WHEN Anthony Barber bought the 6188ha estate known as Coliban Park, near Metcalfe, in 1917, he had a silent partner.
The partner didn't help tending the farm's historic Merino flock, fixing fences or selling the superfine wool for which the property had become famous, but he brought something to the table the enterprise could not have done without - money.
Anthony seized the opportunity to buy Coliban Park when the family of the previous owner, W.H. Davidson, had to sell to meet the old man's death taxes.
Anthony forged a partnership with the English, Scottish and Australian Bank, a proud financial institution since 1852.
The old ES&A is no longer here, having merged in 1970 with the newer ANZ Bank to form the giant ANZ Banking Group, but Anthony's descendants are still loyal customers, almost a century later.
It's a partnership so fruitful and enduring that Anthony's great-grandson, Duncan Barber, acknowledges he and wife, Jess, couldn't do what they do without the bank.
"It's a long association, which has been absolutely fantastic for us," Duncan said.
The couple (pictured above) run Coliban Park with only casual outside help. They share the property with their children - Jack, 8, Rosie, 6, and Maggie, 19 months - and Duncan's mother, Rita.
As the fourth generation of his family on the farm, Duncan is keenly aware of his heritage and what's required to keep the business healthy.
"When my great-grandfather bought this place, it was 15,500 acres (6272 ha), but after two world wars and soldier settlements, it was reduced to 6500 acres (2630ha)," he said.
"Jess and I have more than that now with land we lease and own, and run virtually all Merinos, with a few crossbreds as well.
"This year, we'll have about 9000 lambs, including 2000 crossbreds, but all from a Merino base.
"Our main industry is superfine wool, with fat lambs as a side industry. Our wool averages about 17 micron and is sold privately, some to Japan for making blankets and bedding and a lot to Italy for Zegna suits."
The Barbers use a mix of financial facilities specially designed for agribusiness customers, including fixed and variable loans, working capital, business and personal credit cards and internet banking.
ANZ agribusiness manager Darryl Wensley, who is based in Bendigo, specialises in sheep and wool and dryland cropping, and acts as the Barbers' chief contact for their banking needs.
"We talk regularly. I visit to chat and look around the property and understand what the challenges are," Darryl said. "It's all about communication and trust.
"Sometimes we have people from our treasury department talking to the Barbers about interest-rate management and we also cover issues of international trade and risk management.
"In addition, four or five times a year, an ANZ economist will speak at a function for clients and I'll invite Duncan and Jess to some of those.
"Then there are special pre-event functions we run - at Elmore field days, for example, where we do something on the night before opening day."
Duncan said having a long-term relationship with a financier made "a hell of a difference".
"At one time, farmers weren't looked on as a business," he said.
"They were looked on as some poor bastard wasting money.
"But now they do look at you as a business and help you as one."
Duncan and Jess are also hosts in the ANZ Agribusiness Graduate Program, a 12-month course designed to foster young talent.
The graduates visit farms, such as the Barber property, to learn how to interact with farmers on their properties.
