In a big shake-up, the MacLachlan family, one of the country’s oldest and most powerful farming families, is making significant changes to their Jumbuck Pastoral rural empire. This empire is one of the largest in the country and has been in operation for an impressive 135 years.
Two brothers, Jock and Callum, have decided to leave the family business. This decision is part of a plan to reorganize Jumbuck and to ensure a smooth transition for the future.
As of the end of September, the brothers officially stepped down. This move has led to the division of Jumbuck’s enormous portfolio. This collection of properties spans a whopping 5.2 million hectares, which is even larger than the entire country of the Netherlands. The value of these properties is estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Jock MacLachlan will now be in charge of two significant properties: the McCoys Well station in South Australia covering 58,680 hectares and the Derby Station in Western Australia with an impressive 505,857 hectares. Meanwhile, Callum MacLachlan will oversee Wave Hill Station in the Northern Territory, a property known for its size at 1.2 million hectares, and another property called Killarney Station, covering 541,400 hectares.
The rest of the properties, including Blina Station in WA, Bulgunnia Station and Commonwealth Hill in SA, and Gunbar Station in NSW, will remain under the care of their father, Hugh MacLachlan. Additionally, their sisters, Airlie MacLachlan, Islay McKenzie, and Brooke Yates, will also be involved in overseeing these properties.
In April, Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group acquired Jumbuck’s Rawlinna Station in WA, which is the largest sheep property in the country, covering a staggering 1 million hectares.
Hugh MacLachlan, the head of Jumbuck Pastoral, expressed his regret at his sons’ departure. He praised their hard work and dedication, highlighting their role in expanding Jumbuck’s interests into new territories.
Before this restructuring, Jumbuck Pastoral was the third-largest landowner in the country. Now, it follows behind Crown Point Pastoral Company and ASX-listed Australian Agricultural Company. Crown Point recently expanded their holdings to over 9.2 million hectares after a significant acquisition last year.
Gina Rinehart, a billionaire in the mining industry, was once the country’s largest landowner. However, she recently started selling off over $500 million worth of cattle stations, focusing instead on higher-value Wagyu beef farming.
These changes mark a significant turning point for the MacLachlan family and their agricultural empire. The legacy of their work will undoubtedly be felt for generations to come.