In hindsight 2008 may be seen as a turning point in Australia's farming, land ownership profile. The combination of average broadacre land prices doubling since 2002, a soft commodities boom, and a series of difficult years both climate and water wise, has prompted many companies to rethink their positions. The impact among the Top 10 landholders Table 1 and Top 10 cattle producers Table 2, has been a fine tuning of property portfolios. Australia's top three landholder rankings remain unchanged from2007, whilst Consolidated Pastoral moves upwards to be ranked 4th in 2008. Less than 500,000 ha separates the enterprises holding 5th to 7th places, whilst in 8th position, the Great Southern Group of Companies joins the top ten ranks this year with 3.6million hectares owned or held on long term lease. The Brook Family with holdings in far western Queensland, dropped out of the Top 10 landholders.
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