Agent hush on Rushy Lagoon
October 15, 2025
By Rachel Williams
The real estate agent responsible for the sale of Tasmania’s biggest farm, Rushy Lagoon, is remaining tight lipped on whether the property has sold for a price tag of more than $100 million.
Rumours are swirling that the 21,744ha property, which incorporates East Wyambi, has been sold to international buyers who plan to convert it from an agriculture enterprise to a tree farm.
Jarrod Ryan from RMS Advisory has repeatedly stated there is “nothing to report at this stage”.
Three Federal departments contacted by the North-Eastern Advertiser this week also said they had not seen any applications for carbon credits associated with afforestation on the site.
But locals and the peak farming body have heard otherwise.
TasFarmers President Ian Sauer said he would be meeting with the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins, in Canberra shortly to discuss.
“TasFarmers has asked the Federal Government for clarification on the situation because we want more information on any financial assistance for growing trees in the North East of Tassie,” he said.
“People here have been talking about it for a month.”
One local resident, who did not want to be named, said locals were concerned.
“I know they don’t have to share their information with us and it’s none of our business, but it does impact on the community,” she said.
“If it’s true that it will become a carbon credit tree farm, the impact will be phenomenal.
“I have spoken to a lot of concerned people because it just gets planted out and gets locked out.”
She said such a massive change would remove 75 per cent of the area’s full-time workforce.
“They’re not exact numbers but the dairies would have 25-30 employees, there are also spraying contractors, cattle carters, fertiliser deliveries, fencing contractors, general contractors for heavy machinery and trucks, livestock agents and rural supplies, vets, wildlife controllers, mechanics and fabricators of local firms as well as indirect impact to the general store, post office, hotel, and school bus,” she said.
Dorset Council is currently unaware of any proposed changes at Rushy Lagoon but Mayor Rhys Beattie has expressed his “strong concerns”.
“Such a shift in land use would have significant negative impact on our region and on Tasmania as a whole—socially, environmentally, and economically,” Cr Beattie said.
“The preservation of productive agricultural land is vital to the sustainability and prosperity of our community.
“Given these concerns, I would expect the Federal and State Government to carefully consider the implications of such conversions and to refrain from permitting them on a large scale.”
The State Government was contacted for comment.
Rushy Lagoon has been subject of an estate sale from the late Allan Pye, a former New Zealand potato farmer who bought it in 1996 for $8 million, since October, 2024.