In this week’s property round-up with Kylie Dulhunty: Rupert Murdoch’s blue-chip NSW mixed farm with two top sheep studs has been listed, CPC has snapped up Madura Plains Station in a $35 million sheep deal, and an institutional-scale Riverina citrus aggregation has hit the market.
Size: 947.5ha
Location: Cootamundra, NSW
Sale method: EOI closing at 12 noon (AEDST) on March 12
Price guide: N/A
One of Rupert Murdoch’s rural landholdings in NSW has been listed for sale, with the 947.5ha Springfield aggregation and two nationally acclaimed sheep seedstock enterprises offered to the market via expressions of interest.
Located in the tightly held South West Slopes region north of Cootamundra, Springfield was acquired in 2014 by Cavan Station, an entity owned by media proprietor Rupert Murdoch and his family.
Springfield combines scale, versatility and premium livestock infrastructure, with 844.5ha of arable land supporting dryland cropping and improved pastures, and carrying capacity for about 11,500 Dry Sheep Equivalents.
The property is home to Bogo Genetics, which operates the nationally acclaimed Bogo Merino Stud and Glenfinnan Prime Lamb Genetics.
Together, the two enterprises sell more than 350 rams each year to a combined client base of 226 commercial producers.
Bogo Genetics General Manager Matt Crozier said Springfield was acquired specifically to support the long-term growth of the Merino stud, founded more than three decades ago by Malcolm Peake.
“Malcolm retired last year and played a key role in the Merino stud industry, producing balanced sheep with commercially-focused traits,” Mr Crozier said.
“Bogo Merino Stud represents the upper echelon of the industry, with proven success in setting industry benchmarks in sire evaluations and industry weather trials, and it would be lovely to see the legacy of this hard work honoured and carried forward.”
Mr Crozier said the business expanded into prime lamb genetics two years ago through the acquisition of the Glenfinnan White Suffolk stud.
“Glenfinnan was one of the foundational White Suffolk studs in Australia and now as Glenfinnan Prime Lamb Genetics, it remains one of the top performing meat-focused studs in the country,” he said.
“On the back of the strong ram selling season last spring, high pricing in the lamb and mutton markets and increasing wool prices, both studs are well-positioned to be taken over as a going concern, with new owners able to hit the ground running.”
Springfield features a gently undulating landscape underpinned by productive red-brown granite loam soils, supported by a long-term agronomic program including targeted fertiliser and lime applications.
Water security is provided through an equipped bore, town mains connection and a reticulated system supplying 42 troughs, complemented by two seasonal creeks, 17 dams and average annual rainfall of 621.7mm.
The property has also benefited from significant infrastructure investment, including covered Flynn-design sheep yards installed in 2022, a containment feeding facility, extensive fencing with a central laneway system, a four-stand shearing shed, machinery and storage sheds, a hay shed and 755 tonnes of grain storage capacity.
The property also features two well-appointed residences, including a renovated historic four-bedroom homestead set within established lawns and gardens, and a three-bedroom manager’s cottage.
LAWD Senior Director Col Medway said Springfield presented a rare opportunity to secure elite genetics alongside a fit-for-purpose farming asset.
“The ability to acquire two renowned sheep studs that are positioned as a one-stop genetics provider to commercial sheep breeders, with a focus on quality wool and lamb, along with a fit-for-purpose property provides a unique opportunity for a buyer to enter the industry at scale, or for an existing enterprise to expand their operation,” Mr Medway said.
Springfield is being offered for sale as a whole or as separate assets, with Expressions of Interest closing at 12 noon (AEDST) on March 12.
Size: 711,638ha
Location: Eucla, WA
Price: $35 million
One of Australia’s most significant sheep grazing enterprises, Madura Plains Station, has been sold for $35 million, marking another major expansion for Consolidated Pastoral Company’s (CPC) growing sheep platform.
Elders has confirmed that CC Cooper and Co and CPC have entered into a sale and purchase agreement for the vast Western Australian aggregation, with the transaction subject only to standard state government approval for the transfer of pastoral leases.
The sale has already received Foreign Investment Review Board approval.
Madura Plains has been sold on a going concern, walk-in, walk-out basis, including its sheep flock and goat herd, with all existing employees to be offered ongoing roles under CPC ownership.
Spanning 711,638ha across the Madura and Moonera pastoral leases near the WA–South Australia border, Madura Plains carries more than 60,000 sheep and is strategically positioned to service both eastern and western sheep and wool markets.
The aggregation is recognised as one of the largest sheep stations in Australia, and among the largest globally.
The sale comes after CPC also acquired the nation’s largest sheep station, Rawlinna Station, in 2025, as well as Beetaloo Station, which is one of the Northern Territory’s largest cattle stations.
Elders Chief Executive Officer Tom Russo said the Madura Plains sale highlighted strong confidence in the sector and would create a globally significant operation when combined with the Rawlinna holding.
“The sale process again demonstrated the confidence of the Australian sheep and wool production industry,” Mr Russo said.
“Ultimately, it’s exciting to see CPC invest again after their recent acquisition of Rawlinna.
“Whilst not quite contiguous, the two stations are in close proximity and will complement each other.
“We believe that the integrated operation is the largest sheep station in the world.”
CC Cooper and Co Principal David Seth Cooper said the family had completed a long-term strategy to transform Madura Plains into a modern, highly efficient production asset.
“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,” Mr Cooper 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.”
He said the family was particularly pleased the existing workforce would be retained.
“We are delighted with the outcome of the sale process and excited to see what the future holds for Madura Plains after a period of significant development and investment by our family,” Mr Cooper said.
CPC Chief Executive Officer and Director Troy Seter said the acquisition was a natural fit following CPC’s re-entry into large-scale Australian sheep production.
“The opportunity to combine Rawlinna and Madura Plains was very compelling and will allow us to achieve significant operational efficiencies that are required today in rangelands sheep production,” Mr Seter said.
“The Rawlinna acquisition allowed CPC to reenter the Australian sheep production space at scale and the integration of Madura Plains will accelerate our ambition of building out the sheep platform of our diversified portfolio, which includes cattle, goat, sheep and wool production, natural capital and over 20,000ha of cropping capacity.”
Size: 557ha
Location: Griffith, NSW
Sale method: EOI closing at 12pm (AEDT) on March 5
Price guide: N/A
One of Australia’s largest institutional citrus holdings, the Nericon Citrus Aggregation, has hit the market, offering investors a fully-developed, turn-key operation underpinned by high-security water entitlements in the heart of the Riverina.
The 557ha aggregation comprises two extensively developed citrus farms located within a 4km radius near Griffith in southern NSW.
The holdings benefit from direct access to the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area network, supported by 2,717ML of high-security water entitlements and 5,775 tradeable delivery entitlements.
The water portfolio supports citrus production through a first-class double-drip irrigation system and provides investors with flexibility and long-term security.
About 468ha of the aggregation is planted to citrus varieties supplying both domestic and export markets, including 314ha of Navel oranges, 84ha of red flesh Navels, 51ha of Afourer mandarins and 18ha of seedless lemons.
The varietal mix has been selected to suit local growing conditions and deliver an extended harvest window.
As the orchards reach maturity, production is forecast to increase from about 6,150 tonnes in 2025 to around 23,600 tonnes by 2030, underpinning a projected FY30 EBITDA of about $13.04 million.
LAWD selling agent Danny Thomas said the offering combined scale, water security and operational capability.
“Nericon Citrus is one of Australia’s largest and most strategically positioned citrus orchards, with a highly experienced management team, which has developed and managed the asset for the past seven years,” Mr Thomas said.
“Collectively, they bring 50-plus years of operational farm management experience and strong networks in the supply chain, providing investors with the option of a seamless turn-key investment opportunity.”
He said significant capital investment had repositioned the aggregation into a premium fresh-citrus operation.
“In addition, the investment in extensive capital expenditure projects to reposition the orchard into a premium fresh-citrus operation is delivering high-yield varietals and an extended harvest window to maximise operational efficiencies, and unlock broad, higher-value market access.”
The aggregation currently includes 89ha of protective netting, 29 automated frost fans, extensive infrastructure and further planned upgrades.
Nericon Citrus Aggregation is being offered for sale via an Expressions of Interest campaign closing at 12pm (AEDT) on March 5.
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.