CANBERRA, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The Northern Territory's extensive Mount McMinn Station has been bought by a South African pastoral family amid fears over land security and violence towards farmers in their own country.
The 81,000-hectare property in the Roper Valley, east of Katherine, was scheduled to be auctioned last month, but after the Cahill family received an offer, the station was put under contract and the purchase has now been finalized.
The station was sold for a reported 5.8 million U.S. dollars, complete with 3,000 head of cattle, plant and equipment.
The buyers looked to Australia's Northern Territory to diversify their agricultural investments following attacks on South African landholders and the increasing danger of farming in their homeland.
The purchase comes after federal Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton recently said white South African farmers deserved a special attention from Australia due to the "horrific circumstances" of land seizures and violence.
In March, Dutton said his department was examining a range of methods to fast-track the farmers' path to Australia on humanitarian or other visa programs. The announcement was subsequently criticised by the South African government.
A dozen cattle stations are listed for sale across Australia's so-called Top End, with pastoralists looking to capitalize on a strong property market.
Elders agent Alison Ross said the Australia-based South African family had been interested in pastoral properties in the area for some time.
"They were looking for some land security with some issues back in their country, and something that has the unique attributes of the natural beauty of the Top End," Ross said on Sunday.
"The plan is to maintain Mt McMinn as a pastoral property, running cattle and slowly improve the herd."
"They will have their own management they will look to bring on the property and will look to continue with the Brahman breed, (which) is something they are familiar with."
