Brian Corr’s farming story at the 2025 Australian Dairy Conference

Brian Corr was backpacking around Australia 15 years ago when he fell in love with farming Down Under. Now, he is thriving.

On some days during a Gippsland winter, Brian Corr says it’s hard to tell emerald-tinged Moyarra from his original home of Monaghan in central Ireland.

But even in the harsh light of a February day, the Irish-Australian dairy farmer says he is happy to have made the switch to farming in a sunburnt country.

Brian is set to be one of the keynote speakers at the 2025 Australian Dairy Conference, held next week on the Gold Coast.

“I was backpacking around Australia about 15 years ago, like many young people from Ireland but unlike most, I decided to stay,” he said.

“Back when I first came to Australia, there was a lot of regulations in setting up a farm in Ireland and there’s more freedom here in Australia, there’s less hoops to jump through.

“Those restrictions in Ireland have changed since I left, but I’m happy with the change — there’s many great opportunities here in dairy.”

Brian Corr at his Gippsland farm. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Brian grew up on a 60ha mixed farm, managing a mix of dairy, beef, sheep, and poultry. After securing an agricultural diploma in Ireland, he managed a 350-cow British dairy farm.

Moving to Down Under aged 26, Brian began his Aussie agricultural journey working in broadacre cropping and eventually settling in Gippsland.

Alongside partner Myrid, they purchased a 154ha farm nearly three years ago, starting with 270 cows and before rapidly expanding their operation.

“The original farm was in a good location because we were able to lease nearby land,” Brian said. “We started off with 270, 280 then we milked 410 (cattle) the first year, 500 the second and third year.

“Halfway through our second year, the people we bought the original farm off asked if we knew someone they could share farm with. Gave them a call back 15 minutes later and said we’d be their share farmers, so that’s allowed us to expand further.

“It’s only 10 minutes between the farm we owned and our now share farm, but we thought we’d give it a go. That’s one of the great things about Australian farming: opportunity.”

Originally published as Brian Corr’s farming story at the 2025 Australian Dairy Conference