General News
25 October, 2023
Nehill farm sold
HIGH maintenance costs was a key reason behind the decision to sell The Nehill Brothers Farm, according to the National Trust of Australia Victoria (NTAV).
HIGH maintenance costs was a key reason behind the decision to sell The Nehill Brothers Farm, according to the National Trust of Australia Victoria (NTAV).
The property, which was bequeathed to the NTAV by the late Alexander Thomas Nehill, was sold at auction on October 13.
The Nehill Brothers Farm was bequeathed to NTAV under the condition it was turned into a way to preserve the heritage of the farm.
In October 2011 the Nehill Farm was officially opened to the public with a number of rare breeds calling the farm home.
However, within a number of years the contract ended with the commercial operators at the time ended with a $40,000 rehabilitation needed to reinstate it to the condition it was in at the time of opening.
According to a media statement from NATV, post COVID the costs to maintain the property and resources required to manage a “successful consumer facing operation were too great”.
The statement said in consultation with the existing original trustee and execute, the National Trust acted in-line with the conditions of the Will and sought to sell The Nehill Brothers Farm “so the funds could be used to maintain and support another NTAV owned Western District property”.
NATV chief executive officer Simon Ambrose said NATV was “honoured” to be the custodians of The Nehill Brothers Farm for the last 16 years.
“Sharing the stories of people and place sits at the heart of what we do,” he said.
“We are equally humbled and thankful when we are bequeathed properties in a manner that also allows us to pass the baton on.
“With the renewed energy and resources we can all invest in broader storytelling.”
According to Mr Ambrose, Alexander Nehill requested any proceeds from a sale of the property be spent on a “NTAV owned property in the western districts and we will do just that”.
“The wonderful Mooramong Homestead will benefit from this sale and we’re excited to announce accommodation will open there in November this year,” he said.