Meet the 20 high-profile farming families who are outbidding investors and the mega-rich to claim Australia’s most valuable farmland.
But just how many billions is anyone’s guess, because the 100 biggest sales alone exceeded $2 billion in value by a fair margin.
Topping the list of mind-blowing deals of 2022 is the sale of the 1.1 million-hectare Gulf Coast Agricultural Company portfolio in Far North Queensland, which sold to the Harris family of P&J Harris and Sons for $380 million.
They added the sprawling pastoral holding – which runs about 96,000 Brahman cattle – to their cropping operation, which ranks among Australia’s biggest privately owned cotton enterprises. And the Harrises aren’t the only prominent farming family that has increased their land ownership in the past year.
They are one of 20 dynasties that have been duelling with global corporations and big-name billionaires over the past 12 months, each trying to outbid the other for control of more of the southern hemisphere’s most valuable, productive and expansive farmland.
As part of The Weekly Times and AgJournal’s seventh annual Who Owns Australia special report, we delve into how these 20 prominent farming families built their agricultural empires, and name the top 10 institutional investors and 10 big-name billionaires who control vast swathes of Australia.
WHO OWNS AUSTRALIA: THE FAMILIES
Viv Oldfield (pictured) and Donny Costello own 9.2 million hectares. Picture: Chloe Erlich
Viv Oldfield & Donny Costello, Crown Point Pastoral Company
9.2 million hectares
The title of Australia’s biggest landholder is held by two Outback businessmen who teamed up 16 years ago to create a cattle operation that would swiftly grow to mind-blowing scale in little over a decade, landing their names in the headlines – and putting their organic beef business, Crown Point Pastoral, on the map.
Through a number of strategic purchases totalling nearly four million hectares since 2021, former horse trainers and owners Viv Oldfield (picture, above) and Donny Costello have built a vast portfolio of more than 9.2 million hectares – larger than the island state of Tasmania and more than twice the size of Switzerland.
Oldfield and Costello have bought 13 grazing properties over the past decade and a half, with eight of those making up their Crown Point Pastoral organic cattle enterprise.
Crown Point runs Angus, Poll Hereford and Droughtmaster cattle on stations across South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory,
The mates from Alice Springs started with the purchase of Lilla Creek in 1998, then expanded Crown Point with Northern Territory properties New Crown and Andado in 2007, and Horseshoe Bend in 2013. In 2018 they snapped up 1.65 million-hectare Clifton Hills in South Australia for a reported $40-50 million.
In 2021, they closed the first of two deals with mining magnate Gina Rinehart, branching into Western Australia to buy Ruby Plains and Sturt Creek, covering 800,000 hectares in the Kimberley. In early 2022 they secured 1.1 million-hectare Macumba at Oodnadatta and 1.35 million-hectare Innamincka Station, both in South Australia.
Oldfield and Costello’s most recent purchase of 730,000-hectare Mount Doreen, northwest of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, from the Braitling family, was worth a reported $34.7 million.
Oldfield, who also owns an oil, gas, mineral and water drilling company and transport company, bought 60,200-hectare Middle Creek Station south of Katherine earlier this year for $12 million, through his Middle Creek Land Holdings business.
MacLachlan family patriarch Hugh MacLachlan managed Jumbuck Pastoral Company until 2009.
MacLachlan family, Jumbuck Pastoral Company
5.2 million hectares
Australia’s largest sheep station, Rawlinna, has been a crown jewel of the MacLachlan family’s livestock empire, which spans 5.2 million hectares across 12 properties in South Australia, Western Australia, NSW and the Northern Territory.
The family has been growing wool in Australia since 1888, when stockman Hugh Patterson MacLachlan established a flock at Yunta, in South Australia. His grandson Hugh (pictured) managed the business from 1960 until 2009, and today great-grandsons Callum and Jock are co-directors of Jumbuck, which runs about 234,000 Merinos on eight of its stations, with cattle in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
The sprawling one million-hectare Rawlinna east of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia had been part of their portfolio since the 1960s, but changes hands this month. Billionaire Twiggy Forrest has reportedly bought it, to develop potential renewable energy projects while continuing the pastoral lease.
Jackie and Tony Williams (pictured on Mount Barry Station at Coober Pedy) are among 15 members of the Williams family involved in Williams Cattle Company today. Picture: Matt Turner.
Williams family, Williams Cattle Company
4.65 million hectares
A family partnership that first took shape in 1967, Williams Cattle Company owns seven pastoral properties in far north South Australia, as well as grazing and cropping land in the Flinders Ranges.
Patriarch Thaddeus Williams settled at Carrieton in 1904, and three of his 13 children formed a partnership that would evolve into the cattle institution of today. Ron, Reg and Bill Williams bought 565,800-hectare Nilpinna in 1967, with a vision to expand in Oodnadatta country. They progressed with Mount Barry, Mount Sarah, Arckaringa and Hamilton in the 1980s and ’90s.
Ron and Reg’s sons added the vast 2.37 million-hectare Anna Creek and The Peake to the portfolio in 2016. The landholding is Australia’s largest cattle station. Today, 15 members of the Williams family are involved in the company, including Jackie and Tony Williams (pictured).
Peter Hughes on Tierawoomba Station in central Queensland. Picture: John Elliott
Hughes family, Hughes Pastoral Company/Georgina Pastoral Company
3.9 million hectares
Cattle barons Peter and Jane Hughes have exerted their influence in the rural property market over the past two years.
The respected Queensland family runs Hughes Pastoral Group and Georgina Pastoral Company across Queensland, NSW and the Northern Territory, with a portfolio of 3.9 million hectares.
Involvement in beef production dates back to Peter and Jane’s grandparents and 1872 in the Nebo region, where the family’s home base, 140,000-hectare Tierawoomba aggregation, carries a herd of 25,000 Wagyu-cross. In April last year, the Hughes reportedly paid Gina Rinehart about $100 million for Riveren and Inverway stations and in 2021 paid $215 million for the 438,000-hectare Miranda Downs station at Normanton.
David Brook on Adria Downs station. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen
Brook family, Brook Pastoral Company
3.5 million hectares
From humble beginnings, the Brook family of Birdsville has built a mammoth organic beef enterprise.
Owning more than three million hectares of certified organic grazing land in central Australia’s Channel Country, David and Nell Brook’s portfolio includes Adria Downs, Alton Downs, Kamaran Downs, Cordillo Downs and Murnpeowie Station.
Cordillo Downs is where David Brook’s father, Bill, worked as a station hand before buying a small part of Adria Downs in 1939. Today, the 780,000-hectare property at Innamincka in South Australia is managed by David and Nell’s son Anthony, one of six siblings. Their daughter Dalene Wray is managing director of OBE Organic, the natural beef brand that Brook Pastoral supplies.
Don McDonald on Devoncourt Station south of Cloncurry. Picture: Evan Morgan
McDonald family, McDonald Holdings
3.36 million hectares
It’s not often a family can claim seven generations of dedication to one industry, in one nation. The McDonald family of Outback Queensland is one that can.
Family owned and operated since 1827, McDonald Holdings has its origins in Tasmania, with the first shipment of cattle. The current aggregation was founded by legendary stockman Jim McDonald in 1946, with the purchase of Brightlands Station at Cloncurry in Queensland.
His sons, Don (pictured) and the late Bob McDonald eventually took over, with grandsons Alistair and the late Alexander “Zander” McDonald also involved. Today, Don, Alistair and their families run the operation, with 14 properties spanning 3.36 million hectares across Queensland, running 150,000 cattle. About 25 per cent of the family’s landholdings – 890,000 hectares – are protected as a Nature Refuge.
Australian businessman and wine make Paul Holmes a Court.
Holmes a Court family, Heytesbury Pastoral Company
2.53 million hectares
Founded by Australia’s first billionaire, South African-born investor Robert Holmes a Court, Heytesbury Pastoral runs six cattle stations across more than 2.5 million hectares of Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
The holdings are part of the family’s Heytesbury Group, which also includes Margaret River vineyard Vasse Felix.
After single-handedly building his business empire over two decades, Robert died suddenly of a heart attack in 1990, leaving the company his widow, Janet, and four children.
The couple’s youngest son, Paul (pictured), took over management in 2000. Son Peter sold his shares in 2000, and became CEO of AACo, while Simon is a businessman and political activist pushing for climate action.
A pivot of reticulated grass pictured in 2020 on Gogo station near Fitzroy Crossing. Picture: Colin Murty
Harris family, Cleveland Agriculture
2.5 million hectares
Malcolm Harris has well and truly stamped his Cleveland Agriculture business on the Australian pastoral map, amassing 2.5 million hectares of farming and pastoral land worth upwards of $1.2 billion.
From beginnings near Mungindi in northern NSW, Harris has tamed the wild west (and north) in high-profile deals in recent years. In 2019 Cleveland purchased the 852,000-hectare Nockatunga Station in southwest Queensland and the 245,000-hectare Ucharonidge Station in the Northern Territory from Consolidated Pastoral Company. Its portfolio also boasts Benmara and Rockhampton stations in the Northern Territory as well as Gogo Station at Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia.
In January this year it was reported that Cleveland was poised to buy Brunchilly Station in the Northern Territory from Gina Rinehart’s S Kidman and Co empire.
Mutooroo Pastoral’s James Morgan.
Morgan and Wells family, Mutooroo Pastoral Company
2.1 million hectares
Established by historic South Australian pastoralist Peter Waite, in partnership with Sir Thomas Elder, in the 1880s, Mutooroo Pastoral is named for the pastoral leases where the pair started their groundbreaking development of grazing land in the state’s northeast.
Today Waite’s direct descendants, the Morgan and Wells families, run wool-growing giant Mutooroo Pastoral. Managing director James Morgan (pictured) is a wool grower himself, living and working on Outalpa Station, which he runs separately to the five stations totalling 2.1 million hectares along the South Australia-NSW border that make up Mutooroo Pastoral. Together, Mutooroo, Mulyungarie, Quinyambie, Lilydale and Manunda run about 55,000 sheep.
Morgan is also a director on the board of Australian Wool Innovation.
The McMillan family’s Roxborough Downs Station at Boulia surrounded by flood waters.
McMillan family, McMillan Pastoral Company
2 million hectares
The McMillan clan of Cloncurry has amassed a two million-hectare portfolio that includes seven stations in Queensland and one in the Northern Territory.
In 2013, the family bought 481,000-hectare Calvert Hills Station in the Northern Territory for $15 million, followed in 2020 by the purchase of 705,198-hectare Wollogorang and Wenthworth for $53 million.
The Wollogorang and Wenthworth deal returned that land to Australian hands from Chinese billionaire Xingfa Ma, who had bought the aggregation through his company TBG Agri Holdings for $47 million.
The McMillan family also owns Carsland, Corella Park, Inorunie, Jessievale, Mt Roseby, Roxborough Downs and Mudgerebar.
Cluny Station near Bedourie.
Daley family, Arrabury Pastoral Company
1.6 million+ hectares
The Daley family own more than 1.6 million hectares across three cattle grazing properties in Queensland’s unique Channel Country, and one cropping and cattle property between Condamine and Meandarra.
The Channel Country stations, Cluny, Mount Leonard and Arrabury, total 1.3 million hectares, and are used for breeding and fattening.
Mount Leonard and Arrabury cover a combined 750,000 hectares near the small town of Beetoota while Cluny, near Bedourie, stretches across 546,000 hectares.
Arrabury Pastoral Co was established in 1917 to acquire Arrabury station and surrounding leases on the Queensland-South Australia border.
Nick McBride on his farm at Conmurra. Picture: Tom Huntley
McBride family, AJ&PA McBride Pty Ltd
1.4 million hectares
The son of an Irish settler, Albert James McBride founded AJ & PA McBride with his son, Phillip, in 1920.
The father-and-son duo started with four properties and steadily amassed tracts of land from Pooraka to Port Augusta, buying Wilgena station in 1924 – once the largest fenced sheep property in the world.
Expansion has continued ever since, with the McBrides today owning 1.4 million hectares across 12 properties in South Australia, and one in Victoria – the recent 2018 acquisition of 47,000-hectare Telopea Downs in Victoria.
While wool is woven into the family’s history, the McBrides have diversified into viticulture and horticulture operations. Today, all shares in the company are held by descendants and partners of AJ’s eight children, with Nick McBride (pictured) the current chairman and Jane McBride on the board.
P&J Harris and Sons’ Inkerman Station south of Home Hill.
Harris family, P&J Harris and Sons
1.1 million+ hectares
If there’s one family that has become synonymous with modern-day Australian agriculture it is the Harrises. Brothers Peter, Malcolm and Ron Harris have each forged their own successful multi-million paths.
Peter Harris and his wife, Jane, operate P&J Harris and Sons which ranks among Australia’s biggest privately owned cotton operations, overseeing a huge portfolio in northern NSW including home farm Kindamindi at Moree, Miralwyn at Carinda, Moomin at Rowena as well as Rumleigh Station at Brewarrina. In 2009 they purchased Brewon Station at Walgett from Clyde Agriculture, and last December paid the Menegazzo family a whopping $380 million for the 1.1 million-hectare Gulf Coast Agricultural Company portfolio in far North Queensland.
The Oxenford family of Western Grazing own 800,000 hectares across Queensland.
Oxenford family, Western Grazing Company
800,000 hectares
Starting as a family-run dairy business on the Gold Coast, the Oxenford family’s operation has evolved into a beef behemoth.
In 1992 they bought a large portfolio of Vestey Properties, which included Wave Hill and Cattle Creek in the Victoria River District of the Northern Territory (sold in 2021) and the Camooweal breeding block, Morstone. Also they acquired the Mt Isa finishing property, Oban, as part of a Vestey deal.
In late 1999, Western Grazing purchased breeding property Magowra Station, near Normanton in the Gulf of Queensland followed by Allendale Station in the Augathella region in 2008.
In September last year they snapped up Camel Creek Station, west of Ingham, for an estimated sale price of $17-20 million.
The family’s Western Grazing portfolio comprises six properties in Queensland.
CC Cooper and Co’s Leith Cooper on a family property at Jamestown.
Cooper family, CC Cooper and Co
800,000 hectares
Fifth-generation family farming operation CC Cooper and Co, based at Jamestown in South Australia’s Mid North, has expanded across six properties in its home state, NSW and Western Australia over the past two decades.
Leith Cooper (pictured) is the grandson of a shearer who started the enterprise from the ground up, leaving just shy of 500 hectares to his three sons.
The Coopers have expanded more than 10-fold to now own more than 800,000 hectares, with the company run by Leith’s sons, Seth and Tom.
Since 2005, the family has spread its wings from its Jamestown base to buy Wonga Station at Broken Hill, Narrung on the Coorong, Madura Plains and Coorabie on the Nullarbor, and Broughton Vale Station at Little Topar NSW.
They currently run about 50,000 sheep.
Anthony Lee is at the helm of Australian Country Choice. Picture: Nigel Hallett
Lee family, Australian Country Choice
694,320 hectares
As a son of feedlot pioneer and Queensland billionaire Trevor Lee, Australian Country Choice CEO Anthony Lee has first-hand knowledge of what it means to “build a business”.
Trevor has been the driving force behind the extraordinary growth of cattle and meat empire Australian Country Choice, which owns more than half a million hectares across 15 properties in Queensland, and claims to be the largest family-owned, vertically integrated cattle and beef supply chain organisation in the world.
With Anthony at the helm, supported by Trevor and brother Michael on the board, ACC’s assets include grazing properties, feedlots, seedstock operations, meat processing plants and distribution networks
Sterling Buntine’s Baldy Bay Pastoral owns more than 578,000 hectares.
Sterling Buntine, Baldy Bay Pastoral
578,000+ hectares
Born into a legendary Outback business family, Sterling Buntine made a name for himself in pastoral circles in 2016, as spokesman for a consortium of four major cattle producers – Viv Oldfield, Malcolm Harris and Tom Brinkworth – who tried to out-bid Gina Rinehart for S Kidman and Co landholdings.
Since that unsuccessful bid, Buntine’s Baldy Bay business in the Kimberley has snapped up Mimong Station at Kyuna in Queensland for $20 million and Comely and Mapala Stations at Baufinia for an estimated $50 million, both from Consolidated Pastoral Company. The 2019 purchases brought Baldy Bay’s landholdings to more than half a million hectares across Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Baldy Bay was founded by Sterling’s late father, Noel, who built a cattle-transport and pastoral empire across northern Australia.
Michael and Angela Field at Jugiong NSW.
Field family, TA Field Estates
74,870 hectares
With six properties stretching across nearly 75,000 hectares from northern NSW to the southern Riverina, TA Field Estates has been built by four generations of the Field family, starting with land near Grafton in 1906.
Now run by Michael Field (pictured), great great-grandson of founder and butcher-turned-cattle and sheep exporter Tom who emigrated from England in 1885, TA Field is one of Australia’s largest wool growers, producing more than 2400 bales a year.
Their flagship wool operation Wyvern, at Carrathool, produces nearly half of their annual clip, at 1100 bales a year.
With landholdings spanning climatic regions, the company runs Merino sheep and cattle while also growing grains, in a diversified operation with a long-term view on its investments.
David and Danielle Statham of Sundown Pastoral Co.
Statham family, Sundown Pastoral Company
70,770 hectares
David Statham and wife Danielle run a sprawling cotton and cropping portfolio across more than 70,000 hectares of Queensland and northern NSW.
With a huge focus on sustainable farming practices and transparency, the couple say they have produced the world’s first traceable carbon-positive cotton.
Established in 1964 by David’s billionaire father, Neil Statham, Sundown Pastoral originally had large interests in grazing land, with seven landholdings running more than 50,000 cattle.
In 2018, the Stathams sold backgrounding and finishing property Sundown Valley, west of Armidale, and Gunnee feedlot near Inverell to Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting for $120 million.
Tim Roberts-Thomson of TRT Pastoral with his children Madeleine and James. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin
Roberts-Thomson family, TRT Pastoral Group
19,000 hectares
Tim Roberts-Thomson is the new kid on the pastoral power-player block. But he sure knows how to play the game.
His TRT Pastoral Group is approaching its 30th birthday, and in that short time has charted incredible growth, including original station Howquadale at Mansfield in Victoria’s North East and NSW Riverina stations Juanbung and Booyong.
He has since sold his NSW interests, but snapped up iconic properties in Tasmania, to now own 20 titles across two states.
He bought the King Island aggregation of eight landholdings in 2017 for a reported $45 million, and most recently paid about $120 million for a 6000-hectare slice of historic Woolnorth aggregation in Tasmania.
WHO OWNS AUSTRALIA: THE BILLIONAIRES
They are an eclectic bunch, each competitive in the own right. But Australia’s billionaires of the bush share a common passion in helping feed and clothe a growing world population. Noted richlisters investing in the Australian ag space range include a smattering of foreigners – think hedge fund manager, and King Charles III mate, Lord Michael Hintze, with a net worth of $US3.2 billion, and Tavistock Group boss and Tottenham Hotspur football club owner Joe Lewis, worth an estimated $US6.1 billion – to homegrown mining heroes Gina Rinehart (net worth: $US27.1 billion) and Twiggy Forrest ($US18.7 billion) and media mogul Kerry Stokes ($US4 billion).
Tottenham owner Joe Lewis pictured in 2011. Picture: David Klein
Joe Lewis, Australian Agricultural Company, ASX-Listed
6.62 million hectares
Operates in Queensland and Northern Territory
Owns Anthony Lagoon and Eva Downs, Aronui Feedlot, Avon and Austral Downs, Brunette Downs Station, Camfield Station, Canobie and Wondoola Stations, Carrum Station, Dalgonally Station, Delamere Station, Glentana Station, Goonoo Farm and Station, Headingly Station, La Belle, Montejinni Station, Pell and Tortilla, South Galway Station, Wondoola Station, Wylarah Station
Gina Rinehart’s farmland interests span 3.49 million hectares. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
Gina Rinehart, Hancock Agriculture, Australia, (2.05 million hectares), S Kidman and Co, Australia and China, (1.44 million hectares)
3.49 million hectares
Operates in NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and Northern Territory
Hancock Agriculture owns Calgan and Glencoe, Cudgewa, Pine Plain and Pindara, Forestvale, Fossil Downs, Glendon Park and Camperdown, Gunnee Feedlot, Holyrood, Langsview, Liveringa, Maffra South, Maydan Feedlot, Mulga Downs, Roy Hill, South Burnett Aggregation, Sundown Valley, Warra Warra, Warrabah
S Kidman and Co owns Durham Downs, Helen Springs, Morney Plains, Rockybank
Founder of Terra Firma Capital Partners Ltd Guy Hands. Picture: Fabrice Dimier
Guy Hands, Consolidated Pastoral Company, Australia-UK
3.23 million hectares
Operates in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia
Owns Allawah, Bunda, Carlton Hill Station, Dungowan, Isis Downs, Jimarndy Aggregation, Kirkimbie, Langley Station, Newcastle Waters Station, Wrotham Park
Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest. Picture: Philip Sinden
Twiggy Forrest, Harvest Road, Australia
2.96 million hectares
Operates in Western Australia
Owns Balfour Downs Station, Brickhouse Station, Ella Valla Station, Emu Creek Station, Jubilee Downs, Koojan Aggregation, Minderoo South (Uaroo and Nanutarra), Minderoo Station, Minilya Station, New Norcia Aggregation, Springvale Aggregation, Urala Station, Yalbago Station
Brett Blundy. Picture: James Croucher
Brett Blundy, Brett Blundy Retail Capital, Bahamas
2.05 million hectares
Operates in Northern Territory
Owns Beetaloo Station and OT Downs, Mungabroom Station, Walhallow and Creswell Downs
Kerry Stokes AC. Picture: Martin Ollman
Kerry Stokes, Australian Capital Equity, Australia
970,000+ hectares
Operates in South Australia and Western Australia
Owns Balquihidder Station, Mt House Station, Mt Scrub, Napier Downs Station
Hong Kong’s richest man Li Ka-shing. Picture: Anthony Wallace
Li Ka-Shing, CK Life Sciences, Hong Kong
94,266 hectares
Operates in NSW, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia
Owns Balranald Vineyard, Bussorah Vineyard, Colignan Farm, Dalmeny Vineyard, Gale Road Vineyard, Hanwood Vineyard, Jubilee Vineyard, Katnook Vineyard, Lionels Vineyard, Miamba Vineyard, Nicoletti Farms, Old Land Vineyard, Qualco East Vineyard, Qualco West Vineyard, Rowe Road Vineyard, Station and Kirkgate Vineyards, Stephendale Vineyard, White Road Vineyards and Orchards, Whitton Vineyard, Wilga Road
Michael Hintze. Picture: The Australian
Michael Hintze, MH Premium Farms, United Kingdom
71,916 hectares
Operates in NSW and Queensland
Owns Boolarwell, Burrangong, Canomodine, Cheviot Hills, Delta, Deltroit Station, Enfield North, Gunedra, Haughton, Meadowbank, Minjah, Mourabie, Rippling Water, South Callandoon, Springfield, Warrane, Watson Park
Ray Dalio. Picture: Nikki Short
Ray Dalio, Australian Food and Agriculture, Australia-US
Operates in NSW
Owns Barratta, Boonoke, Peppinella, Wanganella, Warriston, Zara, Burrabogie, Kolora, Mulberrygong, North Cobran, Wahwoon, Netherway, Wingadee
Francesca Schwarzenbach and Urs Schwarzenbach pictured in 2013. Picture: Nick Harvey/WireImage
Urs Schwarzenbach, Romani Pastoral Company, Switzerland
Operates in NSW
Owns Brawlin Springs, Garangula, Mandeville, Windy Station
WHO OWNS AUSTRALIA: THE CORPORATES
What do you get when you cross Canadian mounted police with American college professors and Dutch public servants? A lot of corporate love for the Australian agriculture industry. The three biggest corporate investors in Aussie farmland include Canada’s PSP Investments – the pension fund for the Canadian public service, including its world-famous mounted police – the Australian-managed Macquarie Agriculture funds and the New York-based teacher superannuation company TIAA-CREF. Combined their Australian agricultural assets are valued at more than $11 billion.
1. PSP Investments, CANADA
$6 billion
Operates across all states and territories, investing in cotton, cattle, cropping and horticulture with large interests in nut production
Owns more than 120 properties, run by businesses including Altora Ag, Aurora Dairies, Australian Dairy Pastures, Australia Food and Fibre, Fresh Country Farms, Hewitt Cattle Australia, Kooba Pty, Simpson Farms, Southern Premium Vineyards and Stahmann Webster
2. Macquarie Agriculture, AUSTRALIAN-MANAGED FUND
$3 billion
Operates across more than 4.67 million hectares of Queensland, Western Australia, NSW and South Australia, running large-scale cattle and sheep enterprises as well as irrigated and dryland crops
Owns more than 40 properties, run by Paraway Pastoral Co, Viridis Ag and Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets, including 90,000-hectare Cubbie Station, one million-hectare Tanbar Station and 1.5 million-hectare Davenport Downs
3. TIAA-CREF-Nuveen, UNITED STATES
$2.2 billion
Operates in Queensland, Western Australia, NSW, Victoria, through its asset management subsidiary Nuveen
Has invested in more than 65 properties, primarily running row crops and horticulture enterprises
4. Rural Funds Group, ASX-Listed
$1.6 billion
Operates across South Australia, NSW, Queensland, Western Australia, with investments in almonds, cattle, vineyards, cropping and macadamias
Owns more than 40 properties including 85,500-hectare Oakland Park valued at $138 million, 4963-hectare Lynora Downs valued at $241.3 million and 104-hectare Moore Park macadamia orchards valued at $86.9 million
5. CK Life Sciences, HONG KONG sTOCK EXCHANGE-LISTED
$1.5 billion
Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing owns a large stake in parent company CK Hutchinson Holdings. Operates across Victoria, South Australia, NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, with investment in vineyards, orchards, citrus and cotton
See Page 31 for the properties CK Life Sciences owns
6. Manulife (formerly HAIG), CANADA
$1.2 billion
Operates in NSW, South Australia and Queensland
Owns Attis Farm, Cowl Cowl and Wyadra, Mooral Station, Norman Farming, Tooleybuc Farm, Tharbogang Almond Orchard
7. AustOn Corporation, CANADA
$1 billion
The Australian agriculture subsidiary of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan operates across Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, with interests in horticulture, including potatoes, almonds, avocados and orchards
Owns Aroona Farms, Jasper Farms, Margooya and Canarvon, Pomona Valley
8. Australian Agricultural Company
$1 billion
UK billionaire Joe Lewis owns more than a 50 per cent share in ASX-listed AACo, which operates across about 6.5 million hectares of Queensland and the Northern Territory, running 382,000 cattle
See Page 31 for the properties AACo owns and where it operates
9. goFARM, AUSTRALIA
$850 million
Operates about $850 million worth of agricultural and water assets in northern NSW and southern Victoria
Major assets include the Sandmount Farms aggregation, comprising 27 individual farms between Numurkah and Cobram and a water portfolio of more than 50,000 megalitres and the 9000-hectare Lake Boga Agriculture portfolio including 10,000-megalitre water allocation
10. Fiera Comox, CANADA
$800 million
Operates in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia
Owns Kia Ora and Clyde, Anunaka, Boorala, Cairlocup, Cherylton Farms, Karrara, Kulwin Park, Manton, Wirrinourt
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