THE sale of Castlewood, at Mt Mercer, presents an opportunity to own a stunning homestead and productive farm, built up by a former VFL star.
Don McKenzie, who played 266 games for Essendon, has spent the past 10 years working the farm up to the excellent standard it is at today.
- CASTLEWOOD
- MT MERCER, VICTORIA
- Property: grazing
- Size: 174.8ha
- Price: $2.1 million
- Agent: Elders, Ballarat
- Contact: (03) 5337 9999
The former ruckman and two-time premiership player is the first to admit that when he began farming he was like a fish out of water, a self-confessed city boy "from the banks of the Moonee Ponds".
Don became a close friend of VFL goal-kicking legend John Coleman, who coached him at Essendon, and it was John's love of farming that gave Don the inspiration to get into the industry.
"I got very friendly with him and he had 400 acres (161ha) ... I went and helped him out a bit on his farm and I just got the bug," Don said.
"He was certainly a mentor for me in football. He was certainly a mentor in business and he was certainly a mentor to me in farming."
Don is now a farming veteran and he, along with his wife, Jill, has spent much time and money developing Castlewood and their Charolais stud.
Castlewood has excellent on-farm features, including undercover cattle yards in impressive condition, a wool shed, sheep yards and extensive hay, machinery and storage shedding.
The property also has a good laneway system for easy handling of cattle and has outstanding gates and fencing.
"The fencing is so tight you can just about play a tune on it," selling agent Graham Rees said.
An old, impeccably built barn once used to store grain and feed away from birds and mice still stands today.
All farm infrastructure is close to the homestead, for easy farm management.
The property has extensive water storage, including three large concrete tanks and three large plastic tanks that collect water from the shed roofing.
Each paddock has dams and troughs.
Castlewood is full of history and has been owned by an array of prominent people, including Dame Nellie Melba's son.
The original homestead was established about 1860 by John Sides, who came to Australia from Ireland.
Don and Jill demolished it and built an almost exact replica in 2001.
The four-bedroom Victorian-style home is set amid beautiful gardens.
The old Grenville State School, established in 1872, has been transported to the property and sits beside the main homestead.
The school has been renovated and now serves as a fully self-contained, one-bedroom cottage, ideal for guest accommodation.
Castlewood is about 33km from Ballarat and less than two hours' drive from Melbourne.
