<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Rural Property

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A major Adelaide Hills grazing property at Rockleigh sold last month, without any price disclosure.
The Rocky Hillview is one of the largest landholdings in the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-commercial+farming-sa-rockleigh-501464791" target="_blank">comprising 1,264 hectares across 27 titles</a>.
It is split into two landholdings with the western landholding at 387 hectares and the eastern holding having 877 hectares of land.
The property is 25 kilometres north-west of one of South Australia’s major regional centres Murray Bridge.
It is 80 kilometres east of the Adelaide CBD.
Comprising of predominantly gently undulating to steep grazing country, some areas are suitable for cropping.
Despite no heavy scrub on the property some Mallee-type vegetation exists, but it does not impact on the grazing.
It has sheep and cattle yards.
The property was offered through Colliers International agents Jesse Manuel and Tim Altschwager.
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Rockleigh, Adelaide Hills farm Rocky Hillview, sold

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Melbourne businessman Sir Donald Trescowthick and his wife Norma have sold Cornwall Park in Toolern Vale, north-west of Melbourne, to a local landbanking investor.
The 279-hectare land holding, located on <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-commercial+farming-vic-toolern+vale-502164886" target="_blank">Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road</a>, is tipped to have sold for shy of $4 million with Duncan McIntyre, a Melbourne real estate agent, fronting the purchasing paperwork.
Sir Donald Trescowthick is best remembered for making Harris Scarfe into one of the country's biggest department store groups when he assumed control in the 1970s.
Cornwall Park, which was marketed by CBRE's Tim Bennetts and James Beer, includes a large homestead built in 1897 for grazier J. Black before its late 20th century conversion into a horse stud.
It sold with significant original stud infrastructure including five residences, an office building and 90 horse boxes,
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Trescowthick family sell Cornwall Park, Toolern Vale stud to landbanker

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Foreign agribusinesses and investment groups will have to declare their permanent water assets with the Australian Taxation Office from next December.
The move to establish a water register was aimed to bring more clarity to debate about the sector’s asset owners.
In 2013, federal government figures suggested 13.7% (or 1808 gigalitres) of all water entitlements have some level of foreign ownership — up from about 8.5% in 2010.
Most significant water assets currently held by foreign investors are connected to irrigated production ventures, such as Singaporean agribusiness Olam’s almond plantations along the Murray River.
One of the most significant offshore investors, the big US water investor Summit Holdings Group sold out last year, selling its portfolio to local investment funds, including the new Aware Water investment group owned by former ports bosses Chris Corrigan and Peter Scanlon.
National Irrigators Council chief executive officer, Tom Chesson, told The Land that “misinformation was the enemy of good policy”, so more facts about who owned what would help the water industry.
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National water register to measure foreign agriculture ownership

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Some 400,000 hectares of pastoral land in Western Australia's Goldfields region has been sold to the Chinese real estate conglomerate Shanghai CRED.
Shanghai CRED is also part of a $365 million joint bid with Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting to purchase the Kidman cattle empire.
Shanghai CRED has paid about $2 million to purchase Melita, Jeedamya and Kookynie stations, sold by WA cattle identity Jack Burton, from the Yeeda Pastoral Company.
The Chinese company has also sought FIRB approval for several other Goldfields stations including Yakka Munga, located 100 kilometres north of Derby.
"Although the property is a fair quality cattle station, it has good access and proximity to Broome and the ability for further development," HTW valuer Terry Roth said.
"If this sale does proceed, this will be the fourth sale to occur in the Kimberley for 2016," he said noting sales of Napier Downs, Mount House and Glenroy and Carlton Hill.
"There is continued momentum in the NT pastoral market, with Mount McMinn now offered for sale.
"This 809 square kilometre pastoral lease reportedly has a carrying capacity of about 5,000 head," Terry Roth said.
Mount House and Glenroy Stations, located 270 kilometres east of Derby have sold. The adjoining leases have sold to prominent businessman Kerry Stokes.
"This is the second holding in the Kimberley that Kerry Stokes has purchased this year with the purchase of Napier Downs at the start of the year.
"One of the main attractions of the two leases is the access to natural waters.
Roth noted the northern section forms part of the Isdell River catchment and drains into the Walcott Inlet and the southern section is formed by the Adcock and Hahn Rivers.
"At the time of the sale, the property was relatively undeveloped, however since settlement, the purchaser has embarked on a development program of pastoral infrastructure."
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Shanghai CRED expand their Northern Territory reach

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One of the few remaining commercial-scale grazing properties in the historic Bungendore district has been listed for sale.
It will bring to an end five generations of continuous occupation by the Hyles family.
Woodlands was taken up more than 150 years ago by Richard and Jessie Hyles.
It is being sold now as part of a succession plan by Bruce Hyles and his family.
Meares and Associates will offer the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-livestock-nsw-bungendore-7850266" target="_blank">1157 hectare property at online auction</a> on November 15-16.
It is expected to draw competition from grazing interests, serious investors and lifestyle seekers alike.
Situated eight kilometres south of Bungendore with views northwards to Lake George, Woodlands is under three hours’ drive from Sydney.
Although still managed successfully as a commercial grazing operation, based on Merino sheep, the property has obvious potential for subdivision up to a maximum of 14 lots, to meet the steady demand from Canberra for small holdings. 
More than 200,000 pine trees have been planted, either in a 120ha dedicated woodlot or in strategic shelter belts.
Average rainfall is 640mm and the property is watered by 43 dams, an equipped bore and semi-permanent creeks.
As presently managed, “Woodlands” is operated as a woolgrowing concern, with a self-replacing Merino flock of Hazeldean bloodlines producing adult fleeces of 4.5-5kg and 19-19.5 microns.
In recent years a proportion of the ewe flock has been mated to Border Leicester rams to produce first-cross lambs, the ewe portion of which has commanded ready competition at the annual regional summer restocker sales.
The property’s estimated carrying capacity of 2600-3000 DSE offers considerable upside potential, with further investment in pasture establishment and infrastructure.
Woodlands has a Victorian-style homestead built in the 1870s as a wedding present for Jessie Hyles.
Bidding for Woodlands is expected to reach $2.8 million to $3 million.
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Pastoral Woodlands on Canberra's doorstep

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A Pakenham rural property with character, charm and, most importantly, potential is up for November auction.
The 1.44 acre property, located at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-vic-pakenham-502140478" target="_blank">65 Racecourse Road, Pakenham</a>, dates back to the 1920's Bourke family, who were prominent graziers and horse racing identities.
The prominent Pakenham landmark is set amongst mature oak trees in a fine garden, while the large weatherboard home has broad timber decked return verandas.
The interior with 10 foot ceilings and wide timber panelled passage ways offers four generously proportioned bedrooms, plus study and two stately living rooms complete with original fire places, ornamental ceiling and with double hung sash windows throughout.
The country style eat-in kitchen still has the original combustion stove in place, plus family bathroom and sun room. The original racing stables are still in place.
The property offers a unique opportunity to restore to its former glory and/ or further develop (STCA). It is positioned with access to the M1 Freeway, public transport and major shopping and services.
Initial terms is a 10% deposit with balance 30/60 days.
The property is offered through First National Commercial agents Todd McKenna and Nyall Greene and is set to go under the hammer on November 12.
There is a racing property also listed at Coral Lynn.
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1920s weatherboard home and former racing stables at Pakenham slated for auction

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Crowdfunder DomaCom is identifying fresh pastures to give investors the opportunity to acquire a stake in Australia’s agribusinesses in the wake of the likely sale of the iconic Kidman &amp; Co to mining magnate Gina Reinhart and Chinese interests.
DomaCom CEO Arthur Naoumidis today announced the launch of a new crowdfunding campaign that would start soon for a prime northern Queensland beef breeding property that boasted “substantial improvements” across the asset.
“What our Kidman bid demonstrated is the enormous appetite among investors to acquire agricultural assets.
"People are motivated by a desire to keep prime rural land in Australian hands, as well as the opportunity for steady yield and capital gain.
“To this end we have identified this north Queensland property that has a carrying capacity of 4500 head of cattle, with a long-term capacity to exceed this number.
“The property has been in the same family for the past 120 years, and what our crowdfunding proposal will allow is for this family to retain a significant amount of the equity in the DomaCom book-build, with the capital raised via crowdfunding to be used to pay off bank debt and allow the family to focus on operating the business.”
Naoumidis said the Kidman Station crowdfunding campaign had been a “remarkable exercise”, with the company staggered by the public response.
“We received around $80 million worth of pledges from 5500 investors of which nearly 600 had opened accounts with the DomaCom Fund.”
The Kidman campaign, which has been wound up, while always a very ambitious exercise, has at least played an important role in stirring the debate that has seen majority ownership of this asset remain in Australian hands.
“On the back of this campaign, I now believe there is a real opportunity is for us to use this momentum to address the funding issue for our Australian farmers at a more grass roots level.
"We will focus our energies on more attainable rural opportunities that we believe will have significant structural benefits for Australian farmers by keeping families on the land with a minimum of debt and helping prevent the sale of properties to overseas interests.”
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DomaCom target north Queensland beef farm for crowdfunding acquisition

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Cheviot Hills, a grazing property near Penshurst in Victoria's Western District has been listed for sale for the first time in 164 years.
The 1951-hectare land holding which has been owned by the Hutton family since 1852 could fetch a reported $10 million plus.
The property includes a renovated four-bedroom bluestone homestead.
The mixed-grazing enterprise runs both Hereford cattle and Corriedale sheep. 
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Bluestone Cheviot Hills homestead farm in Western Districts listed 

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GUEST OBSERVER
The continuing question of what return a rural property can demonstrate has been the source of many discussions between valuers, investment managers and accountants involved in financial modelling of rural assets.
Buyer motivation, data access and credibility, commodity and seasonal fluctuations are among the variables that influence a decision about how much someone will pay for an asset.
So while a complex calculation can be built, I asked my research guy Rick, if he could simply overlay the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) and Queensland Cow Market Indicator (QCMI) across the Queensland Grazing Property Index (QGPI) as reported annually by Herron Todd White and see what came up.
The result is per the graphic below and it reveals a very interesting story.
EYCI and QCMI with the QGPI for settled ales over 2,000 hectares
<a href="/images/2016/09/01/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-01%20at%2010.25.55%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/09/01/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-01%20at%2010.25.55%20AM.png" alt="">
For the period 1997 to 2004 the result reflected that  the land values moved in line with, but six months behind the underlying commodity movements with a high conviction.
From 2004 to 2009 however the value of rural land growth to the peak of the market in 2009 was significant with values increasing 62% on the median price in the five years, the ECYI decreasing 15.5% and the QCMI decreasing 10.6%. In other words the driver of land value was not reflective of the commodity return. This disconnect was also highlighted in the QRAA Rural debt surveys in 2009 and 2011.
From 2009 to 2013 the conviction between the land value and commodity return come back into relative alignment, but largely because of the fall in values not the rise in commodity prices.
2014 and 2015 then show the impact of the significant shift in the beef pricing and subsequent impact on land values. The rate of growth in the curve for the EYCI and QCMI is as sharp as at any point in the past 20 years which is no surprise for those in the industry. The jump in land values however is possibly more of a surprise.
So the question then moving forward for all stakeholders is what is the sustainability of the commodity market pricing relative to current sale yard, processor grids and live export pricing? There are potential risks out there (Indian frozen buffalo, Brazil exports etc) that could place a cap on prices and possibly see a reduction in the market place. If this were to occur, the logical view would be that the land values if still following the lag period would adjust accordingly or at least flatten out.
I have recently presented to a few banks and corporate clients and commented that the rapid rise in values in some sense has actually in my mind brought time forward. Where we thought the values may get to in say 2018 have been achieved in 2015 and 2016. The shift has been good for vendors and agents are reporting across the country that it is harder to find or list assets relative to the demand currently. Does the market settle a bit to draw breath or does demand see another level of value shift in land? Only time will tell.
Conclusion: Forecasting the land value movements based on the commodity price overlay which has a six month lag may be a good guide to looking at least into the short term land market values. This assumes the conviction between the commodity outlook and the land values remains high. Of course valuers are not there to forecast or predict the future. They deal with settled sales evidence in a consistent manner of analysis so that our clients have a consistent reference for the conclusions drawn.
The Australian Farm Institute has for its winter edition sought to investigate this question and I was fortunate enough to be asked to contribute to the discussion.
For those interested in reading the five articles from industry and educational institutions, go to the website <a href="https://www.farminstitute.org.au" target="_blank">www.farminstitute.org.au</a> and you can subscribe to the journal. The process of writing this article was good in that it really challenged me to look nationally for information and data to see where the value relationship to land and returns sits based on settled sales over many years. 
Tim Lane the national rural director at HTW and can be contacted <a href="https://www.htw.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
 
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Rural returns and land values: HTW's Tim Lane

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Billionaire Kerry Stokes has bought another big cattle station in the WA Kimberley.
The Australian suggested Stokes, chairman of the Seven Network, bought the Mount House pastoral station near Halls Creek for $20 million plus.
The station was sold by the McAlary family, owners since the 1980s.
It was once a station with 30,000 head of cattle.
Stokes bought the nearby 400,000ha Napier Downs station for about $25 million last year.
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