Iconic Victorian farms on the market for $20 million

A Victorian pastoral family is selling 485 hectares of tightly held grazing farmland, listed for sale the first time in more than 130 years. See the details.

The Stoney family are selling the 485-hectare Minto Park Aggregation.

Tightly held grazing farmland in the foothills of the Victorian Alps, and home to a highly regarded livestock enterprise, has been listed for sale for the first time in more than 130 years.

The 303-hectare Minto Glen and 182ha Minto Park are both for sale, offered as the 485ha Minto Park Aggregation, priced at about $20 million as a whole.

Three generations of the Stones family have stewarded the Minto properties, beginning with Eadley and Flora Stoney, who paid 84 pounds an acre through auction for Minto Park to acquire it from George Hermiston.

Prior to the Stoney family, it was the Hermiston family who purchased the land now known as Minto, which originally formed part of Delatite Station, where they ran a successful Romney Marsh and Lincoln sheep operation.

The Stoney family went on to run Herefords using Minto as a base for their mountain cattle snow leases, while also milking cows on Minto Park’s lush flats, with the property passing through to Graeme and Helen Stoney (nee Hermiston) and then current custodian Chris Stoney.

In 1978 Helen and Graeme Stoney purchased Minto Glen from Helen’s brother Andrew Hermiston, adding the rising hill country adjacent to Minto Park.

Hereford cattle, prime lambs and pasture seed production was the focus of the enterprise until Chris Stoney took over management in the early 1990s.

In recent seasons, the aggregation has run a mixed farming enterprise, breeding Dorset, UltraWhite and Afforder Rams, in addition to Angus bulls to complement the family’s northern pastoral operation.

MANSFIELD
MINTO PARK AGGREGATION
Property: livestock
Size: 485ha
Sale: expressions of interest closing November 21
Price: about $20 million
Agent: Elders Real Estate
Contact: Nick Myer 0427 610 278 and Henry Mackinnon, 0408 408 299

Significant numbers of lambs and calves are transported from Minto Pastoral Company’s northern properties to background and finish at the Minto Park aggregation.

The aggregation also further carries a base population of ewes for prime lamb production, in addition to a cattle background operation, at an estimated carrying capacity of 10,000 dry sheep equivalent.

Elders Victoria-Riverina real estate manager Nick Myer said the Minto Park farms are regarded as one of northeast Victoria’s most historic and significant landmark holdings.

“Minto Park and Minto Glen are widely regarded for their quality production of prime lamb, fine wool, breeding and backgrounding cattle, in addition to historical grass seed production,” Mr Myer said.

“The Minto Park Aggregation is to be offered for the first time since 1890 and presents a truly unique opportunity to acquire one of the region’s most notable holdings.”

The aggregation also offers a historic five-bedroom, three-bathroom, 1930s homestead plus a three-bedroom staff residence.

Existing farming infrastructure includes two sets of steel sheep yards, seven-stand shearing shed, steel cattle yards, extensive machinery, hay and sundry shedding plus grain storage.

An established mix of high performance pastures including phalaris, rye-grass and clovers cover the aggregation and have been boosted by a consistent fertiliser history.

Earlier this year the Stoney family sold their 2700-hectare NSW Riverina property, Yaloke, splitting the expansive cropping and grazing holding between two separate buyers.