Dalvui Homestead and garden at Noorat. Image – Elders.

AN HISTORIC property with links to one of the first importations of Romney sheep into Australia is up for sale in Victoria’s south-west.

Dalvui at Noorat with its Federation/Queen Anne style homestead (circa 1907) and William Guilfoyle designed garden for decades was known as the well-known home of a Romney stud by the same name, run by the Palmer family.

According to Heritage Sheep Australia, the Romney was first imported into Australia in the 1800s, with reports of some arriving as early as 1839, others in 1853, and a confirmed shipment in 1872. And according to a New South Wales Department of Agriculture AgFact Romneys were first introduced into Australia to ‘Dalvui,’ near Mortlake, in 1872.

The Australian Stud Sheep Breeders Association confirmed that the the Dalvui Romney stud was founded in 1872 by M.C. Palmer as Flock #58.

Current Dalvui owner Pam Habersberger said the last of the Dalvui Romney flock was sold to her by the Palmer family in 1998 — 10 ewes and a ram. She bred the Romneys for years, but did not sell rams and later bred her ewes to Suffolks. More recently, she bred Murray Grey cattle on the property.

Some Murray Greys at Dalvui. Image – Elders.

Dalvui was a leading Romney stud

District Romney breeder Jim Bligh said he had used Dalvui rams in his Killmery flock during his more than 60 years breeding the sheep. He confirmed that Dalvui was one of the leading Romney studs in Australia while operating.

Mr Bligh’s stud was founded in 1963 and is one of the few remaining in south-west Victoria. At the Warrnambool Show last weekend, a Killmery ram was the champion Romney Ram and Brewer Memorial Supreme Romney Exhibit of the Show.

Jim Bligh’s daughter, Liz Bligh, left, holds the Brewer Memorial Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the Killmery ram held by Daniel Wright at the 2022 Warrnambool Show. Image – Gillian McDonald.

Dalvui expressions of interest close on 16 November

Dalvui is up for Sale by Expressions of Interest that close on Wednesday 16th November 2022 at 4pm with Elders Real Estate at Camperdown.

The 562 acre or 227.45 hectare property is in four titles and located close to Camperdown, Terang and Mortlake, about 40 minutes’ drive to Warrnambool and the Great Ocean Road. It is about 1.5 hours to Geelong, Ballarat, and the Grampians, and 2.5 hours to Melbourne.

Elders Camperdown agent Rob Rickard said Dalvui is an opportunity to own a rich and productive piece of rural Australian history.

“’Dalvui’ is undoubtedly one of rural Australia’s most noted historic properties, renowned for not only the historic homestead and gardens, but also the versatile agricultural land and quality underground water supply, including 247.5 megalitre groundwater irrigation licence,” he said.

As well as the homestead there is a renovated four bedroom manager’s residence, historic stables and carriage house, machinery, hay and calf shedding, a large workshop and a cattle yard complex.

Elders said the property is subdivided into 28 main paddocks and serviced by an extensive laneway system. It is ideally suited to fattening, breeding, stud stock, dairy pursuits or fodder production.

The reliable water supply system includes bores and a dam, with reticulation throughout the property for irrigation, stock and domestic use.