LONDON (Web Desk) The largest private, non-monarchical, non-state stretch of land on Earth is up for sale – and it has hit the market for $325 million.
The collection of Australian cattle stations make up 23,000 square kilometers – more than three-quarters the size of England – and yet only 150 cattle staff live there.
The spread out properties have been in the family of Sir Sidney Kidman – a penniless runaway who became the country’s greatest pastoralist – for more than 100 years, The Independent reported.
More than 600 horses mustered at Oaklands Downs in South Australia Now the 11 million hectares is to be sold to one of 30 bidders from around the world.
So large, remote and spread out, it will take each short-listed bidder a week flying around on a plane to South Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia to do a full property inspection of all the cattle stations.
The Kidman property empire marked (above) on this satellite image of Australia is 101,000 square kilometers. The properties are owned by S Kidman and Co, which was founded by Sir Sidney Kidman in 1899.
The family, who own 98 per cent of the shares in the unlisted public company, are Australia’s largest private landholders.
Anna Creek is considered to be part of a unique collection of properties demonstrating ‘international significance’ After inviting expressions of interest in April, S Kidman & Co has now sent out briefings to bidders from around the country and from China, the US, Canada, the UK, Switzerland, South America and Indonesia. More than half the bidders are Australian.
With cattle prices currently high, the properties are considered ‘a world class asset of international significance’.
