Article by Tallis Miles and James Wagstaff, courtesy of The Weekly Times
30.06.2025
Billionaire Gina Rinehart has added yet another property to her multibillion-dollar rural empire, paying $75m for a farm in NSW.
The Weekly Times understands Ms Rinehart has purchased the 5003ha Wirribilla property near Walcha in the New England region. Wirribilla was offered to the market last October by UK businessman Sam Swire and was expected to fetch more than $70m.
It’s understood the deal was finalised through S.Kidman & Co, of which Ms Rinehart — Australia’s richest person — is the majority shareholder. S Kidman & Co declined to comment on the transaction.
Wirribilla is Ms Rinehart’s third major grazing acquisition in NSW this year alone, bringing her companies’ spend in 2025 to more than $180m to secure about 22,000ha of grazing country.
In January, her Hancock Agriculture business paid more than $70m for the 10,000ha Wongaboori Station near Mendooran in central west NSW. More recently, S Kidman & Co snapped up the 7000ha Jindabyne Station near Inverell for $35m.
Jindabyne has the capacity to run 3500 breeding cows and will be integrated into the expanding Kidman Premium Wagyu operation.
Ms Rinehart owns a 67 per cent stake in S. Kidman & Co, with China’s Shanghai CRED owning the remaining 33 per cent share.
The purchase of Wirribilla is the latest in a series of moves which have dramatically reshaped the famed S.Kidman & Co pastoral empire.
In recent years the company carved off 10 of the country’s most famous cattle stations, totalling a combined 6.7 million hectares, with an aim to target the production of higher-value cattle like Wagyu.
Jindabyne has the capacity to run 3500 breeding cows and will be integrated into the expanding Kidman Premium Wagyu operation.
Ms Rinehart owns a 67 per cent stake in S. Kidman & Co, with China’s Shanghai CRED owning the remaining 33 per cent share.
The purchase of Wirribilla is the latest in a series of moves which have dramatically reshaped the famed S.Kidman & Co pastoral empire.
In recent years the company carved off 10 of the country’s most famous cattle stations, totalling a combined 6.7 million hectares, with an aim to target the production of higher-value cattle like Wagyu.
