Rifa Salutary, whose parent company Zhejiang Rifa Holding Group has large agricultural stakes in China, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Argentina, purchased the 22,548-hectare Cooplacurripa Station in late 2015.

Australian Financial Review journalist Matthew Cranston reported the property, with 8000 head of cattle, sold for $29m. Domain had previously advertised the property as the biggest cattle run in south east Australia. 

The organisation followed this up by purchasing two nearby riverfront properties, Kerriki and "Number One" for a reported $3.5 million in March this year.

According to Rifa Salutary CEO David Goodfellow, the upper Manning properties fit in with a strategy to purchase land ripe for development.

“For us it was an opportunity to find a place that had scale, with an opportunity for development over time,” said Mr Goodfellow. 

Mr Goodfellow indicated that all six permanent and casual staff had been retained at Cooplacurripa.

The purchases coincide with the cessation of the traditional Wingham Campdraft cattle drive, at least temporarily. 

Previously, the cattle drive took place every November, with hundreds of cattle walked about 80km from Cooplacurripa to the Wingham Showground and back. 

With heifers expected to be mating around the time of the camp draft this year, the decision was made not to participate. 

“It’s a bit unfortunate, because we usually like to support community events,” Mr Goodfellow said. 

Current operations at the properties will see primary production the priority, with cow and calf operations being run there in conjunction with Rifa owned properties at Warialda, near Moree.

Mr Goodfellow said that young cattle birthed at Cooplacurripa would then be transported out to Warialda during the winter months for growing out.