Don’t be chicken: Buyer sought as multimillion-dollar farm hits the market
One of the country’s largest free-range chicken farms of its kind is on the market, after Southern Cross Farms fell into administration earlier this month.
Accounting firm PKF has appointed Colliers to sell Southern Cross Farms, which fell into administration earlier this month.
Southern Cross Farms operates one of the country’s largest free-range broiler farms and rears chickens for the Lillydale brand.
The portfolio comprises four broiler farms in SA’s Lower North regions, featuring 29 free-range poultry sheds with a total area of approximately 61,109sqm.
There, nearly 1 million birds can be kept at the site, which is just an hour from Adelaide.
While Colliers would not give a quote on price, when the site was listed by JLL in 2024, it was expected to fetch north of $20 million.
According to Colliers, the farms have been progressively upgraded with modern management systems, a 500KW solar installation, and a large-scale desalination supply that ensures a water supply.
Southern Cross Farms also has development approval in place for eight more sheds, totalling 24,480 sqm.
“The operation is well-positioned to expand by a further 40 per cent, reinforcing its role in Australia’s premium protein supply chain,” Colliers said.
Colliers national director of transaction services, agriculture, Jesse Manuel said the business “presents an opportunity to acquire a large-scale broiler farming enterprise with immediate cashflow and a clear path to growth”.
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“Southern Cross Farms combines scale, experienced management and a potential future relationship with one of Australia’s largest chicken producers,” Manuel said.
Duncan McCulloch, also a Colliers national director of transaction services, agriculture, said the region was a “proven performer in agricultural production”.
“This portfolio benefits from proximity to Adelaide, secure water access, and extensive infrastructure that may also suit alternative uses such as egg production,” McCulloch said.
“It’s also a strategic investment in one of Australia’s most resilient and future-focused regions.”
