Jumbuck Pastoral Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Founded | 1888 |
| Founder | H. P. MacLachlan |
| Headquarters | Adelaide , Australia |
Area served | New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia |
Key people | Jock MacLachlan (Joint Managing Director), Callum MacLachlan (Joint Managing Director) |
| Products | Wool, cattle |
| Owner | MacLachlan family |
Jumbuck Pastoral Company is an Australian enterprise managing a wide array of cattle stations and sheep stations throughout New South Wales, the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Western Australia. It stands as one of the country's largest landholders and leads the nation in wool production. By 2013, Jumbuck oversaw more than of territory, maintaining a livestock population of around 320,000 sheep and 80,000 cattle.
This private organization, owned by the MacLachlan family, is based in Adelaide.
History
Established in 1888 by H. P. MacLachlan, renowned for his skills in stock management and drought endurance, Jumbuck initially concentrated on wool production at Paratoo Station near Yunta, before broadening its operations to include cattle.
In the mid-1920s, B. H. MacLachlan, son of H. P., took over company management after receiving £16,000 from his father to purchase and develop land near Tarcoola. After H. P.'s passing in 1939, B. H. expanded the business by acquiring properties such as Commonwealth Hill Station and Mulgathing Station, with sheep shearing exceeding 100,000 head by 1945.
Leadership transitioned to Hugh MacLachlan in 1960, who obtained pastoral leases at Rawlinna Station and Madura Plains in Western Australia.
In 2005, the company was fined $100,000 following an incident involving a jackaroo's death in New South Wales in 2001. After nearly five decades as managing director, Hugh MacLachlan retired in 2009; his sons Jock and Callum then assumed joint managing director roles.
Jumbuck expanded its holdings in 2014 by purchasing Killarney Station in the Northern Territory for $35 million; this estate covers and supports approximately 26,000 cattle.
In February 2021, the company acquired the 1.25 million hectare Wave Hill Station located in the Northern Territory for $100 million. In April 2023, Fortescue revealed intentions to buy Rawlinna Station from Jumbuck subject to regulatory clearance; however, this transaction was abandoned in November 2024 due to delays in obtaining approval.