Water-secure Western District powerhouse offered to market

In this week's rural property update: Water-secure Western District powerhouse offered to market, Indigenous council secures iconic Riverina wetland stations and Atherton Tablelands farm with development potential hits market at $15.5 million.

Water-secure Western District powerhouse offered to market

Size: 5,344ha

Location: Vite Vite North and Willaura North, Victoria

Sale method: Expressions of Interest closing July 8, 2026 at 12pm (AEST)

Price guide: N/A

A rare opportunity to secure one of Victoria's most extensively developed livestock enterprises has emerged, with the owners of Banongill South and Brenleys offering the combined 5,344ha Western District aggregation to the market after a major five-year transformation program.

The properties, located at Vite Vite North and Willaura, are being offered for sale by expressions of interest closing July 8, with buyers able to purchase the aggregation as a whole or as separate assets.

Banongill South comprises 4,551ha, while Brenleys spans 793ha.

The aggregation has evolved from a mixed farming operation into a highly developed sheep and cattle breeding and backgrounding enterprise, supported by a dedicated grain production base at Brenleys.

Significant capital has been invested into livestock infrastructure, fencing, pasture improvement, water systems and paddock subdivision, creating a large-scale grazing platform capable of supporting intensive livestock production.

Elders agent Rob Rickard said one of the property's defining features was its exceptionally secure water supply.

"Water's obviously been a major issue in many parts of Australia, and just having incredibly reliable water is probably the feature," Mr Rickard said.

"The Banongill Spring, which is fairly renowned in southwest Victoria, has just been an amazing water source.

"It's a permanent water source that just gives the property great security year-in, year-out."

Mr Rickard said the spring had supplied the property for generations.

"There's a historic bluestone old cottage that sits on the banks of the spring that's been there for 150 years,” he said.

"It's obviously been a pretty important and reliable water source for a long, long time."

The aggregation features extensive water infrastructure, including the renowned Banongill Spring, numerous dams and bores reticulated to troughs throughout the property.

Banongill South is further supported by a state-of-the-art six-stand raised-board woolshed with undercover sheep yards, steel cattle yards, grain storage, machinery sheds, hay sheds, a purpose-built farm office, a renovated four-bedroom homestead and a three-bedroom staff residence.

Mr Rickard said the property's focus had shifted firmly towards livestock production.

"In real terms, its strength is as a grazing property. It's both sheep and cattle. It'll do the job very well, whether it's breeding or fattening."

Mr Rickard said Banongill South was just 20 minutes from Skipton, one hour to Ballarat, 1.5 hours to Geelong and 2.5 hours to Melbourne.

Brenleys is 20 minutes from Ararat, central to the regional cities of Ballarat, Hamilton and Warrnambool and under three hours from Melbourne.

Indigenous council secures iconic Riverina wetland stations

Size: 34,000ha

Location: Near Oxley, approximately 110km north-west of Hay, NSW

Sale price: Undisclosed

Two landmark Riverina cattle stations encompassing one of Australia's most significant freshwater wetland systems have changed hands, with the Nari Nari Tribal Council (NNTC) acquiring Juanbung and Boyong Stations in south-west NSW.

The acquisition of the 34,000ha aggregation, located near Oxley about 110km north-west of Hay, will place the famed Great Cumbung wetland under Indigenous stewardship and expand the NNTC's existing landholding in the region.

Backed by a $15 million commitment from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) through Bank Australia, the purchase includes about 16,000ha of the terminal floodplain delta of the Lachlan River, forming the Great Cumbung Swamp, one of the largest wetland systems in the Murray-Darling Basin.

The acquisition adjoins Gayini, the NNTC's existing 90,000ha property, creating a combined 124,000ha landscape under Indigenous-led management.

NNTC chair Jamie Woods said the purchase represented a significant milestone for the Nari Nari people.

"This commitment has great significance for the Nari Nari people, it has been 25 years in the making,” he said.

“The Great Cumbung is not just land – like its sister across the river Gayini, it's unique. It is Country, carrying deep cultural and ecological meaning for our community.

"Securing its future means we can restore and protect this extraordinary landscape for generations to come, with the support of like-minded partners who share our vision."

Located at the junction of the Murrumbidgee and Lachlan rivers, the Great Cumbung supports a range of threatened species, including the Australasian Bittern and Australian Painted Snipe.

Future management will focus on restoring freshwater wetlands, removing floodplain barriers and regenerating native wetland and woodland vegetation, including river red gum, black box and mallee communities.

Native forest within the aggregation will also be retained and protected.

The properties were previously purchased by a joint venture between The Nature Conservancy and Tiverton Agriculture for $55 million in 2019.

Before that, they were owned by Melbourne businessman Tim Roberts-Thomson, who sold the stations to support expansion of his King Island beef interests.

Historically, Juanbung and Boyong carried up to 37,000 dry sheep equivalents and were used to background as many as 10,000 cattle annually.

Atherton Tablelands farm with development potential hits market at $15.5 million

Size: 157.18ha

Location: 43–139 Tinaroo Falls Dam Road, Atherton, Queensland

Sale method: Private Treaty

Price guide: $15.5 million

A large-scale Atherton Tablelands farming property offering both agricultural income and future development potential has been listed for sale with a $15.5 million price guide.

The 43-139 Tinaroo Falls Dam Road holding, on the edge of Atherton in Far North Queensland, combines an established cropping operation with subdivision and tourism development opportunities, subject to approvals.

Marketed by Raine & Horne Atherton agents Jack Krasnof and Greg Smith, the property spans productive agricultural land currently supporting sugarcane and avocado production, while benefiting from its proximity to Atherton township and key regional infrastructure.

According to selling agent Greg Smith, the property's location distinguishes it from many other large rural holdings currently being offered to the market.

"This is a unique holding because it sits right on the edge of the Atherton township and links directly into established infrastructure," Mr Smith said.

"It naturally lends itself to future development, even though it's already a very productive farming asset."

The farm includes about 32.37ha of sugarcane production, established avocado orchards and substantial infrastructure, including two lateral irrigators, a fully automated sprinkler system, a 100kVA solar installation and a 300ML water allocation.

Mr Smith said the combination of existing cashflow and future development opportunities was becoming increasingly difficult to find.

"Properties in the $10 million-plus price bracket are predominantly lifestyle, grazing or large-scale cropping and usually located a considerable distance from a township," he said.

"This property is different as it's a reasonably large income-producing property for this region, given it has sugarcane and avocado crops, and it's also only about seven minutes to Atherton CBD."

The listing comes as parts of the Atherton Tablelands continue to attract interest from agricultural operators and investors due to the region's reliable rainfall, fertile soils and cooler climate.

"We don't really get affected by drought because we've got plentiful water and fertile soil," Mr Smith said.

The vendor has already commenced discussions around potential residential rezoning, according to Mr Krasnof.

"The current owner has already commenced rezoning discussions toward residential use, presenting significant value uplift on approval," he said.

Mr Krasnof said the property also held approval for a short-term accommodation development.

"This property already has in place council-approved plans for a short-term accommodation facility for up to 80 guests, offering immediate scope to develop tourism-based dwellings or retreat-style accommodation,” he said.

While the property could continue operating as a productive farming enterprise, Mr Smith believes its future is likely to be driven by development potential.

"It could suit another farmer, but given where it sits, I think it's more likely to attract a developer looking to unlock that next stage," he said.