The long-awaited return of two extensive Northern Territory cattle operations has arrived, with LAWD relisting Maryfield and Limbunya Stations.

The combined 670,000ha are being offered to the market by ADM Capital, an Asian investment management firm headquartered in Hong Kong.

ADM financed the 2022 purchase of the institutional-scale beef breeding, backgrounding and finishing assets by Wealthcheck, the agricultural investment company owned by Sydney-based Sam Mitchell.

Under the $175 million transaction, Wealthcheck acquired the land while Garry Edwards’ Brisbane-based AAM Investment Group entered a long-term lease arrangement that included buying the 50,000 Brahman cattle on offer and operating the cattle enterprise.

Offers above $40m on a bare basis are being sought for Maryfield, while more than $65m is expected for Limbunya.

The scale of the holdings is expected to draw strong domestic and international interest, with potential parties likely to include Australia’s largest private landowner Viv Oldfield, Consolidated Pastoral Company, the Langenhoven family, the Argentina-based Buratovich family and Vietnam’s TH Group.

LAWD’s Danny Thomas, Tim McKinnon and Erica Semmens have been appointed to manage the separate sales campaigns.

Mr Thomas said the expressions of interest process will seek interest from buyers who see value in the carbon projects across both assets, as well as those who do not.

During his brief ownership, Mr Mitchell secured approval for a significant Human Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest (HIR) carbon project, with associated approvals continuing to progress.

“There may be some people who want to step into the carbon project. However, if it is considered an impediment by someone who wants a pure-play beef operation, then the carbon projects may be discontinued,” said Mr Thomas.

“We want to know where the market sees the highest and best value,” he said.

Maryfield Station

Spanning 147,300ha, Maryfield Station is situated on the Sturt Plateau, 45km from Daly Waters and 105km from Mataranka in the NT’s Larrimah region.

The property benefits from 36km of Stuart Highway frontage, providing year-round access to Darwin and southern markets, and is underpinned by a 9800 head feed yard.

Maryfield is offered with a carrying capacity of more than 15,000 Adult Equivalents, reflecting one AE per 9.82ha.

The property is divided into 19 main paddocks and five smaller holding paddocks, supported by more than 700km of high-quality fencing.

Around 4900ha are approved for cropping, with 1000ha currently used for fodder production.

A 3392ML groundwater extraction licence provides scope to increase fodder production through irrigation development.

Constructed in 2020, the Maryfield feed yard can accommodate 9800 head and has an annual throughput capacity of more than 90,000 head.

The facility includes induction yards, out-loading infrastructure, an office, a weighbridge, a feed station and four grain silos with combined capacity of 2000 tonnes.

Additional infrastructure includes two four-bedroom homes, substantial staff and seasonal worker accommodation, a meat house, calf yards, two steel cattle yards with drafting pounds, branding facilities, a veterinary crush, loading ramps and numerous sheds.

Water is supplied by dams, 29 equipped bores reticulated to header tanks and troughs, and seasonal waterholes along the Strangeways and Cattle Creeks.

Limbunya Station

Located around six hours from Maryfield, the 521,883ha Limbunya Station is in the Victoria River District, a region widely recognised for its capacity to breed and grow large volumes of cattle.

The operation is 600km south-west of Katherine and 850km from Kununurra, with all-weather access via the Buntine Highway.

The landscape varies from alluvial floodplains to undulating country, scattered rocky outcrops and deep gorges, with some open black soils suited to dryland cropping.

A feature is the high-carrying-capacity black soil pastures of the Wave Hill system, which support extensive Mitchell, blue, buffel and Flinders grasses.

Limbunya has an extensive paddock and laneway system, divided into 34 main paddocks and 10 holding paddocks, and is offered with an assessed carrying capacity of 40,000 Adult Equivalents, reflecting one AE per 13.05ha.

Water is secured by 54 equipped bores reticulated to header tanks and turkey nests which feed a network of concrete troughs. Additional water is supplied by 14 dams and permanent and seasonal waterholes from the Stirling Creek and its tributaries.

Infrastructure includes two main residences, staff accommodation, recently renovated seasonal worker accommodation, numerous sheds and seven cattle yards.

Maryfield Station and Limbunya Station are being offered for sale separately by EOI closing on October 22.