Gina Rinehart’s S. Kidman & Co has sold the Barkly region cattle station Brunchilly, along with three other stations in Queensland the company has said.

Rinehart’s Hancock Agriculture said in a statement the sale was consistent with S. Kidman & Co’s strategy of divesting properties after significant investment in essential maintenance, improved animal welfare and employee safety, the use of technology and innovation, and improvements across the herds.

The Territory station, including the Banka Banka East station, was bought by the Harris family, which owns the neighbouring Rockhampton Downs station.

The 4,572 sq km Brunchilly Station is on the Barkly tableland northeast of Tennant Creek, and has an average carrying capacity of 24,000 heads.

The station turns off weaner steers yearly to the channel country properties, while females are left behind as alternates for the breeding herd.

The company said the sales have received all necessary statutory approvals and have settled, with a formal handover to the new owners having just occurred.

Kidman & Co, which is a joint venture between Hancock Agriculture and Chinese-owned CRED Pastoral, said it will continue to operate its remaining station in the NT, Helen Springs, which is at the western end of the Barkly tablelands.

“The sale of the stations will assist in providing further capital to focus on purchasing and improving other properties for S. Kidman & Co’s agricultural operations,” the company said.

Three other cattle stations, the 6600 sq km Durrie, the 7, 510 sq km Naryilco, and the 5, 500 sq km Glengyle in Queensland’s channel country were sold to Appleton Cattle Co, which holds substantial beef production interests in eastern Australia.

In the last two years, Kidman has sold eight cattle stations, which included the Riveren and Inverway in the NT for $105 million, Aroona, Willeroo, Sturt Creek and Ruby Plains in WA, and Innamincka and Macumba stations in SA.