ADELAIDE – S. Kidman Co., one of Australia’s largest cattle companies, plans to sell its largest parcel of land in an effort to clear the way for a takeover by a Chinese developer, according to news reports.

Kidman’s ranches span 101,000 sq. km (39,000 sq. miles). Anna Creek, one of Kidman’s cattle stations, is the largest single property holding in Australia and represents about a quarter of Kidman’s total property. In November, the Australian government said it would block the sale of Kidman to foreign companies because a takeover posed a conflict with the country’s national interests. Shanghai Pengxin Group Co. Ltd., a private diversified conglomerate based in China, has expressed interest in acquiring Kidman.


Approximately 50 percent of the pastoral lease is located in the Woomera Prohibited Area (WAP) in South Australia. The WAP is used for military weapons testing and is the largest land testing range in the world, according to the Australian Department of Defence.

Kidman plans to offer the Anna Creek station to its existing shareholders or an Australian company.

S. Kidman and Co. Ltd. owns 185,000 head of cattle, and its pastoral leases cover land in three states and Australia’s Northern Territory. Sidney Kidman founded the company in 1899. Today, Kidman produces grass-fed beef for export.