Ex head of Dookie College Dennis O’Brien lists his Stewarton farm for sale

A farm owned by an ex head of Dookie College has been listed for sale. See the property and its asking price here.

Dennis and Gail O’Brien purchased the Stewarton property in 2005.

A FARM owned by an ex head of Dookie College has been listed for sale with an asking price of $1.6 million-plus.

The 72ha property, Lapin’s Lament at Stewarton, has been owned by Dennis and Gail O’Brien for more than 15 years.

The couple moved to Victoria 18 years ago from Coffs Harbour, where Mr O’Brien was head of the School of Business at Southern Cross University.

On arrival, he served as head of Dookie College for eight years before becoming director of postgraduate studies at Marcus Oldham.

“We bought the farm in 2005 as two paddocks, once part of the historic Emu Plains run, and built the house seven years ago,” Mr O’Brien said.

“We started off with Angus cattle, subsequently moved into first-cross Wagyus and, most recently, have run a full-blood herd of around 60 cows and calves.”

Stewarton supplied proprety pic WT

Built with a steel frame and clad in corrugated iron, the north-facing home provides three bedrooms (the master with walk-in robe and ensuite), family bathroom, open-plan living with central double-sided fireplace, large European kitchen and dining area, office, laundry and folding doors opening to a wide undercover entertaining area.

Off-grid/on-grid living options include solar hot water, 30 solar panels (with back-up from mains supply), wall insulation, double-glazed windows, reverse-cycle airconditioning and Skymesh internet access with satellite.

Stewarton supplied proprety pic WT

“The garden, too, is planned to be sustainable, with Australian and South African natives, watered from the river,” Mr O’Brien said.

“We sit on a slight rise, so can see right across to the Dookie hills and Mt Major.

“It’s river flat country and well fertilised with super and lime – last year, we cut 80 acres of ryegrass hay for the first time and got over 400 large round bales.”

The property is being sold by Nutrien Benalla and expressions of interest will close on June 11.

It comes as a grazing farm near Jingellic sold under the hammer for $5 million last week.

The 617ha property, Mauna Loa at Ournie in NSW, was snapped up by a family out of the area.

Selling agent Geoff Palmer from Ray White was unable to disclose the name of the buyer, but said they were not a local operator.

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