Iconic Tarago Cheese farm hits market after 90 years of family ownership

Ray White Drouin farm and rural sales consultant Steve Hodge described the prestigious rural property at 2230-2236 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South as "one-of-a-kind".

“This property represents a unique piece of Australian artisanal cheese history combined with a thriving dairy operation,” Mr Hodge said.

“Located in the prime agricultural region of Neerim South, there are four titles for sale including the factory accommodating the cheese manufacturing business and the dairy together with extensive infrastructure.”

Mr Hodge has already received a number of local and interstate inquiries and said expressions of interest close on 10 December.

The property includes a 1600sqm factory, a dairy, and a three-bedroom and two-bathroom farmhouse utilised by the dairy manager.

The factory, dairy and manger’s farmhouse occupy a 10 acre title, and there is also 230 acres of grazing land.

The four titles for sale include:

• 2230 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South

• 2236 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South

• 195 Sheffield Road, Neerim South

• 2176 Main Neerim Road, Neerim South

Mr Johnson and his wife own the property and have three children - one works on the farm and the others live interstate.

"It's been in our family for 90 years. One of the parcels of land my grandfather purchased in the 1930s/40s," Mr Johnson said.

"My father bought the farm from him, and we bought my parents out in 2000.

“When the land was first purchased it was only 36 hectares back then - it was part of the soldier settlement blocks - our family have just kept adding to it over the years.

The Johnson family pioneered the farm-based artisanal cheese movement in Australia, establishing Tarago Cheese in 1982 as one of the country's original small-scale farmhouse cheese makers alongside Timboon Cheese.

"My parents established the Tarago brand in partnership with now retired local cheese maker Laurie Jensen, who grew up on part of the farm we now own,” he said.