PHOTO: Gina Rinehart. FILE
Two of Gina Rinehart‘s Northern Territory cattle properties have sold for a combined total well in excess of $60 million.
Key points:
- Two of Gina Rinehart’s NT cattle stations have been sold
- Willeroo was bought by the NT’s Brett family
- SA’s DiGiorgio family bought neighbouring Aroona Station
The Northern Territory’s Brett family has purchased the 171,000-hectare Willeroo Station, 125 kilometres south-west of Katherine, according to documents obtained from the Land Titles Office.
The neighbouring Aroona Station sold to the DiGiorgio family from South Australia’s south east.
In March this year, Ms Rinehart put a significant chunk of her northern cattle portfolio on the market, offering seven properties, covering nearly 2 million hectares, for sale.
Willeroo and Aroona were both purchased by Ms Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting in 2017 for more than $30 million and $20 million, respectively.
Hamish and Georgia Brett own the Coomalie Holding Depot export facility near Adelaide River and Waterloo Station near the WA/NT border.
The Brett family declined to comment on the purchase.
Aroona sells to South Australian family
Aroona Station covers 147,500 hectares on Willeroo’s northern boundary, with the Flora River flowing through the property.
The DiGiorgio family owns a winery in SA’s Coonawarra and also run sheep and cattle in the same region.
Frank DiGiorgio told ABC Rural his family was looking to diversify its agricultural interests.
“The property looked, on the face of it, a lovely property to have a look at, both in its relation to position, proximity to markets, and the fact that there is an abundance of water — secure water all year-round,” he said.
“It was a pretty compelling offering.”
Mr DiGiorgio said the family would not be “re-inventing the wheel” in managing the property, retaining the staff and cattle program.
“We will have family members travel up there from time to time, to get a bit of a handle on things, and also learn what Territory agriculture is about,” he said.
“It’s a different ball game to what we do down here, so we’ll have to adopt the practices that work up there and see what other opportunities may arise in that region.
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