Meet the family who’ve lived at same Shelbourne farm since 1856

In 155 years a lot has changed on the Punton family farm but nurturing the crops, tending the stock and praying for timely rain all remain the same.

John Punton 43 ,Ian Punton 71 and Tom Punton 19 in the old stables Picture: Rob Leeson

In 155 years much has changed on the Punton family farm but the fundamentals have remained the same; nurture the crops, tend the stock and pray for timely rain.

Since George Punton arrived on a ship from Scotland in 1865 and settled on the central Victorian parcel of land - and together with his wife raised 11 children in a rough-hewn wooden hut - advances in agriculture have seen crops able to be harvested and sold at speed and stock breeding programs refined to near-perfection.

The Shelbourne property, which has remained in the same family for five generations and is on track to be passed on to a sixth, has grown from 300 to 7,500 acres over the years.

Using modern science, technology and machinery to produce high-yielding crops, wool and lamb for the Australian market and beyond, the rusted equipment used by past generations dotted throughout the farm, near Maldon, serves as a constant reminder of how hard things once were on the land.

Mackenzie Punton cools down after rounding up sheep on her family farm at Shelbourne in Central Victoria Picture:Rob Leeson.

With no bores or irrigation, what has not changed in a century-and-a-half is the farm’s access to a reliable water supply.

Now, as in 1800s, the only water for crops is that which falls from the sky.

But the original wood hut was replaced by a comfortable weatherboard house by one of George’s sons, John, in 1901, and remains home to the Punton family today.

Several generations later, another John Punton runs the farm with his wife Belinda and three young adult children, Jack, Tom and Mackenzie.

Tom’s girlfriend Alice also works on the property, providing invaluable help at shearing time and driving the huge header during harvest.

At least one of the children would likely continue on the Punton farming tradition, Belinda said.

“It’s been bred into them since they were born, they just live and breathe it . . . it’s definitely in their blood,” she said.

For six Generations the Punton family have farmed at Shelbourne in Central Victoria .Picture:Rob Leeson.

Despite the developments, farming remained hard work with little down time and across the country fewer young people were prepared to take on its many challenges, Belinda said.

“There are quite a few farms in this area that are still held by the same families but it’s definitely getting rarer and there’s not many younger children that are home on the farms with their parents or wanting to work on farms anymore,” she said.

“But it’s a great life and there’s many advantages to it. It’s a tough life too though and you have to work damn hard.

“Kids these days can go to university and get high-paying jobs which allow them to go on regular holidays and have their weekends off . . . so farming certainly isn’t for everyone.

“We are very lucky and part of the reason we’ve expanded so much is because our children are so involved and want to continue to be involved.”

Over the generations, the Shelbourne farm had survived drought and flooding rains; been as dry as dust and flushed verdant green.

Last year was among the best for crops, as timely rain nurtured a handsome harvest, Belinda said.

It was hoped the farm would still be in the Punton family name in another 150 years’ time.