Bundaberg real estate specialist Aaron Thompson recently facilitated the $7.8 million sale of a high-yielding Macadamia farm, with rural sales in the area buoyed by the produce being a hot commodity.
The macadamia nut as a product is on trend and, according to market reports, global demand for macadamia kernel is strong and increasing. The appetite and demand for macadamias in the market place is greatly outstripping supply. Australia contributes more than 30 per cent of the global crop. Each year 70 per cent of the Australian crop is exported to over 40 countries but the biggest market for macadamias is Australia itself.
For Mr Thompson, this was very evident when he received the macadamia plantation to market.
“There is definitely a lot of hype in the market over macadamias, and this producing farm was the only one of its size on the market in Australia at the time.
“I was flooded with enquiry – local, interstate and international – and had five contracts on the property before four weeks were up.”
We marketed the property through databases, the internet, electronic media and print media.
“Working with the seller on the marketing campaign, we covered all aspects of digital and print, with the majority of the spend going into print media.
“We particularly targeted rural and finance sectors.”
He said a big attraction was that the farm was under third party management so anyone could have bought it. The purchasers, however, have increased their portfolio of macadamia farms in Queensland – and indeed a variety of farms across Australia – and will take over operation themselves.
The farm sold well above seller expectation and settled at the beginning of November.
The 101.9ha property was located at Welcome Creek, 14 kilometres north of Bundaberg on the central Queensland coast.
A highly successful and much-awarded agent at RE/MAX Precision, Mr Thompson has specialised in rural and farming over the past three years – mainly horticultural and cane farms – selling anything from 40 acres farms to more than 1,100 acres under cultivation.
“There has been a massive growth in this sector, with values more than doubling in the past two years,” he said.
“I am selling one at the moment, all under horticulture – which is on the market for just shy of $16 million; and another – 600 acres of rich red soil – at $19 million.
The agriculture and horticulture sectors are leading contributors to a healthy local economy, and the region is proud of Bundaberg’s status as the world macadamia capital.
Contact Aaron Thompson on 0409 051 929 or aaron@precisionrealestate.com.au.
Media contacts:
Aaron Thompson, RE/MAX Precision – M. 0409 051 929
Lyn Cox, RE/AMX Australia Public Relations – M. 0418 793 096