Australia is one of the world’s main markets for institutional investment in both agricultural land and water – with the market for the latter holding a unique status globally. Naturally, foreign investors are attracted to the quality of the opportunities on offer.
On the land side, almost all types of agriculture investment are available, from broadacre cropping or irrigated permanent agriculture, to some the largest cattle stations on the planet. The country’s water market, meanwhile, which has ensured water is a regulated, tradable commodity separate from land, is the envy of others overseas.
Which country owns the most land in Australia?
Foreign investments is naturally a major component of the institutional capital flowing into Australian land and water, as our coverage of foreign ownership statistics since 2019 highlights.
LATEST AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN OWNERSHIP STATISTICS
Foreign ownership of Australian farmland: 2024 statistics
Foreign ownership of Australian agriculture has seen its first increase in two years as North American investors rapidly expand their holdings and the UK claims the top spot.
PREVIOUS STATISTICS
RELATED COVERAGE: INVESTMENT IN AUSTRALIAN WATER
Australian tax changes hit water assets
Foreign ownership of Australia’s water has been slowly rising, but the impact of tax changes and other economic impacts remains to be seen.
Buybacks see Australian water entitlement prices rise again
The Australian government has typically been paying premiums of 20-30% above the market value for water entitlements, creating upwards price pressure elsewhere in the market, report authors say.
La Caisse takes 20% stake in GoFarm and commits to Australian cropping fund
The Canadian pension manager has now committed to three Australian agricultural platforms in three years.
Tasmanian farm-to-forestry deal becomes ‘political football’
Politicians and farming advocacy groups have slammed the acquisition of Rushy Lagoon by Gresham House, Aviva Investors, and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, but Gresham House’s CIO says the criticism is unwarranted.
DOWNLOAD: Food and natural capital fundraising hits $8.1bn in H1 2026
The half-year take by agri-food and forestry vehicles is down marginally from H1 2025, with agribusiness representing the majority of fundraising.
RELATED COVERAGE: INVESTMENT IN AUSTRALIAN FARMLAND
Natural capital remains ‘super-important’ to CEFC: Sung
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation’s former head of natural capital Heechung Sung looks back on her time in the role – and points to what may come next.
Viresco Group targets A$500m for debut Australian farmland fund – exclusive
Viresco acquires its first asset for the Queensland Farmland Fund, a 22,000ha aggregation in the state’s central west.
Heechung Sung swaps nat cap role for job on CEFC’s exec team
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation has seen a leadership shuffle as CEO Ian Learmonth prepares to step down in September.
Australian tax changes hit water assets
Foreign ownership of Australia’s water has been slowly rising, but the impact of tax changes and other economic impacts remains to be seen.
CEFC blasts past record to commit A$9.1bn in 2025-26
Australia’s government-backed climate investor says every A$1 it invested in 2025-26 generated A$3.4 from co-investors.
