THE McPhee Beef Farms aggregation in the New South Wales New England region could exceed $120 million making it one of the biggest rural property transactions in New South Wales in recent times.

The 8394ha McPhee Beef Farms operates across the 6755ha Benditi, Mooraback, Overflow and Clonmel (adjoining properties) near Yarrowitch and the 1638ha Glen Eagle, around 58km away, near Walcha.

Aggregated over 30 years by the McPhee family, vendor Jay McPhee will retain St Helena near Armidale, as well as other country on the southern outskirts of Tamworth.

The McPhee family some years ago sold their McPhee Logistics (industrial and storage sheds) business to US logistics giant Dexus for about $200 million.

The highly improved and well-developed McPhee Beef Farms sits on top of the Great Dividing Range in a high rainfall, sought-after region of northern New South Wales.

Comprising mostly rich basalt and soft loam soils, the enterprise is home to some of the family’s elite Maria River Angus breeding herd that produces quality high performance F1 Wagyu progeny.

Inquiry is likely to come from institutions, corporates and large family farm operators seeking high rainfall areas with pasture improvement to finish livestock.

Over recent years, the New England region has seen significant investment from Queensland producers, and those further west, to reduce risk and exposure and shore up their annual cash flow and returns.

Sales include the 2668ha Upton Farms that achieved $88m WIWO or $11,000/ac and the 3645ha Kentucky Blue and The Flags, 1504ha Lakeside and 254ha Pitcalnie which made between $8000/a to $9000/ac.

McPhee Beef Farms has excellent finishing capabilities, but the property is used for backgrounding and breeding Wagyu F1s for feedlot placement, supplying a single very large Wagyu supply chain in southern Queensland, believed to be Stanbroke.

Colliers Agribusiness agent Rawdon Briggs and Meares & Associates agent Sam Meares have been appointed to sell the opportunity.

Mr Meares said at $14,300/ha, McPhee Beef Farms was competitively priced.

“It is rare to see a property of such scale offered in the inner country. It offers around 6500ha of fully developed country, with a further 1000ha on the recently purchased Clonmel to be sown to pasture in early 2026,” Mr Meares said.

“This means more than 80 percent of the operation will be established to pasture and capable of running around 108,000 Dry Sheep Equivalents or 15,000 steers,” he said.

Mr Briggs described McPhee Beef Farms as one of the most exciting cattle production offerings in Australia today.

“High rainfall at moderate altitudes ensures significantly warmer winters temperatures, delivering animal performance across a wider growing season for pasture and livestock alike regardless of rainfall timing.”

Mr Briggs said it is a compelling investment.

“McPhee Farms is located south of a region containing 70pc of Australia’s feedlot and processing capacity, providing significant marketing and timing advantages to the new owners.”

“Showing sustainable annual weightgains of around 1kg per day, this allows for the finishing of up to 15,000 steers per annum (with a 350-day cycle) or even more with a backgrounding operation requiring a 200-day turn around.”

Situated in a reliable above average annual rainfall of 950mm, the operation boasts an abundance of natural spring water reserves and more than 190 dams.

During their ownership, the McPhee family has undertaken extensive capital infrastructure improvements including more than 200km of new fencing, 20km of established laneways and substantial soil improvements.

With the support of local agronomist Damien Timbs, around 75pc or 6285ha of the country has been sown to a high-performance pasture mix including fescue, prairie grass, cocksfoot and legumes.

Like all properties in the region, a fertiliser regime including phosphorus and lime is used to extract optimum performance, but the fact that the Yarrowitch country has only been developed for 5-10 years means fertiliser reliance is nothing like long-established New England improved grazing country.

Other infrastructure includes owner, guest and staff accommodation, five cattle yards and numerous sheds.

The McPhee Beef Farms are offered for sale via offers to purchase closing on April 30.