with significant lifestyle and future development appeal.
Meadow Bank, the 60ha (150-acre) property on Tamworth's southern fringe and home to Koobah Performance Horses, has been brought to market through Meares and Associates via an expressions of interest campaign closing on July 27 at 5pm.
Located in the rapidly growing Kingswood precinct, about 10km south of the Tamworth CBD and just 4.5km from the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC), the property combines extensive equine infrastructure with long-term landbanking potential.
Meares and Associates director Chris Meares said the offering was unlike anything else currently available in the region.
"Meadow Bank is an exceptionally rare offering that combines scale, location and high-quality equine infrastructure in one tightly held holding,” he said.
“It will appeal to equine and lifestyle buyers alike, while also presenting a compelling strategic opportunity for investors seeking exposure to Tamworth's continued growth and expansion."
The property was acquired by the current owners in 2007 and has since been transformed into one of the leading private equine and campdrafting facilities servicing northern NSW and southern Queensland.
At the heart of the operation is a purpose-built campdraft complex featuring a 140m by 120m arena, cattle yards, holding yards, grandstand seating for up to 300 spectators, permanent lighting, event facilities and dedicated parking.
Supporting infrastructure includes a covered 50m by 24m indoor arena, extensive stabling, an automatic six-horse walker, veterinary facilities, machinery and hay sheds and quality water infrastructure.
The property also provides substantial accommodation, including a renovated four-bedroom homestead overlooking Tamworth and the Moonbi Ranges, an adjoining granny flat, a four-bedroom manager's residence with attached office or studio apartment, and three one-bedroom dongas for staff or event guests.
Beyond its appeal to horse enthusiasts, Meadow Bank also offers strategic development potential.
Bordered by established residential development to the north and east, the property sits within one of Tamworth's key growth corridors.
It is zoned RU4 Primary Production Small Lots with a minimum subdivision size of 9.9ha, creating opportunities for future subdivision or longer-term landbanking, subject to council approval.
The farm is divided into eight main paddocks and benefits from an average annual rainfall of about 710mm, a high-performing bore producing about 2,000 gallons an hour, extensive rainwater storage and access to town water.
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.