Anderson family sell Rossander Angus farm portfolio in major deal

The Anderson family have sold their prominent Warrnambool farming enterprise for top dollar after “unprecedented demand”.

The home of a renowned South West Victorian cattle enterprise and dairy has sold with the 10-property aggregation making more than $35 million combined.

The sale of the 954ha Rossander Angus portfolio of properties is nearing finalisation, with Warrnambool’s Anderson family parting with the holdings after 56 years.

Located on Warrnambool’s city fringes the portfolio has been sold in 12 parcels among a variety of buyers after receiving significant interest.

CBRE Agribusiness agents Matt Childs, Shane McIntyre and David Goodfellow handled the deal after the Anderson family listed the portfolio for sale in June.

“The portfolio realised values in accord with our expectations of between $35-$40 million,” Mr McIntyre said.

“Buyers were both local and statewide who respected the proximity of the assets being so close to the city of Warrnambool,” Mr Childs said.

Rossander Angus was established by the Andersons in 1966.

“Many of the properties possess elevated building sites overlooking the city, with most being only five minutes from the city fringe, providing a rural lifestyle with city convenience.”

Mr Goodfellow said the portfolio gathered an unprecedented level of interest during the marketing process.

“The level of interest in the portfolio was astounding with in excess of 60 expressions of interest ranging from eager neighbours wanting to expand their holdings to lifestyle buyers wanting a high quality near-city rural asset,” he said.

Rossander principal Andrew Anderson with Rossander Angus bull Rossander Zulu U12 in 2001.

The Anderson’s Rossander Angus gained a reputation for superior genetics, winning numerous awards through the years such as the Hordern trophy at the Sydney Royal Show and Lyons trophy in Adelaide.

The 954ha Rossander Angus aggregation included the 300ha Staywood Park, the jewel of the portfolio, with a five-bedroom, two-storey homestead and 15 paddocks.

Set on 68ha, Tullynagee, a Victorian and Edwardian style four-bedroom renovated weatherboard homestead was also part of the offering.

Other notable inclusions in the Rossander portfolio included the 300-cow Dundonald dairy, which spans 130.9ha and is held in two titles.

The Rossander portfolio was offered to the market in June with land banking and subdivision benefits alongside existing mixed farming land.

The Woodford Development, a 52ha lot which is the home of a proposed 35-lot plan of subdivision, awaiting final council approval was also included in the portfolio.

The portfolio was offered in another six parcels mostly comprising grazing land, some with Merri River frontages, minutes from the Warrnambool city.

Mr Anderson passed away last year, aged 77, leaving a lasting legacy in Warrnambool.

Notably, the Anderson family donated 4.8ha (12 acres) of land at Caramut Rd which became Warrnambool’s Midfield Oval and the Brauerander Athletics Complex when it was opened 18 years ago.