Fortescue Metals Group is set to acquire the country’s largest sheep property, Western Australia’s Rawlinna Station, from the MacLachlan family’s Jumbuck Pastoral and consider using it for renewable energy generation.
Andrew Forrest is one of the country’s largest holders of pastoral land. Michael Quelch
It is a slightly unusual move for Andrew Forrest, Fortescue’s chairman, who has acquired a significant pastoral empire through his private vehicles.
Last year, Forrest paid some $32 million to purchase Balfour Downs in the Pilbara from Chinese businessman Xingfa Ma, putting his personal pastoral portfolio in the state close at close to 2.1 million hectares.
He also owns Jubilee Downs in the Kimberley and New Norcia among others, largely through his Tattarang-owned Harvest Road business.
The latest acquisition has yet to be completed as it required approval from the West Australian government. It is over 1 million hectares, currently runs some 60,000 head of Merino sheep and has been in the MacLachlan family since the 1960s.

This data comes from MediaIntel.Asia's Media Intelligence and Media Monitoring Platform.