Jim Sawyer decides to sell Mundatta farm and Mount Prior winery

Former Volkswagen Australia marketing manager Jim Sawyer sold a farm he had established on the outskirts of Melbourne in the early 1970s to purchase Mundatta where one of his early successful ventures was directly supplying nine city hospitals with beef from his newly acquired property.

It was originally established in the 1800s by J.H. Smith with dairy farming among the early uses of the 230 hectare property on the Barnawartha-Howlong Road near the North Barnawartha saleyards complex.

Mr Sawyer has appointed agents Corcoran Parker and Pat Rice & Hawkins to sell the property via an expressions of interest process which closes November 1.

Another feature of property is the Mundatta homestead built in 1929 and consisting of four bedrooms, two bathrooms and study.

There is also a separate three bedroom manager’s residence.

The property has created heightened interest and is set to join a growing list of local farming properties to attract a bumper sale price.

Mr Sawyer said at age 85 he was ready to retire after initially being attracted to the property by secure access to water and the homestead.

“It’s hard to put into words what this place has meant to me over the years,” he said.

“I might be biased, but I think it’s a prestige property lovingly farmed for nearly 50 years.

“The Murray River flats here are magnificently heavy carrying country and we regard it as the best part of North-East Victoria from the point of view of productivity.

“Leaving somewhere where you’ve been for so long will be difficult when you consider all farming is a seven-day-a week, 12 months of the year operation.”

Mr Sawyer also has the Mount Prior winery he purchased in the late 1980s also on the market.

Mundatta has about 91 hectares under irrigation with the property divided into eight main paddocks plus Murray River flats and a carrying capacity of more than 200 breeding cows.