Each week, we take the pulse of rural property - from sales data to who’s making headlines. Check out this week's report from Kylie Dulhunty.
Size: 711,638ha
Location: Eucla, WA
Sale method: Staged EOI
Price guide: N/A
One of the world’s largest sheep stations, the vast ‘Madura Plains’ aggregation spanning the WA-SA border, has been listed for sale in a rare offering of scale, modernisation and turnkey productivity.
Elders has been appointed by CC Cooper & Co to divest the 711,638ha pastoral enterprise, which will be marketed on a walk-in walk-out basis – including all livestock, plant and equipment – through a staged expressions of interest process beginning this month.
The station comprises the historic Madura and Moonera pastoral leases, carrying more than 60,000 sheep, complemented by 3,500 Boer-cross goats.
Its strategic location enables access to both WA and eastern Australian sheep and wool markets. No price guide has been offered for the property.
‘Madura Plains’ pastoral history stretches back nearly 150 years.
The original Madura lease was taken up in 1876 by G. Heinzmann to breed cavalry horses for the British Imperial Indian Army, selected for its reliable bore water and abundant natural feed.
During World War II, the property again played a strategic role when its bore supplied water to army engineers building the Eyre Highway.
The modern aggregation took shape after Madura and neighbouring Moonera were merged operationally by Jumbuck Pastoral Company in the 1980s, which installed fences, windmills, bores and major water infrastructure, including a 550km vermin-proof boundary fence that helped transform the property into one of the world’s most significant sheep grazing enterprises.
CC Cooper & Co acquired ‘Madura Plains’ in 2016 and has since embarked on one of the most significant capital upgrade programs seen in the Australian pastoral sector, overhauling water, fencing and grazing infrastructure to lift both productivity and resilience.
Managing director David ‘Seth’ Cooper said the business had reached the point envisaged at acquisition.
“We acquired ‘Madura Plains’ with the clear strategic intent to build a best-in-class modern sheep station that fully capitalises on the production potential of the vast landholding and stock water supply, whilst being resilient through the cycles,” he said.
“We have also invested to deliver operational efficiencies and maximise animal welfare and sustainability outcomes.
“We are proud that we have achieved our vision and it’s now the right time for us to deliver the finished product to a new custodian”.
Key to the transformation has been a 1,400km interconnected pipeline network delivering low-salinity water to every paddock, supported by solar pumping and Starlink-enabled remote monitoring.
More than 1,000km of fencing has also been installed, creating 118 paddocks and 376 kilometres of laneways to optimise grazing rotation.
Elders WA Pastoral Real Estate Specialist Greg Smith said the scale and sophistication of the asset was unprecedented in the region.
“‘Madura Plains’ certainly represents a new benchmark in the region and it’s extremely unlikely that an asset of this scale and quality will be available for purchase again in the near future,” he said.
“The station really has been turbocharged, with a combined production at its peak exceeding 70,000 sheep in 2024.
“The provision of reliable low salinity water to every paddock has unlocked the full productivity potential of the expansive saltbush and Bluebush plains.”
Mr Smith said the listing was expected to attract intense interest.
“Given the strategic advantages and efficiencies that can be achieved by operating an enterprise of this quality and at this scale, we anticipate receiving offers from both large private and corporate investors within Australia and internationally,” he said.
Elders Real Estate divisional CEO Tom Russo said the offering was a standout in a rising commodity environment.
“The development of ‘Madura Plains’ is truly extraordinary and has unlocked the enormous production capacity of the asset,” he said.
“It now represents a turn-key opportunity for an astute investor to reap the benefits of a capital works program that is delivering productivity that is beyond compare and efficiencies that will significantly enhance the realisable margins in the business.”
“This represents a rare opportunity to acquire an exceptional business during a period of unprecedented growth in demand for quality Australian fibre and protein.
“Investing now to participate in the supply response is a very exciting opportunity indeed.”
Size: 322.87ha
Location: Alma, SA
Price guide: $12 million
A significant South Australian holding has changed hands for $12 million after strong competition at auction saw ‘Argyle Farm’ in Alma sell under the hammer earlier this month.
The 322.87ha property drew broad interest from both local and expansion buyers, with 12 registered parties and six actively bidding on the day.
The auction opened at $6 million before steadily climbing in $100,000 and later $50,000 increments.
Ray White Rural South Australia Principal and auctioneer Geoff Schell said the property’s scale was a major drawcard.
“ It does offer that scale to come from further away. It's not a 200-300 acre paddock,” he said.
Held by the Freebairn family for more than 150 years, ‘Argyle Farm’ is renowned for its soil quality and long-term productivity, benefitting from more than a decade of modern agronomic management.
“ The property has had extremely strong management history for some 10 years, with the best agronomic practices being undertaken,” he said
“ It's a healthy parcel of land that's been really well looked after, great flexibility, cereals, legumes, lentils, all seed hay growing and livestock.”
Located just north of Alma and within close proximity to Hamley Bridge, the farm benefits from notable freight efficiencies along with secure SA mains water, sound fencing and a reliable 500mm annual rainfall profile.
The sale highlights the ongoing demand for scale and high-calibre arable land in tightly held regions, as expansion buyers continue to compete aggressively for quality assets with proven performance and long-term versatility.
Size: 667ha
Location: Yass
Sale method: EOI, closing 12pm AEDT, November 20
Price guide: Above $6.5 million
A highly productive Southern Tablelands grazing property with potential for renewable energy income has hit the market, with agents expecting strong interest from both traditional farming operators and energy-aligned investors.
The 667ha holding, ‘Glenryan’ at Yass, offers scale, secure water and high-performing pastures in a region renowned for reliability.
The property supports an estimated 5,300 DSE and receives an average annual rainfall of 695mm across gently undulating granite-based landscapes.
LAWD Senior Director Col Medway said the combination of productivity and energy potential was driving strong buyer enquiry.
“As a quality grazing property in the ever-reliable Southern Tablelands, we would expect the market to value ‘Glenryan’ at a price above $6.5 million,” Mr Medway said.
“The renewable energy upside at ‘Glenryan’, will generate considerable interest from a range of investors.”
Improved pastures of phalaris, cocksfoot, clover and ryegrass span around 200 hectares, supported by recent fertiliser and lime applications, while the balance includes microlaena, danthonia and kangaroo grass.
Water security is a core strength, with 16 dams, seasonal creek frontage, a solar-powered bore and reticulated trough system supplied from a 140,000L head tank.
The modern four-bedroom homestead, built in 2018, offers open-plan living, a separate sitting room, office and butler’s pantry, plus hydronic slab heating and cooling.
Outside, an in-ground pool and entertaining deck are set within landscaped gardens, supported by a further 160,000L of rainwater storage and automatic irrigation.
Vendor Matthew Doyle said future solar feasibility work is already underway.
“The property features a range of topographies that come into their own throughout the year such as the heavy-carrying improved pastures and low-lying country, which is highly productive during summer,” Mr Doyle said.
“‘Glenryan’ would suit any buyer looking for a quality family home on a property in the safe, reliable, Tablelands grazing district, with added potential for income from renewables.”
‘Glenryan’ is being offered via Expression of Interest, closing 12pm AEDT, November 20.
Size: 2,566ha
Location: Dalveen, QLD
Price guide: N/A
One of Australia’s most respected beef enterprises has sold its namesake Queensland holding, with Palgrove divesting the 2,566ha ‘Palgrove’ property at Dalveen in an eight-figure deal understood to have been secured by Brisbane-based grazier Bruce Bell and family.
The price remains undisclosed, however the asset was expected to attract offers north of $14 million when it was listed earlier this year.
The adjacent 1,651ha ‘Killaloo’ property at Drillham, which was marketed alongside ‘Palgrove’, is also understood to be close to contract.
The sales are part of a deliberate strategic repositioning by the New Zealand Superannuation Fund-owned producer, which is doubling the scale of its commercial breeding herd to around 6,000 cows while consolidating bull sales and lifting its high-performance genetics platform.
When the properties were brought to market in May, Palgrove CEO Will Heath said the restructuring aligned operations to growth rather than footprint.
“The Dalveen property has been a high-performance breeding and backgrounding hub, while Killaloo has historically supported paddock bull sales which will now be conducted from Palgrove’s new, purpose-built selling complex ‘Glen Wilga’ near Chinchilla,” he said at the time.
The Dalveen holding carries a conservative 1,400 AE, featuring extensively developed tropical pastures, 12km of central laneway infrastructure, Logan Creek frontage and a comprehensive water network of bores, dams and troughs.
Improvements include a five-bedroom homestead, staff accommodation, extensive shedding and high-quality steel yards with a covered working area.
The sale follows a series of recent divestments by Palgrove, including the 3,605ha Gilgal Station in southern NSW which sold for $53 million in 2023, and the highly regarded Charolais stud herd earlier this year.
The enterprise continues to operate significant grazing assets including Glen Wilga near Chinchilla, Macintyre Station at Bukkulla, and the Ben Lomond Aggregation in northern NSW.
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.