Historic Kimberley homestead with ties to Gina Rinehart listed for less than a Sydney home
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Old Liveringa Homestead once formed part of a cattle station owned by Gina Rinehart.
A historic 247-hectare property in the Kimberley region, once owned by billionaire Gina Rinehart, is up for sale and could be snapped up for less than the cost of an average Sydney home. The Old Liveringa Homestead, one of the oldest buildings in the region, is being sold by expression of interest, offering potential buyers a unique opportunity to own a piece of Kimberley history.
Located approximately 250 kilometres east of Broome and 110 kilometres from Derby, the property was once part of the expansive Liveringa cattle station. This 365,000-hectare station was acquired by Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting in 2015, and the homestead was included in the sale. “When Gina Rinehart bought Liveringa Pastoral Company, it was part of the sale,” explained Greg Smith of Elders Real Estate – WA Rural & Metro, the selling agent for the property. “They sold it about 10 years ago.”
The heritage-listed homestead, which is around 120 years old, is accompanied by several substantial outbuildings, including a shearing shed, meat house, workers’ quarters, a machinery shed, stables, and horse yards. The property is zoned for tourism, allowing the new owner to tap into the thriving tourism market in the Kimberley, which attracts more than 400,000 visitors annually.
Greg Smith highlighted the property’s potential for tourism development, suggesting various creative ventures that could be pursued. “It would be an ideal place for a pastoral and Aboriginal artefacts museum,” he said. “I had someone look at it who was going to put a golf course there.” The zoning allows for a range of possibilities, including converting the site into a caravan park or camping ground, which could cater to the influx of tourists.
Despite its age, the homestead itself is described as sturdy, having been upgraded with a new roof in recent years. However, it does require some additional work to reach its full potential. “It’s a magnificent building, but it does need some money thrown at it to make it its best,” Smith noted. He also mentioned that the property is equipped with mains power and has good mobile phone reception, making it a viable option for those considering relocating from urban areas.
For city-dwellers contemplating a significant lifestyle change, the Old Liveringa Homestead offers a compelling proposition. “You’d probably buy it for around a million dollars,” Smith estimated. “Someone that’s got a house in Sydney can sell their house, pay cash for it, and live there.” This price point presents a unique opportunity for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and invest in a property with both historical significance and commercial potential.
However, prospective buyers should be aware of the local wildlife, as the property’s waterways are home to freshwater crocodiles. “They’re mainly freshies, but never say never when it comes to salties in the Fitzroy Valley,” Smith cautioned, adding an adventurous element to the property’s appeal.
The sale of the Old Liveringa Homestead not only represents a rare chance to own a piece of Australian heritage but also opens up a world of possibilities for tourism development in one of the country’s most picturesque regions. As the expression of interest process unfolds, it remains to be seen who will seize this opportunity and what new chapter will be written in the storied history of this iconic Kimberley homestead.