Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC), owned by British billionaire Guy Hands, has acquired Vermelha Station in the Northern Territory, further expanding its significant landholdings in Australia. This latest purchase positions CPC to potentially become Australia’s largest corporate landholder, intensifying its competition with Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) for the top spot.
Acquisition Details of Vermelha Station
Vermelha Station, situated on the Sturt Plateau approximately 490 kilometers south of Darwin and 180 kilometers from Katherine, spans 203,900 hectares (503,848 acres). While the exact sale price has not been officially disclosed, media reports suggest it exceeded $47 million. The property was previously owned by the Vietnamese-based An Vien Pastoral Holding and Agriculture, which had purchased it for $18 million in 2016.
The station comes equipped with substantial infrastructure and resources, including:
- Approximately 15,000 predominantly Brahman cattle.
- A 2956 megalitre irrigation licence granted in 2019.
- A groundwater extraction licence for 2956 megalitres.
- 23 bores, with one irrigation bore capable of pumping at 60 litres per second.
- Currently, 45 hectares (111 acres) are under pivot irrigation, with an additional 60 hectares (148 acres) of cleared land.
- A permit for clearing up to 3660 hectares (9044 acres).
CPC’s Growing Australian Footprint
This acquisition marks another significant step in Guy Hands’ strategy to build a vast pastoral empire in Australia. CPC has been actively acquiring large-scale properties, challenging AACo for the title of the nation’s biggest corporate landowner. Prior to the Vermelha purchase, CPC’s landholdings across Australia totaled 6,525,638 hectares, a figure slightly larger than AACo’s approximately 6.5 million hectares.
CPC’s operational focus, as stated by the company, is primarily on live export and breeding high-quality composite cattle for its backgrounding operations in Queensland. The company’s existing Northern Territory and Western Australia operations include stations such as Newcastle Waters, Dungowan, Kirkimbie, Bunda, and Carlton Hill. The addition of Vermelha further consolidates its presence in the NT.
In addition to its cattle operations, CPC has also made substantial investments in the sheep industry, particularly on the Nullarbor Plains in Western Australia. Recent acquisitions include Madura Plains and Rawlinna, which together cover over 1.7 million hectares. The company is also reportedly in the process of acquiring Arubiddy station, another large sheep property on the Nullarbor.
Competition for Land Ownership
The competition for the largest landholdings in Australia is fierce. CPC and AACo are the primary contenders among corporate entities. AACo, Australia’s oldest continuously operating company, manages a significant portfolio comprising 19 owned cattle stations, three leased stations, two owned feedlots, two owned farms, and one leased farm, primarily located in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Beyond corporate ownership, Australia’s largest private landowners are Viv Oldfield and Donny Costello of Crown Point Pastoral, who collectively manage over nine million hectares of cattle country in central and northern Australia.
CPC’s Broader Operations
Consolidated Pastoral Company’s reach extends beyond Australian shores, with corporate involvement in two feedlots in Indonesia. According to CPC’s website, the company manages a diverse agricultural portfolio across its vast landholdings. This includes caring for over 400,000 head of cattle, 50,000 goats, and 150,000 sheep, alongside the production of various crops.
The acquisition of Vermelha Station underscores CPC’s ambitious growth strategy and its significant role in Australia’s agricultural sector, particularly in cattle production and land management.
Recent Major Acquisitions by CPC
This is not the first major acquisition by CPC in recent times. Late last year, the company purchased the Beetaloo aggregation, a substantial property spanning one million hectares near Elliott in the Barkly Tableland. This deal, reportedly valued at over $300 million, included Beetaloo Station and OT Downs, and was acquired from the Armstrong family and Brett Blundy.
The strategic expansion through acquisitions like Beetaloo and Vermelha highlights CPC’s commitment to consolidating its position as a leading agricultural enterprise in Australia and globally.
