Shannon family's 150-year farming legacy heads to market

In this week's rural property update: Shannon family's 150-year farming legacy heads to market, station manager search fuels Mount Freeling sale speculation, large-scale Walcha breeding operation expected to fetch at least $23 million, Ontario Teachers takes full ownership of Mitolo Family Farms and premium grazing properties dominate financial year's biggest rural sales.

Shannon family's 150-year farming legacy heads to market

Size: 2634.9ha (6,511 acres)
Location: Between Kapunda and Eudunda, SA
Sale method: Expressions of Interest
Price guide: N/A

One of South Australia's most historically significant mixed farming holdings, held by the same family for almost 150 years, has been offered to the market.

The Illawarra & Koonunga Hill Aggregation, located between Kapunda and Eudunda in the state's Mid North, spans approximately 6,511 acres across 42 titles and is being marketed by Elders.

The aggregation has remained in the Shannon family's ownership since the late 19th century, with the family deciding to divest the asset as it consolidates its agricultural interests in Tasmania.

Elders Real Estate chief executive officer Tom Russo said opportunities of this nature were exceptionally uncommon.

"This is a genuine generational offering in every sense,” he said.

“The Shannon family has held and developed this aggregation for 150 years, which is an extraordinary period of stewardship."

The Shannon family's Australian farming history dates back to 1839, when Abraham "Big Abe" Shannon emigrated from Derry and settled at Gumeracha.

The family expanded into the Kapunda district in 1844, purchasing the 500ha (1,237-acre) Yatara property, before Illawarra itself was established in 1878 by William Moore Shannon.

Over successive generations, the family consolidated the holding into a large-scale mixed farming enterprise combining broadacre cropping with a sheep operation capable of supporting up to 5,000 ewes, subject to enterprise mix.

Receiving average annual rainfall of more than 450mm, the property also benefits from mains water, River Light frontage providing year-round water security, extensive livestock handling facilities, substantial grain and fertiliser storage, and a well-developed central operational hub.

A renovated homestead dating back to the 1850s remains a feature of the aggregation, reflecting its long agricultural history.

Mr Russo said the property's development reflected decades of careful reinvestment rather than short-term capital expenditure.

"The improvements across Illawarra have not been developed in a single phase or through short-term capital injection,” he said.

“They have been built over time, reflecting a pattern of reinvestment that is typical of high-quality family farming operations — practical, considered and aligned to long-term productivity."

Elders State Manager Adam Chilcot said the combination of scale, production capability and family history made the aggregation a standout offering.

"Opportunities of this nature are exceptionally rare,” he said.

“It is not often that a property of this quality, with this level of history and family continuity, is brought to market.

“For many buyers, that provenance will be just as compelling as the underlying production capability."

The aggregation is being offered for sale via a flexible expressions of interest campaign, with buyers able to acquire the holding in its entirety or in individual components.

The sale may also include the property's sheep flock, along with its plant and equipment.

The aggregation is expected to attract interest from neighbouring producers, established family farming businesses and institutional investors seeking large-scale agricultural assets with a long history of productive management.

Station manager search fuels Mount Freeling sale speculation

Size: 100,000ha
Location: Lyndhurst, SA
Price: Undisclosed

A recruitment campaign for a station manager at Mount Freeling Station has all but confirmed an industry hunch that the 100,000ha Northern Flinders Ranges property has been sold to Mastec Australia.

Sold by the Redpath family, a Seek advertisement from Mastec Australia for an experienced station manager or management couple to oversee operations at Mount Freeling Station was posted at the start of July.

"We are seeking an experienced, highly capable Hands-On Station Manager (or Management Couple) to lead the daily operations of Mount Freeling Station,” the ad states.

“Spanning a massive 100,000ha (247,100 acres) in the remote Northern Flinders Ranges of South Australia, this historic pastoral holding requires active, independent leaders… This role reports directly to an off-site management board based in Adelaide, requiring a high level of autonomy, integrity, and clear communication.”

The ad also said the successful applicant would be responsible for managing all sheep husbandry operations, predominantly fine-wool Merinos, alongside secondary cattle operations, shearing and low-stress stock handling.

The role also includes maintaining the station's extensive water network and infrastructure, supervising station hands and seasonal crews, managing tourism and camping operations, and providing routine operational and financial updates to the Adelaide-based management board.

The targeted start date is early to mid-September.

According to the Mastec Australia website, the company is Australia's largest manufacturer and supplier of mobile waste and recycling containers.

Founded in the late 1980s and still privately owned by the Brixton family, the business employs more than 70 staff at its purpose-built manufacturing facility in Adelaide.

Mastec Australia did not respond to AuctionsPlus’ request for comment.

The recruitment campaign follows Mount Freeling Station's expressions of interest campaign earlier this year, when the pastoral holding, located about 103km northeast of Lyndhurst, was offered to the market.

When the property was listed for sale in April, Ray White Rural South Australia selling agent Sam Krieg said the station had undergone an extensive transformation since being purchased by the previous owner in 2018.

"He bought it when it was really run down and has spent a lot of time and money putting extra water points in, opening up country that hasn't been grazed for over 10 years and doing fencing to do the same," Mr Krieg said at the time.

“It is a really good merino property… they’ve had some very low micron and high-yielding wool come off it, which is what the country’s best suited for.

“There’s a little bit of softer country out to the east, which is more suited to cattle, so it does offer a fair bit of flexibility.”

Mr Krieg declined to comment on the sale.

The station is regarded as a premium Merino wool property with some cattle country, featuring an extensive network of bores, springs and seasonal catchments, an eight-stand shearing shed, shearing quarters, workshops, sheep and cattle yards, airstrips and a four-bedroom solar-powered homestead.

The property also has tourism potential, noting its proximity to the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, established 4WD tracks, historic mining sites and accommodation options including shearers' quarters, huts and camping facilities.

Neither the sale price nor settlement details have been disclosed.

Large-scale Walcha breeding operation expected to fetch at least $23 million

Size: 2,352.2ha

Location: Walcha, NSW

Sale method: EOI closing August 12 at 4pm (AEST)

Price guide: $23 million to $25 million

A large-scale grazing enterprise in one of northern NSW's premier livestock regions has been brought to market, offering buyers a turnkey breeding and backgrounding operation with significant recent investment already complete.

Known as Gleneagles, the 2,352.5ha holding near Walcha is being marketed by Inglis Rural Property and comprises the contiguous Gleneagles and Brookmount West properties, consolidated into a single enterprise.

The property, located 17km from Walcha, is being offered for sale as a whole via Expressions of Interest, closing on August 12 at 4pm (AEST), with offers expected to come in between $23 million and $25 million.

Inglis Property CEO Sam Triggs said Gleneagles presented a rare opportunity to secure a highly productive operation in a tightly held district.

“Gleneagles represents a terrific opportunity to secure a 1,000 cow breeding operation which has enjoyed a significant capital expenditure program, creating a turnkey enterprise for the astute investor,” Mr Triggs said.

Currently operated as an EU-accredited Angus breeding enterprise, the property has an estimated carrying capacity of about 16,000 DSE, or 1,000 breeding cows and progeny.

It also offers the flexibility to support cattle backgrounding, wool production and prime lamb enterprises.

Mr Triggs said the combination of productive capacity and recent improvements made the offering particularly compelling.

“The property combines scale, water security, pasture development, quality infrastructure and flexible accommodation in a way that will appeal to a broad range of cattle and sheep producers,” he said.

Extensive pasture development has been undertaken across the property, with about 982ha established to improved perennial pastures and annual fodder crops, while around 70 per cent of the holding has received fertiliser applications since 2023.

Water security is underpinned by two groundwater bores feeding 235,000L steel tanks equipped with Goanna Ag telemetry, along with dams, springs, Emu Creek frontage and an extensive reticulated watering system.

Operational infrastructure includes modern steel cattle yards with hydraulic handling equipment, a four-stand shearing shed, steel sheep yards, a six-bay machinery shed, two 50-tonne silos, stables and an all-weather airstrip suitable for light aircraft and aerial spreading.

The property is subdivided into 40 main paddocks connected by a central laneway system, with fencing in very good to excellent condition, including 6km of new exclusion fencing.

Accommodation comprises three residences and a staff village, providing flexibility for owners, employees and contractors.

Mr Triggs said opportunities of this calibre were seldom available in the Walcha district.

“Properties of this scale and presentation in the Walcha district are rarely offered to market,” he said.

“With significant recent investment already completed and further scope to enhance production through continued pasture improvement and development, Gleneagles will attract buyers seeking both operational capacity and long-term agricultural value.”

Ontario Teachers takes full ownership of Mitolo Family Farms

Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan has acquired the remaining equity stake in Mitolo Family Farms, taking full ownership of one of Australia's largest horticultural businesses while signalling plans to continue investing in growth, innovation and new agricultural opportunities.

The transaction follows Ontario Teachers' initial investment in 2023, when it acquired a majority interest in the South Australian potato and onion producer to support the next stage of its expansion.

The business will continue to operate under the Mitolo Family Farms brand despite the change in ownership, with the deal coinciding with former managing director Frank Mitolo's planned transition to retirement.

Ontario Teachers' Australian agricultural platform, AustOn, managing director Tim Lee said the investment group remained committed to preserving the values that had underpinned the family business for more than five decades.

"As has been demonstrated over the past three years, Ontario Teachers’ is committed to preserving the Mitolo Family Farms tradition of strong family values while continuing to build on its reputation for exceptional performance," Mr Lee said.

"We extend our sincere thanks to Frank, Darren and John and the rest of the Mitolo family for their commitment and dedication to building an outstanding Australian agriculture enterprise."

Mitolo Family Farms is one of Australia's largest vertically integrated growers, harvesters, packers and marketers of fresh potatoes and onions, supplying major supermarkets and wholesalers nationwide.

The business has operated for more than 50 years and has built one of the country's largest horticultural land holdings.

The acquisition further strengthens Ontario Teachers' Australian agricultural platform, AustOn, which also includes investments in almond producer Aroona Farms, avocado business Jasper Farms and fruit grower Montague Farms.

Mr Mitolo said he was confident the business had found the right long-term owner.

"As I follow my brothers in transition away from the business, I am confident that we have the right owner in Ontario Teachers’ to take the business forward," he said.

"It has been an extraordinary journey to build one of Australia’s largest and most respected horticultural enterprises, and I am confident the business is well positioned for continued success."

He also thanked employees for supporting the business through its transition to new ownership and management over the past three years.

Ontario Teachers' senior managing director of natural resources Michael Hudgin said the organisation intended to build on the company's strong foundations.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to carry forward the legacy that the Mitolo family has built over the past 50 years," Mr Hudgin said.

"We remain committed to delivering long-term, sustainable growth and working to unlock new opportunities through innovation, technology and investment."

Premium grazing properties dominate financial year's biggest rural sales

Size: 23,800ha (Glencoe Station); 1,358ha (Brucelyn & Mt Emby aggregation)
Location: Near Charters Towers, QLD; Ben Lomond, NSW
Price: Glencoe Station – $35.5 million; Brucelyn & Mt Emby aggregation – $25 million

Two landmark rural property transactions have featured among Ray White's top sales of the 2025-26 financial year, alongside trophy residential homes and major commercial development sites worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Leading the group's rural sales was the 1,358ha Brucelyn & Mt Emby aggregation at Ben Lomond in NSW, which sold for $25 million in November 2025.

Marketed by Ray White Rural, the highly productive grazing enterprise was offered as a generational opportunity in one of the New England region's most tightly held and reliable high-rainfall districts.

The aggregation, comprising Brucelyn and Mt Emby, features basalt soils, established perennial pastures and an annual rainfall of between 950mm and 1,000mm, supporting strong beef production.

Extensive infrastructure included multiple homes, modern livestock facilities, more than 17 kilometres of new fencing and a secure water system fed by a free-flowing bore, Moredun Creek, springs and dams.

Another standout rural transaction was the $35.5 million sale of Glencoe Station near Charters Towers in north Queensland.

Spanning 23,800ha, the walk-in, walk-out offering included approximately 5,000 head of mixed Brahman cattle, quality plant and equipment.

The renowned basalt grazing property features volcanic red and black soils, permanent spring-fed water, 21 bores, five dams and infrastructure capable of carrying an estimated 6,000 adult equivalents.

Well-developed laneways, cattle yards, internal roads and fencing support efficient livestock management across the property.

Glencoe has historically operated as both a breeding and finishing enterprise, highlighting the versatility of the large-scale holding.

Also making the list was Pine Creek Station near Capella in central Queensland, which sold for $23 million in September 2025.

Spanning 6,233ha, Pine Creek Station is a productive Central Queensland grazing property featuring brigalow scrub country ideally suited to cattle backgrounding and fattening.

Located between Capella, Clermont and Emerald, the holding offers established buffel pastures, reliable water infrastructure and a PMAV, making it a well-developed and easily managed beef enterprise.

While rural property featured strongly, the year's biggest transactions came from the residential and commercial sectors.

Ray White Double Bay dominated the prestige residential market, with the $61.8 million sale of 11 Coolong Road, Vaucluse, followed by two Bellevue Hill trophy homes that sold for $50 million and $41 million respectively.

In the commercial sector, Ray White Special Projects recorded the group's largest transaction, selling a development site at Elimbah in Queensland for $318.5 million. The agency also negotiated the $170 million sale of the 297-hectare SkyRidge master-planned community at Worongary on the Gold Coast.

Rounding out the top sales was The Gem Hotel in Griffith, New South Wales, which sold for approximately $50 million through HTL Property.

The diverse list highlights continued investor appetite for premium rural assets, prestige residential property and large-scale commercial development opportunities across Australia.