About The Farm Mudgegonga

The Farm is nestled deep in a valley surrounded by picturesque hills, full of native flora and fauna.  We farm with nature, provide habitat for our wildlife so that they can co-exist with our grass fed beef cattle enterprise. We grow organic fruits and vegetables, plant trees, encourage beneficial insects and pollinators, and slowly rehabilitate pasture and waterways to protect the fragile ecosystems of our home.

When possible we open the gates to co-farmers of all ages and persuasions, all interests and abilities.  We come together in an inclusive and equal environment to embrace the immense joy of working with the soil, nurturing the animals that reside here, and creating a more sustainable environment for the future. 

The History

European settlement of North East Victoria started from the 1820s and before this the First Nations people of the area lived on these lands for thousands of years. These included the Dhudhuroa, the Pangerang, Minjambuta, Jaitmathang, Taungurung, Waywurru and Gurnaikurnai peoples. They created sacred routes through the mountains and left many signs of their presence through rock art and artefacts.  We respect this custodianship and have connected with current day Elders to learn more about this heritage.

The farm as we know it now was pioneered in the 1870s by one of the first Italians in the region, Battista de Piazza from Grosotto in the Valtellina, and his wife the Irish ‘Mathair’ Catherine O’Brien. The farm was known as ‘Orange Grove’ as it had a beautiful citrus orchard, as well as at different times growing wine grapes, hops, and many varieties of crops. While currently a beef cattle farm, for many years it was a dairy and piggery, running stables and breeding Clydesdale horses. 

The Tree

As you enter The Farm you pass a special tree, the one that is on our logo. We call this the resilience tree as despite its sad visage with its broken limbs and mistletoe, it has survived a direct hit from all three major bushfires of the last century, 1939, 1968, and 2009.  It is known as the Resilience Tree, a symbol of survival and repair.