Wagyu farmer David Blackmore pays $4.95m for Benalla estate of late Michael Burston OAM
David Blackmore, the fifth generation farmer considered Australia’s most famous meat producer, has paid $4.95 million for landmark rural estate, East Mount Ada, which was listed following the death of noted “cattle man” Michael Burston OAM.
The Blackmore Wagyu founder paid $200,000 more than the guide price for the 609 hectare holding in the Broken River district.
About ten minutes drive west of Benalla, Mr 
Burston built up the hilltop farm to 22 lots after moving to the area from the southern Riverina about 50 years ago. It includes a section which is part of a productive floodplain from the Broken River system and physical farming improvements including a steel framed shed capable of storing 320 lots of hay.
About 200 kilometres north of Melbourne, the holding also includes a 1969 homestead, tennis court, ornamental lake and jetty.
Ruralco Property’s Michael Everard said that due to a protracted period of ill health, the resources of the East Mount Ada property were under-utilised in the latter years of ownership. Mr Burston was last year awarded an OAM for his work in the industry.
Mr Everard auctioned the property with co-agents Luke Marple and Brett Neilson.
The purchase comes two years after Mr Blackmore (pictured, above) was refused an “intensive beef reproductive permit” for a farm he owned in Alexandra, more than 120 kilometres north-east of Melbourne.
