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Inside Australia’s ultra-private ‘Yellowstone set’: Society insiders reveal the REAL elites quietly making a fortune in the country – and they’re leaving city slickers in the dirt

BBG News

In Australia, when we imagine the upper echelons of society, our thoughts often gravitate towards the grand waterfront estates of Sydney or the elegant tree-lined avenues of Melbourne.

But beyond the city limits, a new kind of elite is thriving.

Wealthy individuals are transforming expansive wilderness areas into playgrounds for themselves, with thriving ranches, prosperous mines, and lavish living experiences. Their riches often surpass those amassed by their urban-dwelling peers.

Some reside on vast properties that serve both as productive farms and exclusive vineyards. Others have transformed tranquil rural communities into centers of substantial affluence and power.

So, meet the rural power players giving the city slickers a run for their money.

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Leading the list are Queensland cotton moguls Danielle and David Statham.

As a devoted adherent, I am proud to be associated with the esteemed proprietors of Sundown Pastoral Company, the visionary minds behind Good Earth Cotton – a groundbreaking climate-positive cotton initiative – and FibreTrace, an innovative technology that ensures transparency in our supply chain.

In 2023, the Cotton Industry’s National Conference recognized Sundown Pastoral Company as its Grower of the Year.

Danielle and David’s son, Wilson Statham, is in a relationship with Grace Hayden, who is known as the daughter of renowned cricketer Matthew Hayden.

Last October, the newly connected pair, who had been seen together for the first time the previous year, showcased their affectionate bond while attending The Everest race event held at Sydney’s Royal Randwick.

In simpler terms, among those listed are Viv Oldfield, Australia’s most significant private landowner with a reported wealth of approximately $784 million, and his associate Donny Costello.

Approximately 9.4 million hectares of land suitable for raising cattle is owned by them, spread across the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Western Australia.

They also own a 30,000-head feedlot and export yard in Katherine, NT. 

In the year 2023, Oldfield spent a sum of $70 million to acquire the Middle Creek cattle station, which is located in the Northern Territory.

Additionally, Nigel Austin, the founder and main shareholder of the Cotton On apparel and school supplies company, with an estimated net worth of $2.1 billion, is also part of this group.

His company now comprises eight brands and operates in 19 countries.

The entrepreneur from Geelong is included among Australia’s richest individuals, placing 61st on the list.

Theo Onisforou, known for his property investments and retail empire, is additionally part of the rural aristocracy, having initially gained prominence in urban development and finance.

Prior to venturing into real estate development, Theo served as Kerry Packer’s financial leader. In this role, he amassed substantial wealth by purchasing and restoring distinctive, rundown properties.

He is known for revitalizing the well-known shopping area of Paddington, The Intersection. However, he later expanded his ventures into extensive cattle farming and acquired his first pastureland in 1990.

Currently, the proprietor and head of K.O. Angus Stud, an esteemed livestock farming business situated in Kangaloon, has come to realize that earning a profit from rural cattle rearing can be equally profitable compared to property development within Sydney’s premium inner city neighborhoods.

While the precise amount of his net worth remains undisclosed, a Greek publication approximated it to be around $100-$120 million back in 2015. Given the passage of time, it’s reasonable to assume that his wealth has grown substantially since then.

He and his ex-spouse Heidi are the parents of twins Stephanie and Angus. Notably, Angus is in a relationship with model and popular figure Megan Blake Irwin.

The winemaking Casella brothers John, Giuseppe and Marcello also make our country power list.

Casella Family Brands is the proprietor of well-known labels such as Yellow Tail, Peter Lehmann Wines, Brand’s Laira from Coonawarra, and Morris of Rutherglen.

From 1969 onwards, the Casella winery, situated in Griffith, has experienced rapid expansion. Today, the two brothers boast a staggering joint fortune of approximately $1.82 billion.

He may have made his fortune in tech, but Mike Cannon-Brookes is now a country boy.

The Atlassian CEO owns prime farmland in the NSW Southern Highlands.

As reported by Domain, he acquired three expansive estates on the hillsides of Mount Gibraltar, located in Mittagong, at a total cost of $12.25 million.

Apart from that, he additionally owns the Greyladyes Farm situated nearby, which cost him $13 million, along with another property valued at $9.1 million in the vicinity.

When discussing the Southern Highlands, it’s important to bring up Phoebe Burgess, a native of Bowral whose mining executive father, Mitchell Hooke, owns a significant property in the area.

In 2021, Phoebe acquired the Mediterranean-style residence known as ‘Acre Hill’, located in Burradoo (near Bowral), for approximately $1.7 million. This purchase was funded by the settlement from her divorce with her former husband, rugby league legend Sam Burgess.

It is thought that she and her children, Poppy and Billie, did not reside in the property; on the contrary, she rented it out for approximately a year while they stayed with her parents.

In May, she listed her countryside real estate with Ray White Bowral, but it remains uncertain if the house has been successfully sold to a buyer.

Phoebe’s sisters Harriet and Jemima also live nearby. 

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2025-06-08 17:21

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