THE Howell family bought this picturesque Warrenbayne farm in 1967.
Angus Howell has lived at the property, called Rotherlea, his whole life, and attributes his family's long residence to the same reasons his father chose the property 38 years ago.
- ROTHERLEA
- WARRENBAYNE, VICTORIA
- Property: grazing, business
- Size: 166ha
- Price: $1.55 million
- Agent: Rodwells, Mansfield
- Contact: 0418 326 782
"It appealed because it had a reliable amount of rainfall, good soils and a climate for grazing," Angus said.
About six years ago he switched the property from grazing sheep to cattle and now runs a dairy agistment operation based on weight gain. Currently Rotherlea runs 100 cattle, but this number rises to about 400 in spring.
A cell grazing system has been set up on the property, which is divided into 34 paddocks each with a trough watering system from the 20 megalitre dam. The average rainfall is 700mm.
"We grew a wheat crop last year and I've got oats and pasture this year," Angus said.
The charming timber homestead was built in 1910, and was renovated in the 1960s using Mt Gambier stone. The house has five bedrooms, lounge, dining area and kitchen featuring marble bench tops, a double electric oven and a small combustion wood stove.
The kitchen and dining both feature large plate glass windows that look out on to the expansive lawns and gardens that have more than 100 rose bushes.
"The 3.3m ceilings throughout make the house spacious and light," Angus said. A bed and breakfast was established on the property nine years ago, boasting a striking contemporary design.
Floor to ceiling windows at the front of the house overlook the vineyards and the Warby Ranges: once one of Ned Kelly's hang outs.
"It is totally private with superb views. It is surrounded by native trees which bring an abundance of birds and wildlife," Mr Howell said.
The whole property has received two and a half tonnes of lime per ha over the last four years and a fertiliser program has been maintained.
The property has machinery sheds, a shearing shed, hay shed, three garages and steel cattle yards that are all well maintained.
Rotherlea is two hours from Melbourne travelling on the Hume Highway.
