Historic Mawallok estate up for sale
One of the country’s finest and oldest rural estates, Mawallok near Beaufort in Western Victoria has been listed for public sale for the first since being settled in 1847 by the Russell family.
The 2349-hectare heritage-listed sheep station is renowned for its stately 10-bedroom homestead, built in 1908 in the Arts and Crafts architecture style, its William Guilfoyle-designed English gardens and 10-hectare lake, designed by Sir John Monash.
Mawallok has been owned and operated by the Mitchell family since 1980, when they bought it privately from renowned grazier Philip Russell, the great grandson of its first owner, Scottish migrant Alexander Russell, ending 133 years of Russell family ownership.
Led by Stephen Mitchell, the chairman of ASX-listed Indago Energy and his wife, Serena, the Mitchells have pursued a variety of commercial agricultural pursuits at Mawallok including wool, prime lambs, cattle and cropping under the banner of the Mawallok Pastoral Company.
The Mitchells have also impeccably maintained Mawallok, including its sweeping gardens which they have opened up regularly to the public, including most recently in April as part of the Open Gardens Victoria program.
Price expectations are understood to be above $25 million for Mawallok, which has a carrying capacity for 30,000 dry-sheep equivalents (DSE).
Nick Myer from Elders Real Estate has been appointed to market the property via expressions of interest closing on November 21.
“The sale marks the first time the holding has been offered to the market for public sale since settlement in 1847,” Mr Myer said.
“It is very rare for such an iconic and tightly held asset to be offered for sale”.
“The owners are to be commended for their management and continued capital investment, which has greatly contributed to the spectacular presentation and overall efficiencies of Mawallok,” he said.
Apart from the impressive two-storey homestead, Mawallok includes two tennis courts and a six-hole golf course sit within the 2.5 hectares gardens.
offering views to the Pyrenees Ranges and Mount Cole.
There’s also a five-bedroom manager’s residence, two staff cottages, historical bluestone stables, and coach house, a 12-bedroom shearers’ quarters, and numerous sheds and yards.
Also included in the sale is a 231-megalitre irrigation entitlement.
The main homestead, which includes a handsome Arts and Crafts inspired timber staircase, was built when Mawallok was under the ownership of Alex Russell, the grandson of Alexander Russell.
Mawallok was taken up in 1945, by his son, Philip, who served in Europe, North Africa and New Guinea.
Under his care, Mawallok grew in stature as a Merino stud, producing 1000 wool-bales and selling nearly 10,000 fat lambs a year.
Philip Russell ran Mawallok until he retired in 1979, after which the Mitchells took it over. He died in 2009.
