Riverina sheep farmers buy historic Mt Fyans property for $37 million

ONE of Victoria’s largest farms is back in Australian hands.

Grazing property: Mt Fyans at Dundonnell has sold to Riverina sheep farmers.

ONE of Victoria’s largest farms is back in Australian hands.

Western Victorian grazing property Mt Fyans has been snapped up by Riverina sheep farmers in a deal reportedly worth $37 million.

Ian and Camilla Shippen purchased Mt Fyans at Dundonnell, from Western Australian-based, Chinese-backed company Harmony Agriculture and Food Company.

Harmony is jointly owned by Australian and Chinese investors with a focus on live animal exports.

It is the second time in two years the 5900ha Western District grazing property has sold, purchased in 2016 by Harmony from Keith and Rosie Rous, the Earl and Countess of Stradbroke, for a reported price of $34 million.

The sale comes a little over a month after Harmony announced it would sell Mt Fyans.

The Shippens run Banyandah Pastoral, a family owned self-replacing merino operation in the NSW southern Riverina at Moulamein, and a cross bred operation in Wagga.

It is understood they will continue to use Mt Fyans as a grazing property.

The property was sold by Robert Claffey from Kerr and Co Hamilton.

“It was a very short off-market campaign and there was a lot of interest on the back of the sale of the property two years ago,” Mr Claffey said.

“Personally I’m pleased a progressive farming family has purchased it and it has stayed in Australian hands.

“I’m confident they will be a good asset to Mortlake district.”

The transaction assisted

Mt Fyans features an eight-bedroom historic homestead built in the mid-1880s.

The Earl and Countess of Stradbroke purchased the property in 1989, and built up the holding from its original 1158ha.