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Foreign Ownership of Australian Agricultural Land and Water

Australia is one of the world’s main markets for institutional investment in both agricultural land and water – with the market for the latter holding a unique status globally. Naturally, foreign investors are attracted to the quality of the opportunities on offer.

On the land side, almost all types of agriculture investment are available, from broadacre cropping or irrigated permanent agriculture, to some the largest cattle stations on the planet. The country’s water market, meanwhile, which has ensured water is a regulated, tradable commodity separate from land, is the envy of others overseas.

Foreign investments is naturally a major component of the institutional capital flowing into Australian land and water, as the stories that appear on this page highlight.

LATEST AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN OWNERSHIP STATISTICS

Foreign ownership of Australian water: 2022 statistics

The Australian Taxation Office has published its annual report covering the state of its register of foreign ownership of Australian water – with Canadian investors still the largest holders of water entitlements.

Foreign ownership of Australian farmland: 2022 statistics

The amount of Australian farmland in foreign hands fell by 10% in the year to June 30, 2022, according to the latest set of government figures.

PREVIOUS STATISTICS

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Foreign ownership of Australian farmland: 2023 statistics

The amount of agricultural land with some level of foreign ownership fell by just 0.3% in 2023, far less than the 10% fall seen in 2022.

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Warakirri Asset Management’s new business Solterra will manage a portfolio on behalf of Alkira Farms, a company associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

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Farmland buy-and-lease meets infrastructure

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