Gippsland family sell 800-cow dairy farms

Two tightly held Gippsland farms in the region’s west have been sold for the first time in their near 80-year history.

A West Gippsland family has sold its dairy farms, after almost 80 years of development.

A pair of tightly held Gippsland farms, home to an 800-cow dairy enterprise in the region’s west, have been sold for the first time in their near 80-year history.

Jindivick Farm, spanning nearly 603ha across 13 titles, 6km from the Jindivick township, has been sold after hitting the market in February this year.

A private West Gippsland family listed the two dairy farms for sale after acquiring parts of the properties in the 1940s, progressively developing the farms through to present day.

The value of the transaction remains undisclosed due to confidentiality arrangements. The purchaser of the properties also remains undisclosed.

When Jindivick Farm was listed for sale the properties were expected to be worth more than $33,000 a hectare, or greater than $20m in total.

The properties’ history dates back to the late 1940s, where spot milling operations were established to harvest timber. About 90 per cent of the land was uncleared when the farms were purchased.

Land clearing was undertaken through government incentives, with the rolling hills sown to pasture and dairy farms established.

By the 1960s the majority of the Jinidivick Farm property was cleared and under pasture.

In recent years the property was run as three dairy operations of varied size and layout, supported by a series of Herringbone dairies consisting of 20-24 units. All featured significant dairy infrastructure, shedding, and hardstands which supported a milking herd of 800 cows with the capacity to increase productivity.

Secure permanent water supply at Jindivick Farm includes 200ML of dam storage, irrigation license for 60ML plus mains water.

Production at Jindivick Farms is also supported by large and secure water resources, with more than 200ML of water storage including 50ML-plus of irrigation licenses and 25ML license for dairy use plus mains water supply.

The farms were also sold with three residences with each of them offering three bedrooms, plus a family bathroom.

Harcourts Warragul managing director Evan Broadbent and agent Nicole Lancey, in conjunction with First National Neilson Partners managing director Todd McKenna handled the sale of the Jindivick Farm but declined to comment on the transaction.