GREENVALE Homestead at Willaura, in Victoria's Western District, has a rich history.
First settled by Europeans in the 1840s, the property was initially 24,000ha and ran up to 70,000 sheep.
- AT A GLANCE
- Who: Anthony and Amanda Kumnick
- What: diversifying the farm
- Why: local food for local people
- Where: Willaura
The pioneers built a grand 21-room homestead which overlooked the Hopkins River and the vast red gum landscape.
Today, the livestock, river and grand house remain, but the farm is a more modest 460ha.
But there is a big story in this smaller package that is the modern-day Greenvale.
Three years ago the property was bought by the Kumnick family. Anthony and Amanda Kumnick returned from overseas to join Anthony's father John and brother Scott in shaping the property's latest chapter.
Anthony and Amanda, who had lived and worked in England and Canada, have a fascinating tale to tell.
Anthony grew up on a farm at Telangatuk, near Horsham, and is an information technology specialist with a passion for food.
English-born Amanda has a background in marketing and business management.
Before moving to Willaura, Anthony and Amanda lived in Toronto and ran their own information technology business.
The arrival of their first child, Ben, got them thinking.
"We wanted the kids to grow up the way I grew up," Anthony said.
Greenvale was the answer.
For several years the property had been run as a farm stay and the Kumnicks continued this business as well as diversifying into other ventures.
The traditional wool and cropping country is now also home to free-range rare breed pigs and prime lambs.
The Kumnicks also run Hereford cattle and grow crops.
Amanda and Anthony ran an award-winning gastro pub restaurant for several years in England which influenced the way they thought about food production and marketing.
"England is miles ahead in terms of regional markets and although the farmers don't have as much land they have learnt to specialise," Anthony said.
"I'd like to see more of that here.
"We'd like to break out of the cycle of high inputs and run the pigs in a paddock and then follow that with a crop that was fertilised by the pig manure and then follow that with pasture that the pigs could then feed on."
The rare breeds of pigs include Wessex Saddlebacks and Berkshires.
The Kumnicks also produce lamb and beef and would like eventually to revert back to traditional Hereford bloodlines.
Anthony doesn't talk in terms of ideal stocking rates but rather low-stress systems and stocking at a rate that is "comfortable to the land".
The Kumnicks market their own meats under the Greenvale Meats label with produce sold at six farmers markets, online and through Darriwill Farms at Hamilton.
Meat is also available at the Willaura bakery, the Moyston store, the Lake Bolac supermarket and the Dunkeld newsagency.
"We're in favour of giving local people local produce," Anthony said.
"I think people would love nothing better than getting back to having their local butcher and bakery."
The couple's IT skills came into play last year when they launched a Facebook site for Willaura which now has about 250 followers - more than the town's entire population. They also use Twitter to keep their customers and followers up to date.
"Twitter is a fantastic marketing tool if used in the right way. We mostly talk about the farm and what is happening. People love a good story," Anthony said.
The Kumnicks will be among three farmers telling their stories at the Our Farming Future Event at Hamilton next Monday, June 21, from 9.30am.
Other farmers will also speak at Our Farming Future events at Tatura tomorrow, Mildura on Friday and Warragul next Tuesday.
