Australia’s biggest private rural landholding, which includes the world’s largest cattle station, is up for sale by the pioneering pastraolist company, S. Kidman and Co.
Eleven cattle stations covering more than 100,000 square kilometres are set to be offered next month with documentation through Ernst and Young Adelaide.
S. Kidman and Co. is 98% owned by members of the Kidman family, represented by 58 shareholdings. Not all wanted to sell, The Land reported, adding last financial year the company reported a net operating cashflow of $9.3 million and paid dividends of 20 cents a share.
But it recorded a net after tax loss of $1.4m as herd numbers declined 15 per cent because of tough seasonal conditions to 182,350 head, and their livestock market value fell about $10 million to $97.4 million.
The cattle king Sir Sidney Kidman’s first purchase was in 1886: Owen Springs south-west of Alice Springs.
The business still has cattle stations across Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia.
Anna Creek Station in South Australia’s outback is the largest at 23,000 square kilometres.
The other holdings include Helen Springs in the Northern Territory and Ruby Plains in Western Australia, Durham Downs, Durrie, Glengyle, Morney Plains, Naryilco and Rockybank in Queensland; Innamincka, Macumba and Tungali in South Australia where the company is headquartered.
“This is a world class asset of international significance,” said Alex Thamm a rural valuer with Colliers International.
The managing director of S. Kidman and Co. Greg Campbell said family members decided to capitalise on current demand for quality Australian agricultural assets.
The company employs 170 staff.
The business supplies 1.3% of Australia’s boxed beef exports.
The 11 properties currently have 155,000 branded cattle with 30,000 more calves to be marked this year.
The Kidman family has $364 million net worth, as ranked 37th on the BRW Rich Family List, spread across family groups based in Australia, the United Kingdom and United States.
This story originally appeared on Property Observer.
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