Billionaire Charlie Shahin Acquires Australia's Largest Contiguous Sheep Stations

Adelaide businessman Charlie Shahin bought three outback sheep stations in South Australia's far north-west, totaling about 1.3 million hectares, from Jumbuck Pastoral.

Charlie Shahin, a billionaire whose family founded the On The Run (OTR) petrol-station network, has purchased three contiguous sheep stations—Commonwealth Hill, Mobella and Bulgunnia—in South Australia's remote north-west, covering nearly 1.3 million hectares. The sale, completed after about two months of listing, was made by Jumbuck Pastoral, a historic farming dynasty, for an undisclosed sum. Shahin intends to maintain the properties as traditional merino sheep operations, leveraging his agronomy education and long-term agricultural ambitions.

Elders Real Estate CEO Tom Russo highlighted Shahin’s swift decision-making and noted the assets’ capacity to support over 83,300 sheep. The deal aligns with Jumbuck Pastoral’s multigenerational succession plan, which has recently seen other holdings, such as the Rawlinna station in Western Australia, sold to foreign investors. Shahin’s family, now operating under the ATAYF group, has been expanding its agricultural portfolio, including a 408,000-hectare cattle station in the Northern Territory acquired in 2024. The acquisition underscores confidence in the future of Australia’s wool and sheep industry.