The Bozzo family, which operates Riverbank Stockfeeds at Werribee, bought the 5568-hectare property near Tocumwal for more than $6 million.

Tuppal was owned by Frank and Marija Vodusek of Yarrawonga.

Managing director Peter Bozzo said his family bought the property on October 12. It would retain the manager and employees, he said.

“We wanted to get closer to where grain is grown,” Mr Bozzo said.

“We think there is a bright future in Australian agriculture.

“We would like to do a bit more with the property and realise the importance of local knowledge and management.

“Together we will map a new future.”

Tuppal Station was passed in at auction in June on a vendor bid of $6.25 million.

A likely price of $8.5 million had been placed on the property before the auction.

Mr Bozzo’s father, Mario, started Riverbank Stockfeeds about 20 years ago to make the family’s own feed for poultry.

A factory was built at Werribee in 1997 and upgraded in 2004. The family bought South Gippsland Stockfeeds in 2008 to expand the business into the dairy sector.

The family also owns a cattle property near Sale.

“It is because of our stockfeed manufacturing interests and procurement interests that we have decided to head down this road with Tuppal,” Mr Bozzo said.

“It is another link in the chain of understanding grain — we just want quality product.”

The company employs more than 40 people and has another headquarters at Leongatha.

Mr Vodusek, who bought Tuppal Station in 1994, and his wife will continue to live at Rich Glen, west of Yarra- wonga, where they have developed a large-scale olive growing enterprise.

“I have got mixed feelings,” Mr Vodusek said.

“When you are bit younger, you can manage all those things.

“I will be spending more time at home now.”