In a significant development for South Australian rural property, Paul Clifford, Director of Raine & Horne Rural SA, has sold Dalveen Homestead[i]. This sale marks the end of an extraordinary 172-year ownership by the esteemed Richardson family and coincides with a rise in Australian wool prices.

Located at 173 Dalveen Road, Woodchester, on 739 acres, this property was last brought to market in 1853. The historic property presented the new owners with a rare chance to acquire blue-ribbon grazing country alongside a unique piece of South Australia’s pastoral heritage.

The heritage-listed homestead built circa 1865 balances timeless charm with functional practicality. Beautifully manicured gardens frame its spacious period interiors, while the working farm infrastructure includes original stone shearing sheds, modern implement sheds, silos, and high-quality fencing.

Renowned for its Dalveen Merino and Poll Merino stud, the property consistently delivers a long-term lambing percentage of 108% and benefits from a well-established fertiliser program—underscoring its reputation as a top-tier sheep grazing enterprise.

The Dalveen Homestead sale comes at a time when Australian wool prices are rising sharply amid accelerating demand from China. In September, the industry’s benchmark Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) climbed 109 cents a kilogram to 1,453 cents, its highest point since June 2022[ii]. The EMI rose for 10 consecutive weeks, marking the longest run of price increases since 1987.

“Sheep, lamb, and wool prices are on a roll, and that’s underpinning strong demand for quality rural property,” Paul said.

Grazing property Dalveen East changes hands

A highly productive land holding, Dalveen East[iii], a 634-acre property adjacent to Dalveen Homestead comprising four highly productive land titles, has also changed hands.

Specialist rural property media[iv] have described the sale as the end of an era. The grazing property on SA’s Fleurieu Peninsula was offered for sale with expectations of more than $4 million.

Sold by Paul Clifford and Darcy Clifford of Raine & Horne Rural SA, Dalveen East at 84 Dalveen Road, Woodchester, approximately 45 kilometres from Adelaide, comprises mainly heavier red sandy loam soils, and is primarily suitable for a wide range of cropping and grazing pursuits. Paul said, “This property is perfect for those seeking to upscale, diversify, or lay down rural roots - with convenient access to metropolitan city essentials by way of Strathalbyn and Mount Barker.”

The property also features seven well-fenced paddocks, most of which are defined by a scattering of timber along the fence lines, adding scenic beauty, providing stock shelter, and supporting biodiversity across the gently undulating, arable landscape.

Each paddock offers direct gazetted road frontage for ease of stock and machinery access, with water security ensured via troughs supplied by a new stock and domestic bore. A solid annual rainfall of approximately 18 inches (450mm) further reinforces the land’s agricultural reliability.

If you’re considering buying, selling, or expanding your rural holdings in 2025–26, contact your local Raine & Horne Rural office for expert guidance.

[i] https://www.raineandhorne.com.au/strathalbyn/properties/173-dalveen-road-woodchester-5255-south-australia

[ii] https://www.sheepcentral.com/australian-wool-prices-surge-to-3-5-year-peaks/

[iii] https://www.raineandhorne.com.au/strathalbyn/properties/84-dalveen-road-woodchester-5255-south-australia

[iv] https://www.northqueenslandregister.com.au/story/9077627/historic-dalveen-farm-has-been-sold-on-sas-fleurieu-peninsula/