Cattle on Aileron Station, north of Alice Springs

A PALESTINIAN boy born as a refugee who rose to become South Australia’s richest person has paid more than $25 million for a northern turnkey beef breeding and farming opportunity.

Charlie Shahin has secured the 4076sq km Aileron Station and the 1047ha Oolloo Farm in the Northern Territory’s tightly held Alice Springs region, seven months after it was offered to the market by the Melbourne-based Caason Group.

The sale, which was handled by LAWD agents Danny Thomas and Olivia Thompson, included 6000 head of cattle.

Aileron is located 130km north of Alice Springs straddling the Stuart Highway, and the versatile irrigated fodder operation Oolloo Farm is some 60km away near Ti Tree, 27km east of the Stuart Highway and two hours north-east of Alice Springs.

Adelaide-based Mr Shahin is the managing director of the Peregrine Corporation – founded in 1984 by his father Fred with the purchase of a single service station in Adelaide’s Woodville.

Today, the business has grown to more than 200 service stations across South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, plus a chain of more than 250 gift stores.

Mr Shahin holds two degrees in agriculture and owns a vineyard, as well as olive, cherry, fig and almond orchards.

He told Beef Central it was a privilege for anyone to acquire a cattle station, let alone a Palestinian kid born as a refugee some 60 years ago.

“It is a testament to this wonderful country Australia that we call home,” he said.

“I am also fortunate that my wife Kholoud and daughters Jasmin, Aya, Amira and Taj are passionate about the land. We are all grateful to be able to make such a significant acquisition for our family office.”

Mr Shahin paid tribute to the management team in place on Aileron and Oolloo Farm, saying he has plans to develop both to their maximum commercial potential.

“I started business in South Australia 40 years ago and owe a great deal to the state. This is our first foray into the Northern Territory and it won’t be the last. We are attracted to the region’s suitability, water and country type,” Mr Shahin said.

Aileron Station

The Organically Certified cattle property is running 8500 head, including 3500 breeders on buffel, native grasses and prolific herbages. It also offers carbon opportunities.

Aileron comprises 40 percent good mulga country, 35 percent flood-out open woodlands, 20 percent spinifex and five percent range country.

The property last changed hands in June 2015 when Gary Dann sold it to the Caason Group for $10 million.

Since purchasing the property, the Caason Group has undertaken significant management and property and herd improvement programs.

Watering points have been upgraded and expanded, many of the bores have been converted to solar, there is additional fencing and laneways and an improved pasture program has expanded the grazing areas.

There are 22 bores, 18 dams and five semi-permanent waterholes. Around 35 to 40 percent of the property is within a 3km grazing distance from water, with  25 percent within a 3km to 5km grazing distance.

In June 2021, the Caason Group paid $6.1m for Central Australia’s highly versatile fodder operation Oolloo Farm including 1000ML of water.

Oolloo Farm

In June 2021, the Caason Group paid $6.1 million for the 1047ha Oolloo Farm, a freehold buffel property featuring a highly efficient and streamlined irrigated fodder production operation.

It is situated in an area considered one of the most controlled growing environments in Australia. With plenty of sunshine and warmth, the growing seasons are longer, growing time is shorter, watering is controlled, minimal weed and pest control is required and biosecurity is optimum.

Two years ago, Oolloo Farm was sold with a 1000 megalitre ground water extraction licence and 154 hectares under six (newly installed) pivots.

Since the purchase, the Caason Group secured a 3000ML licence and had plans for a further three pivots. This is supported by a ring main water distribution system connected to eight bores and run via high voltage overhead powerlines.

Oolloo Farm is used for drought mitigation, currently supplying Aileron Station with around 5000 tonnes of fodder annually. Most is used for weaners. With additional infrastructure, production could be increased to more than 10,000 tonnes.