In typical Australian fashion, his neighbours are already joking that the purchase from long-time Crookwell district grazier Hilton Kensit, was a "fire sale."

Half of the 971 hectare (2400 acres) holding was destroyed on Sunday when the blaze took off from near the riverbank and spread to at least three other properties.

"If there is anything fortunate to come out of this, it is that I met a truly broad spread of neighbours and I couldn't have found a more helpful, cooperative group of people," Mr Rich said.

"I can't speak highly enough of them."

Those neighbours and 150 other firefighters gave freely to a long, hard fight against ferocious wind and fire that ultimately destroyed more than 2000 hectares and up to 500 sheep in the Narrawa district, 75km northwest of Goulburn.

Mr Rich, who was in Sydney at the time, said his manager was quickly on the scene. Fortunately, they did not lose any of their 600 cattle and the burnt section was not the best pasture on the property, he said. However a substantial amount of fencing will have to be rebuilt.

He said while an investigation team had not established the cause, initial suggestions were that the blaze did not start from natural causes such as a lightning strike.

"Neighbours have seen recreational vehicles going through the property to the river, where people camp and fish and I think it is something in this category (that started the fire)," Mr Rich said.

However he stressed that this was yet to be proven and so far, there was no evidence that campers were in the area on the day.

Mr Rich does not expect to use the burnt land for at least six months. In the meantime he will take up Hilton Kensit's generous offer to lease one of his nearby properties to tide him over. He will also move some stock to his two other properties 'Girrakool' on Range Rd and 'Kippilaw' on the Gurrundah Rd.

When not looking after his rural interests, Mr Rich is deputy chairman of Sydney investment company, Argo Investments.