A comparison of the number of pastoral properties listed for sale across the NT and Kimberley today versus 12 months ago adds further  strength to the view that buying activity has turned the corner following the recovery of live cattle export markets in South East Asia.

Just over a year ago there were 21 pastoral properties being actively marketed for sale across the NT/Kimberley region according to list compiled by Frank Peacocke of Herron Todd White in Darwin and published by Beef Central.

After updating the list this week, Mr Peacocke said there are now 15 properties currently being advertised for sale across the region (see bottom of page for updated list).

Mr Peacocke said it was clear that, while it couldn’t be said that huge numbers of sales were occurring, the northern pastoral property market had seen more sales in the past six months than it had seen in the previous two years.

“I don’t anticipate values rocketing away, you will probably get what you’re asking and the asking price for a number of properties that we are aware of is fairly realistic at the moment – at around these asking prices the pastoralist may have a few dollars, from strong cattle sales, to put back into the property to improve it,” Mr Peacocke said.

Of the 21 that were listed last year, 10 are still for sale12 months later:

Bunda: 1,788km².  Southern VRD
Bullo River: 1,627km².  VRD
Ban Ban: 1,873 km².. Darwin Region
Wyworrie: 429 km² Sturt Plateau
Narwietooma: 2,590km². Central Australia
Mount Doreen: 7,337 km². – Central Australia
Mount Ebenezer: 1,640 km².  –  Central Australia
Maryvale: 3,244 km².  –  Central Australia
Brooking Springs: 1,939 km².. Fitzroy Crossing, Kimberley Region
Killarney/Birrimba: 5,414km² VRD is included on this list but is believed to be under contract for sale to Jumbuck Pastoral Company.

Here is what happened to the 11 that appeared on last year’s list but no longer appear on the current list of properties for sale:

Riveren and Inverway: 5554km², Southern VRD, Sold to PT Santosa Agrindo (Santori) Indonesia.
Mountain Valley: 1410 km²,Roper District, MIP sale to private pastoral entity.
Maryfield: 1473 km², Larrimah, MIP sale to Colin Ross, owner of Limbunya in the VRD.
Western Creek: 1020 km², Sturt Plateau. Withdrawn from sale.
Forrest Hill:  539 km², Daly Waters. Sold to Thames Pastoral which also owns Tanumbirini.
Mary River Stn: 1345 km², Pine Creek. Withdrawn from sale.
Pine Hill: 2752 km², Northern Alice Springs District. Receiver sale to Braitling family, owners of Mount Doreen.
Horseshoe Bend: 5936km², Central Australia, Sold to adjoining owners of New Crown, Andado, Lilla Creek.
Orange Creek: 2321 km², Central Australia. Withdrawn
Liveringa/Nerrima: 4700 km², Fitzroy Crossing, Kimberley Region. Withdrawn  from sale.

Other pastoral properties to have sold across the region within the past 12 months include:

La Belle Downs/Welltree: 994km².  Top End Floodplains
Amungee Mungee: 3,285 km². Daly Waters
Calvert Hills: 4,814km². NT Gulf
Old MacDonald Downs: 545km². Northern Alice Springs District
Margaret River: 1,771 km².. Halls Creek, Kimberley Region

Five new properties now appear on the new list of pastoral properties for sale:

(Its important to note that some of the below properties like Mt Elisabeth have been around now for close to twelve months)

Legune: 1,800 km².  Northern VRD (was previously marketed circa 2008/09)
Stapleton: 599 km².  Katherine
Deepwell:1,641km². Central Australia
Henbury:  5000 km²., Central Australia
Mt Elisabeth: 1,971 km².. Wyndham, East Kimberley Region

Current list of properties for sale

A list of pastoral leases currently actively being marketed for sale in NT/Kimberley (that we are aware of) follows:

Katherine/Sturt Plateau/Roper/Daly Waters/VRD/Darwin:
1. Bunda: 1,788km².  Southern VRD
2. Bullo River: 1,627km².  VRD
3. Killarney/Birrimba: 5,414km² VRD (Under Contract)
4. Ban Ban: 1,873 km².. Darwin Region
5. Wyworrie: 429 km² Sturt Plateau
6. Legune: 1,800 km².  Northern VRD
7. Stapleton: 599 km².  Katherine

Central Australia:
8. Deepwell: 1,641km². Central Australia
9. Narwietooma: 2,590km². Central Australia
10. Mount Doreen: 7,337 km². – Central Australia
11. Mount Ebenezer: 1,640 km².  –  Central Australia
12. Maryvale: 3,244 km².  –  Central Australia
13. Henbury: 5000 sq km – Central Australia

Kimberley:
14. Brooking Springs: 1,939 km².. Fitzroy Crossing, Kimberley Region
15. Mt Elisabeth: 1,971 km².. Wyndham, East Kimberley Region

(Mr Peacocke said Herron Todd White was also aware of a number of other cattle stations that are “quietly on the market” but not being formally advertised for sale. Approximately six of these had been on the market for sale over the last two years but, having failed to sell, have been withdrawn from advertising.)

• Beef Central's James Nason is in Darwin for the NTCA conference, and will file reports in coming days. Click here to access all Beef Central's reports relating to the NTCA conference and associated events, as they unfold this week.