SA’s Keilira Station hits the market after almost 70 years of family ownership

One of the most prominent grazing properties of significant scale in the Keilira district in South Australia’s South East region is about to become available.

Colliers and Elders as agents in conjunction have been appointed to handle the sale of Keilira Station, a 3,345 hectare sheep and cattle property located 34 kilometres east of Kingston.

Keilira Station is for sale for the first time in nearly 70 years, marking a historic moment in the region’s rural property landscape.

Colliers National Director Tim Altschwager said the sale of Keilira Station and its circa 28,000 DSE carrying capacity presents an unparalleled opportunity for discerning buyers to acquire a renowned grazing property that has a proven history of producing high-quality livestock.

“The McBride family has owned the property since 1954 and has undertaken a range of infrastructure developments and pasture renovations over the years to drive efficiencies and increase production in their sheep and cattle enterprise, Mr Altschwager said.

The expansive property occupies a strategic position between the Riddoch Highway and the Princes Highway, and also has easy access to the Southern Ports Highway. The district has a long-term average annual rainfall of around 540mm.

Keilira Station is a very well-balanced property comprising over 2,000 hectares or around 60% of heavy grazing flats that present an excellent opportunity for a cropping conversion, and over 1,200 hectares or around 40% of undulating hills grazing country.

The flats country is benefited by two drainage channels which form part of the South East Drainage Network and help to shift excessive water off the low-lying areas.

Elders Rural Real Estate Consultant Grant Schubert said the Keilira district is highly under rated from agricultural production perspective.

“The district is extremely tightly held and the broader market rarely gets an opportunity to take a good look at this country, especially properties of this scale,” Mr Schubert said.

Keilira Station has an excellent internal laneway network allowing for efficient stock management and fencing at the property has been significantly replaced following the Keilira Bushfires.

The property boasts an impressive operational hub, including three dwellings that offer comfortable living arrangements for the owners and staff, a 12-person shearers’ quarters, 6-stand shearing shed with yards, well-designed cattle yards, and extensive machinery and hay shedding.

The presence of satellite cattle and sheep yards further enhances the efficiency of livestock handling on the property.

With its reliable winter rainfall, the productive flats at Keilira Station offer exciting cropping potential, with further production uplifts offered by the irrigation prospects presented by the property’s 900 mega litres (approx.) of holding and taking water entitlements, as well as the continuation of the pasture improvement program throughout the hills grazing country.

In addition to its agricultural potential, Keilira Station offers the possibility of a future diversified income stream which may come to light in the coming years as a result of advanced negotiations for the development of wind turbines on the property.

Colliers agent Jesse Manuel said the sale of Keilira Station is a significant event South Australian rural property market and its availability in the market is sure to attract the attention of both private and corporate livestock producers as well as buyers attracted to the significant cropping potential of the property.