Avington Merinos on the central Victorian property.

AROUND $30m is anticipated for an award-winning luxury wool producing enterprise in central Victoria’s Macedon Ranges.

The 1196ha Avington is situated at Sidona, 75 minutes from Melbourne.

For the past 26 years it has been owned by Australian Wool Innovation director Noel Henderson and his wife Lyndsay. They founded Avington Merino in 1996 and are regarded as one of Australia’s leading growers of luxury Merino wool.

The Avington Merino wool is renowned for its quality and integrity. The enterprise benefits from a supply agreement with one of Europe’s finest textile manufacturers that rewards Avington for its highly sought after superfine and ultrafine wools.

Mr Henderson said he will continue as an AWI director until November 2023 — an election year — when he will consider his future with the research, development and marketing company. He and his wife are looking forward to take things easier in retirement and visit family in the United States.

Around 87 percent of the property (or 1040ha) is used as the breeding and grazing platform, currently running 14 dry sheep equivalents per hectare or more than 15,000 DSE.

The gently sloping country features fertile granite loam and clay soils with an extensive fertiliser history and a fully automated and reliable stock water system.

Shane McIntyre and Matt Childs from CBRE Agribusiness have been appointed to sell Avington. They report it is one of the most thoughtfully improved properties in Victoria.

“The Hendersons have intensively developed the property with state-of-the-art operational infrastructure and efficiencies including an architect designed residence, sheep handling facilities, water security and pasture development.”

“They have also used the latest technologies and materials to maximise productivity and retain optimum levels of animal welfare for breeding and wool production.”

Avington is being offered for sale via expressions of interest on a walk-in-walk-out basis (including the superfine and ultrafine sheep flock, plant and equipment) or on a bare basis closing on December 8.

An aerial view of Avington.