McGrath Rural Brings Global Reach to the Hunter Valley's Doorstep
- Liane Morris
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
The Hunter Valley has long been a stronghold of rural tradition—a place where generations have lived and worked on the land, where farming and equine communities thrive, and where rural property is more than just real estate; it’s a way of life. In this deeply rooted landscape, change doesn’t always come quickly, but when it does, it tends to be meaningful.
Enter McGrath Rural, a quietly confident fresh option in the local rural property market, bringing national strength and international reach to the paddock gate. While McGrath is a name well known in real estate, its rural division is a more recent and highly focused venture, shining a spotlight on the properties that power the region – working farms, grazing operations, agribusiness opportunities and rural lifestyle retreats that are as productive as they are picturesque. McGrath Rural has found the perfect local ambassador in Tyson Nicholson, the newly appointed Rural & Lifestyle Specialist covering the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie and the Lower Hunter.
A seasoned rural agent with nearly 30 years of experience, Tyson is no stranger to the world of acreage, livestock, and lifestyle properties.
“I live it every day,” he says.
“I’ve got my own 50 acres in the Lower Hunter, I run horses, and a successful boutique Airbnb, and I know how rural people think—because I am one. I grew up on the Central Coast, and my connection to the land began when I was a kid in school on a holiday horse camp. The first time I patted a horse, time stopped for me. I knew I’d found my future.”
It’s that same sense of personal connection that defines his approach to real estate. Tyson is a licensed real estate agent, stock and station agent, and auctioneer—but more than that, he’s known for his reputation: honest, empathetic, and quietly effective. After successfully running his own independent agency, Tyson was tapped to join McGrath’s growing rural division just a few months ago, a move he describes as both humbling and exciting.
“I’m super grateful. It’s a refreshing new opportunity for both rural vendors and buyers. It’s wonderful to be giving this community that I love a new option when it comes to rural and prestige lifestyle properties. We’re a new player on the shopping list and we’re offering something genuinely different – something that hasn’t really been possible in this market before.”
What sets McGrath Rural apart is the scale and scope of what it brings. The business is part of a powerful alliance with global property leader Knight Frank, the largest privately owned real estate agency in the world with a global network of more than 740 offices across over 50 territories and Bayleys, New Zealand’s largest full-service privately held real estate agency, with 105 offices throughout New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. This collaborative three-way partnership offers unprecedented access to high-equity buyers both nationally and internationally. By leveraging the network and expertise of three premium real estate brands, McGrath Rural offers a distinct advantage in delivering the best price outcomes for the region. The regional client base benefits from direct access to buyers in all major markets worldwide, connecting clients across borders. It’s a premium offering that sets McGrath Rural apart from small local agencies and corporate agents operating from afar.
“The partnerships give us reach that’s hard to match,” Tyson explains.
“It’s particularly valuable when we’re working with premium lifestyle properties— vineyards, equine estates, Airbnb-ready retreats. We’re able to position those assets not just locally, but to the world.”
Locally, the McGrath Rural division is underpinned by a unified network of ten offices owned by Jaimie Woodcock and Mat Steinwede, now spanning the Coast, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, and the Hunter, and filling a long-needed gap between the Upper Hunter, Bowral, Camden, and the Central West. With the launch of McGrath’s dedicated rural branding, Tyson now leads an exceptional rural division purpose built to meet the evolving needs of agricultural, equine, and lifestyle property clients, ensuring property owners in these growth corridors have access to the full strength of the McGrath platform—while still working with someone who understands the local market intimately.
“I'm not sitting in a Sydney office. I’m boots on the ground. I understand what rural vendors do and how they do it."
"We blend personal service with global capability - a combination that rural vendors in the Hunter may not be used to, but are increasingly seeing the value in.”
It also means that rural clients have access to McGrath’s leading digital presence and marketing infrastructure. McGrath Rural is backed by Australia’s largest digital reach, and from broadacre to boutique, grazing to lifestyle, the McGrath Rural division is setting a new standard for the divestment of agricultural assets.
“Our marketing platform is second to none. It allows us to present properties not just beautifully, but also strategically. Whether it’s a working farm or a lifestyle retreat. And thanks to our collaboration with Knight Frank, we also have an exclusive, private list of high-value international buyers that gives our sellers a real edge.”
Still, Tyson is quick to point out that McGrath Rural isn’t about high-pressure sales or glossy promises. “We’re not trying to be flashy. We’re just doing the work and offering a genuine alternative. We want to start conversations. Honest, informed, and client-focused conversations – it’s not always about selling straight away. Sometimes people just want to explore their options or see where the market’s at, and that’s fine. We’re here for that.”
Tyson’s own background—as a horseman, landowner, and rural business operator—means he brings a level of insight that goes beyond the average agent.
“I’ve been in the shoes of the people I work with. That matters. It builds trust. And I am passionate about helping others achieve their goals, becoming part of their journey. It’s more than a transaction; it’s about helping people find a new way of life, and I love that.”
Tyson bears valuable knowledge in growing businesses and forging genuine, trustworthy relationships in the market. Aligning with the brand’s leading role in elevating standards and pushing the envelope in customer service, he is widely recognised as one of the region’s most consistent acreage specialists, known for his ethical approach, clientfirst mindset, and longstanding relationships built on trust. His mantra is simple but powerful: how he does business is more important than how much. As McGrath Rural settles into the region, the message is simple: they’re not here to take over, they’re here to contribute.
“We’re just asking people to consider us,” Tyson says.
“Take the meeting. Have the conversation. There’s no pressure— it’s about finding the right fit, and we might just be it.”
McGrath Rural can look after everything from small lifestyle hobby acreages to larger grazing land and vineyards.
So, whether you’re a seasoned landholder ready to sell, a family looking for space to grow, or an investor with an eye on the region’s agricultural future, McGrath Rural is worth keeping on your radar. Backed by a national network, supported by international connections, and led locally by someone who genuinely gets it, this is a fresh chapter for rural real estate in the Hunter—and one that’s well worth considering when you are looking to the divestment of your agricultural, equine and rural lifestyle assets.
