VFL coaching legend Gerard FitzGerald and family to sell Western District farm

A three-time VFL premiership coach and his family are selling their 500ha mixed farm, ending a tenure dating back more than 70 years.

A VFL coaching legend and his family are offloading their 500ha mixed farm in the state’s Western District, ending a tenure dating back to the 1950s.

Triple North Ballarat VFL premiership coach Gerard FitzGerald and wife Loretta’s Derrinallum property, Glennon Park, is under contract after hitting the market last spring.

The value of the transaction remains confidential.

It is understood a farming family with existing agricultural interests in the Western District are purchasing the property.

Located about 30km east of Mortlake, the FitzGerald family have predominantly used the property for mixed cropping as well as sheep, including Poll Dorsets.

Glennon Park consists of two former soldier settlement properties, one which originally belonged to FitzGerald family, while Gerard and Loretta bought the adjoining property in 1983.

Gerard FitzGerald with Kelpie, Lizzy, in 2016.

Loretta, along with sons Michael and Tim, have run the farm in recent seasons, continuing a family farming legacy dating back more than 70 years.

A storied name in Victorian football circles, Gerard FitzGerald holds the VFA-VFL senior coaching games record with 345 matches at the helm across two stints at North Ballarat and a year each at Springvale and Port Melbourne.

North Ballarat Roosters coach Gerard Fitzgerald (left) and captain Shaun Maloney after claiming the VFL flag. Picture: Michael Klein.

The former teacher played three games for Geelong in 1977 before turning his hand to coaching, taking the reins at Sea Lake, Mortlake and Camperdown, as well as coaching the Greater Western Rebels (North Ballarat Rebels) two separate times.

Elders Real Estate Camperdown selling agent Rob Rickard was handling the sale of Glennon Park.

The Fitzgerald’s Derrinallum property, Glennon Park, is under contract.

Meanwhile, 140km west of Glennon Park, the Tonissen family has ended its six-decade ownership of the 511ha Chrome Park at Branxholme.

Jason Tonissen and wife Kylie have run the property in recent seasons alongside Jason’s parents Ilford and Jean, who bought the former Closer Settlement block as their first home.

The purchaser and value of the transaction remain confidential.

The Tonissen family have sold the 511ha Chrome Park, near Branxholme.

When Chrome Park was listed for sale in August a price guide of $18,532-plus a hectare, or $9.47 million was offered.

Located 19km southwest of Hamilton, the property has been used for stud and commercial livestock, crop and fodder production as well as raising award-winning Australian stock horses.