In this week’s property round-up with Kylie Dulhunty, Western Australia dominates with two major listings — Capel Vale Wines, on the market for the first time in more than 50 years, and the 9,938ha Eastern Wheatbelt aggregation Waitavalo Farms. In South Australia, tightly held Mid North cropping property Denham sold under the hammer for $3.4 million.
Size: 9.72ha
Location: Capel, WA
Sale method: EOI
Price guide: N/A
One of Western Australia’s most established wine estates has been placed on the market, with the Pratten family listing Capel Vale Wines after more than 50 years of continuous family ownership.
The Geographe region winery, located about 200km south of Perth, was founded in 1974 by Dr Peter Pratten and has grown into a fully integrated wine business with a strong domestic and international profile.
The sale marks the first time the award-winning operation, located at 118 Mallokup Road, Capel, has been offered to buyers.
Capel Vale Wines spans 9.72ha, including 7.33ha of vineyards planted to premium varieties including malbec, chardonnay, shiraz and merlot.
The property features a high-capacity winery with the ability to crush up to 2,500 tonnes, along with extensive tank and barrel storage of about three million litres and a bottling line capable of producing 6,300 bottles per hour.
A cellar door and hospitality facilities are also included, positioning the estate as a turnkey wine production and tourism asset.
The brand has an established national footprint, with distribution across all Australian states and relationships with major retailers.
Prior to the pandemic, Capel Vale Wines exported to more than 20 countries, including Europe, Asia and the US
The property is being offered to the market through a Colliers Agribusiness Expressions of Interest campaign.
“This is a rare opportunity to acquire one of WA’s pioneering wine brands, complete with a fully operational winery and a strong distribution network,” Colliers Associate Director Agribusiness Nick Goode said.
“We’ve already seen significant interest from both established wine businesses and private investors looking for a premium asset with scale and heritage.”
Colliers National Director Agribusiness Tim Altschwager said Capel Vale’s location in the Geographe region offered ideal growing conditions and proximity to Perth and the South West’s major destinations.
“It’s a compelling proposition for buyers seeking a strategic foothold in one of Australia’s most consistent cool-climate wine regions,” he said.
Expressions of Interest are now open, with inspections available by appointment through the exclusive selling agents.
Size: 9,938.2ha
Location: Narembeen, WA
Sale method: EOI closing at 1pm AWST on January 21
Price guide: N/A
A large-scale mixed farming aggregation in Western Australia’s Eastern Wheatbelt has been listed for sale, offering buyers the chance to secure a highly productive enterprise with scale, water security and flexible acquisition options.
Known as Waitavalo Farms, the holding spans 9,938.2ha across Narembeen and South Kumminin and has been operated as a cropping and livestock enterprise for decades.
About 8,480ha is considered arable, with conservative rotations typically seeing roughly half the land cropped and half under pasture each year.
The operation produces wheat, barley, oats and lupins alongside a sheep enterprise and is supported by an extensive suite of farming infrastructure and housing.
“The property is a rare opportunity to acquire a highly profitable holding with scale in a sought-after farming region,” according to the listing.
Water security is a standout feature, with multiple scheme meter connections and 64 dams across the aggregation.
Soils are predominantly medium clay, sand loams and gravel, with gently undulating topography and average annual rainfall of about 332mm, according to Bureau of Meteorology data for Narembeen.
The property is well-located, about 7km from Narembeen, 36km from Bruce Rock, 67km from Merredin and about 245km east of Perth.
It benefits from extensive road frontage across numerous sealed and unsealed local roads and is held across 24 freehold titles within the Shires of Narembeen and Kondinin.
Waitavalo Farms is available as a whole or in four parcels, known as ‘Waitavalo’, ‘Martin’s’, ‘Dobra’s & Baker’s’ and ‘Ricay Downs’.
There is also the option to purchase farming equipment, machinery and livestock on a partial walk-in in walk-out basis.
The aggregation is being offered for sale by expression of interest, through Nutrien Harcourts WA, closing at 1pm AWST on January 21, unless sold prior.
Size: 302.49ha
Location: Melrose, SA
Sale Price: $3.4 million
Highly regarded Upper Mid North farming property Denham has sold under the hammer for $3.4 million, reinforcing strong demand for quality arable country in tightly held South Australian districts.
The 302.49ha holding on Bishop Rd, about 5km north-east of Melrose, attracted five registered bidders when it went to auction at the Melrose Town Hall in late 2025, achieving a sale rate of about $4,785 per arable acre.
Offered as a whole, with the option to be split into two non-contingent lots if required, Denham comprises two adjoining blocks - a 172ha eastern parcel and a 130.49ha western block - and is predominantly all arable, featuring fertile red and brown loam soils.
The property is well regarded for its enterprise flexibility, lending itself to a broad range of cropping options including cereals, lentils, legumes, pulses, oilseeds and hay production.
It is connected to SA mains water via a private agreement and includes useful shedding on the eastern block, along with sound, stock-proof fencing throughout.
Agents said the result reflected the appeal of productive, well-located country with strong soil profiles and reliable infrastructure, particularly in regions where supply remains limited.
The vendors were fully committed to selling, creating a genuine opportunity for buyers to secure a premium asset in a district known for its long-term performance.
Ray White Rural South Australia marketed Denham as an ideal expansion opportunity for local farming businesses, as well as a standalone investment proposition, and the competitive bidding highlighted ongoing confidence in high-quality arable land despite broader volatility across rural property markets.
The sale adds to a growing list of strong results for well-presented cropping assets across South Australia’s Mid North.
Australia’s rural property market ended 2025 defined by a widening north–south divide, with grazing and mixed-farming assets in northern regions showing far greater resilience than those in the south, according to Herron Todd White’s latest Month in Review.
The report found northern Australia continued to benefit from stronger livestock fundamentals and steadier buyer demand, while southern markets remained weighed down by elevated costs, interest rates and cautious sentiment.
“2025 closes with the Australian grazing property market continuing to be defined by a significant north-south divide and a standoff between vendor expectations and buyer capacity,” HTW Director Frank Peacocke said.
In Queensland, northern NSW, the Northern Territory and the Kimberley, grazing markets were described as generally steady and liquid, underpinned by rising livestock prices and improved producer confidence.
Demand remains strongest for well-located, scalable assets, particularly those priced competitively on a per-adult-equivalent basis.
READ MORE: Feedlots, red meat and secure water assets underpin steady farmland outlook for 2026
By contrast, southern Australia continues to experience softer conditions, with transaction volumes low and selling periods lengthening despite recent rainfall improvements.
“In the southern regions (Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Southern New South Wales) values are generally softening and sales volumes remain low,” Mr Peacocke said, noting that the slump had been driven by “high production costs and interest rates which continue to outweigh the benefits of good recent rainfall”.
HTW Director Graeme Whyte said the horticulture market was increasingly selective, with buyers focusing on quality and operational efficiency.
“There is a two-speed market,” he said.
“The market is segmented by region. Northern Australia is seeing steady liquidity and reasonably good demand for premium assets.
“Southern Australia is experiencing subdued volumes, with buyers remaining cautious despite improved seasonal conditions.”
Encouragingly, the recovery in livestock markets is beginning to lift sentiment across grazing regions.
The report highlighted strong year-on-year rises in the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator, National Young Cattle Indicator and National Trade Lamb Indicator as evidence producers were restocking and re-engaging with the market.
HTW Director Benjamin Mugavin Director said optimism was starting to emerge after a prolonged correction.
“Over the past year, conditions have stabilised but transaction volumes remain low and selling periods have generally lengthened. This reflects a cautious buyer sentiment, with less urgency in decision-making and a greater emphasis on productive and financial due diligence,” he said.
However, the report cautioned that broader confirmation would depend on conditions through the 2026 autumn selling season, noting that while enquiry had lifted, “one sale does not define a market”.
If livestock prices remain firm and seasonal conditions cooperate, the report suggests rural land markets could be poised for a gradual recovery, led again by high-quality assets in proven regions.
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.