AUSTRALIA’S largest sheep station has returned to the market after Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group walked away from the sale.

The 10,117sq km Rawlinna Station, spanning an area roughly the size of Sydney, is located at Rawlinna, 400km east of Kalgoorlie in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia.

In May last year, Mr Forrest was named as the buyer of Rawlinna and subsequently announced plans to assess the potential for future green energy and carbon reduction projects, while continuing to run a commercial flock.

It is understood the Western Australian government failure to grant ministerial approval is the reason behind Fortescue’s withdrawal.

Jumbuck Pastoral is one of Australia’s largest sheep and cattle producers with properties in South Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, including the 1.25m/ha Wave Hill and Cattle Creek Stations.

The MacLachlan family began growing wool in 1888 at Paratoo Station near Yunta in South Australia.

In April last year, managing director Jock MacLachlan announced plans to divest Rawlinna as part of a succession planning project.

He told Sheep Central the company had no intention to sell any other assets, but would continue to look at opportunities to further grow and diversify the portfolio moving forward.

Elders executive general manager network Tom Russo said the return of Rawlinna to the market is a rare opportunity to acquire Australia’s largest sheep station during a period of unprecedented growth in demand for quality fibre and protein.

“The station is strategically located to give access to both the western and eastern markets and is a powerhouse of wool production, having carried up to 69,000 sheep in recent history.”

Mr Russo said the short-term opportunity is immense, as Rawlinna has benefited from an outstanding season and is currently conservatively stocked.

“Given the strategic advantages and efficiencies that can be achieved by operating an enterprise at this scale, offers are anticipated from large private and corporate investors within Australia and internationally.”

Mr Russo said Jumbuck Pastoral owns a substantial portfolio of sheep and cattle stations across Australia and intends to retain and grow that portfolio into the future.

“The portfolio of agricultural assets acquired by Jumbuck over many years of sustained investment is extraordinary.”

“While the divestment of Rawlinna constitutes a significant sale, in the context of the overall portfolio, it is a refinement to better align the asset base with Jumbuck’s strategy moving into the future,” Mr Russo said.

Rawlinna Station

In the mid-1950s, Hugh MacLachlan was travelling from South Australia to Perth on the Indian Pacific when the train stopped at a remote siding called Rawlinna.

He observed the siding had good quality underground water and, being an established pastoralist, could see the miles and miles of open saltbush, bluebush and grass plains.

What most people saw as they traversed the Nullarbor on the Indian Pacific was not what Mr MacLachlan saw. He saw a vast blank canvas and the opportunity to create the country’s most efficient sheep station.

Mr MacLachlan first placed a survey peg in the ground during the 1960s and through meticulous planning and substantial investment, Rawlinna Station was established.

It is now the largest sheep station in Australia, occupying 1,046,323ha and is widely regarded as an excellent example of planning and land management.

The property features a renowned boundary exclusion fence that spans around 400km.

Rawlinna Station will be offered to market by way of a staged expression of interest process