# CPC expansion of Australian landholdings

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/cpc-expansion-of-australian-landholdings
> Updated: 2026-07-29T05:28:00.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 3.

On 26 July 2026, UK‑owned Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) completed its purchase of the Madura Plains sheep station near the Western Australia/South Australia border, adding the property to its earlier 2025 acquisition of Rawlinna and pushing its Australian landholdings above 6.2 million hectares. The deal was cleared by Western Australian pastoral‑lease checks and the federal Foreign Investment Review Board. CPC indicated it was also seeking approval for the neighbouring Arubiddy station, which would raise its total Australian acreage to roughly 6.53 million hectares, overtaking the Australian Agricultural Company.

The following day, reports confirmed the Madura Plains transaction, noting a purchase price of under AU$100 million and a seven‑month delay by the WA government. CPC’s pending Arubiddy acquisition would bring its Nullarbor holdings to about 2.5 million hectares suitable for roughly 145,000 sheep. At the same time, Perth‑based PenAgri Group marketed its 11,288‑hectare Arrowsmith Portfolio, underscoring broader consolidation activity in Western Australia’s farming sector.

By 29 July, CPC reiterated the completion of the Madura Plains purchase and its pending request for Arubiddy approval, confirming the combined three stations would give billionaire Guy Hands control of nearly 2.5 million hectares and maintain existing breeding programs. The series of reports tracks CPC’s rapid expansion of grazing land in the Nullarbor region and its position as the largest privately owned cattle company in Australia.

## Claims

- CPC purchased Madura Plains station (711,638 hectares) on the Nullarbor. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The Foreign Investment Review Board approved the sale of Madura Plains. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Western Australian government delayed the transfer of Rawlinna station for about seven months. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- CPC is waiting for approval to purchase Arubiddy Station (314,000 hectares). (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Combined, the three Nullarbor stations total about 2.5 million hectares and can carry roughly 145,000 sheep. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The transaction value is estimated at less than US$100 million. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- British billionaire Guy Hands would control the three stations after CPC's acquisition. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- CPC CEO Troy Setter said the company will not change the flocks' breeding direction. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-07-29: Australian cattle firm CPC secures major Nullarbor sheep station acquisitions

CPC has bought Madura Plains and is set to acquire Rawlinna and Arubiddy, giving Guy Hands control of ~2.5 million hectares and 145,000 sheep, in a deal worth under $100 M.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/australian-cattle-firm-cpc-secures-major-nullarbor-sheep-station-acquisitions

### 2026-07-27: Western Australia sees major farmland acquisitions by CPC and PenAgri

CPC finalises a massive Nullarbor sheep‑station purchase while PenAgri lists its 11,288‑ha Mid West cropping portfolio for sale, marking major farmland consolidation in Western Australia.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/western-australia-sees-major-farmland-acquisitions-by-cpc-and-penagri

### 2026-07-26: UK-owned Consolidated Pastoral Company tops Australian corporate landholdings

CPC, owned by UK billionaire Guy Hands, now holds over 6.5 million hectares in Australia after buying Madura Plains, overtaking AACo as the country's largest corporate landholder.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uk-owned-consolidated-pastoral-company-tops-australian-corporate-landholdings

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Cite as: CPC expansion of Australian landholdings. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/cpc-expansion-of-australian-landholdings