The striking Chatsworth House homestead.

A RARE opportunity to purchase an established premium lamb brand with provenance and a large commercial ewe flock  is being offered to rural property purchasers in Victoria.

The historic and productive 2400 hectare Chatsworth House property with its circa 1858 homestead about three hours west of Melbourne is on the market with its Chatsworth Prime lamb brand, with a price tag of $22.5-$25 million.

Chatsworth House 3.5 year-old ewes.

The property’s self-replacing composite flock of about 13,000 ewes produces about 16,000 lambs annually, which are marketed under the well-regarded Chatsworth House Prime brand to prime lamb retailers across Australia’s east coast, including supermarkets and specialist butchers.

The brand’s product has developed a reputation for consistent quality over the past six years and has been sold at a premium to repeat customers. Development of the brand program has intensified over the past three years after the property’s owners moved out of cropping into full prime lamb production.

Maternal traits with terminal power

The Chatsworth House Prime logo lists the flock as having “maternal traits with terminal power” reflecting its development using leading composite genetics for traits such as fertility, survivability, early growth, muscle and meat yield. Genetics used have included Cashmore Park, Kurralea White Suffolks and Chromedales. More recently there has been a renewed focus on temperament with the use of Wairere Romneys and on self-replacing terminal traits with Meat Plus genetics.

The property’s successful buyer will have the first option to purchase all livestock, plant and equipment at independent valuation.

Real estate company the CBRE Group describes the Chatsworth area in Victoria’s Western District as being renowned for its consistency and reliability, with proven winter crop yields (including canola, red wheat, white wheat, barley and oats) and a recognised ability to fatten livestock.

The Chatsworth House property is situated 30 minutes east of Hamilton and boasts gently rolling fertile grey and red sand loam soils which graze 300 steers twice annually, with pasture set aside for hay and silage.

Chatsworth House has always been meticulously presented, and is listed with quality infrastructure that is ideally suited to its broad scale versatility. The property was listed for sale three years ago but failed to sell, CBRE said.

Water is a feature with many paddocks having access to the permanent Hopkins River and Churrup Creek. In addition, water is reticulated throughout the property from two 4mgl and 6mgl dams.

The 1200sqm bluestone Chatsworth House homestead looks over the Hopkins River. It was designed by prominent Hamilton architect James Fox for pioneer pastoralist John Moffat and is widely acclaimed as the finest example of Victorian architecture in rural Victoria. The surrounding formal English garden was designed by Edward Latrobe Bateman.

CBRE Agribusiness director Shane McIntyre said the iconic property has attracted widespread interest.

“Chatsworth House is appealing to buyers from Melbourne and Sydney and from corporates – both national and international – due to its versatility, flexibility and outstanding Victorian-style improvements,” he said.

Chatsworth House has been listed for sale by expression of interest by CBRE.