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Tailored Special Events

If you have an event or small function that you think could happen at Ballybrook Farm, contact us and we can work with you to make it happen. This can include:

Proposals
Elopements
Anniversaries
Birthdays
Weddings
Work Functions

You name it, and we will make it memorable for you.

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Ballybrook Farm History

Ballybrook Farm has a long history in Gisborne, being one of the earliest and largest farming properties in the area. Once well over 2,000 acres, it has slowly been broken up and now is 130 acres, but retains all the character of of an old homestead on the side of Mount Gisborne.
Bree and Glen started a new venture in 2018 when they purchased their first Highland Pony, and have shown and bred these as well now. With the property previously being set up as an equine stud, this transition required little effort. The horse and foal crush as now used every breeding season, and artificial insemination with frozen stallion  semen is used at Ballybrook Highland Ponies to help improve the number and quality of Highland Ponies in Australia.

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Foxtail Photography

Ballybrook Farm has partnered with Jess from Foxtail Photography to allow you to capture moments on our property, whether they be a photo shoot with some Highland heifers, Highland ponies or a photographic session tailored to your occasion. These sessions are the perfect way to make an anniversary or birthday even more memorable.

Jess has a unique ability to capture moments as they happen. Her  photos are natural with minimal set-up or staging. You will be amazed at what she is seeing through her lens!

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Ballybrook Highland Ponies

Highland Ponies first came into our life in 2018 and we have fallen in love with their rugged, functional type, and most of all, their temperament. They are a rare / endangered breed in Australia, but everyone interested in a horse for pleasure riding, or just to enjoy the company of in the paddock, should get one of these. They are a truly unique breed.

We have visited studs in Scotland & New Zealand in our travels and will no doubt use them as an excuse to travel more. The pinnacle was to see the herd of the late Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral.

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Bairnsley Highland Cattle

Established in 1996, Bairnsley is the most well known and successful in Auastralia. At the end of 2024, 23 of the previous 34 Australian Highland Cattle National Show grand champion bulls and females were out of a Bairnsley cow or by a Bairnsley bull (or both).

The goals at Bairnsley centre around improving the quality of Highland cattle in Australia by way of ensuring these animals retain their well known attributes of quiet temperaments, being hardy and essentially problem free, graceful movement and plenty of high quality beef. We also want to maintain their Highland character, so lots of hair, thick deep bodies and traditional horn shape.

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Bree’s Bovine Behaviour

Since 2018, Bree has been teaching a new way of thinking about moving and training cattle. She teaches Natural Cowmanship around Australia to increase safety (for cattle and their handlers), improve the lives of cattle undergoing training. She can help you make your cattle actually want to be with you.

With a deep knowledge on bovine behaviour and a simple way of articulating and explaining what she practices, Bree’s instruction will give you the ultimate experience in how to understand your cattle.

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What else happens on Ballybrook Farm?

There is something for everyone (look below to see), but heck, if you have an idea of something special that you might want to experience here, or a combination of events, let us know – we will likely be able to work something out for you.

Accommodation

Accommodation is now available at “Ballybrook Farm” (or at “Cnoc Dubh Farm” 5 minutes down the road). If you simply want to get away from the hustle and bustle to the country or the bush, or just to be surrounded by nature on a working farm, we have options for you.

From here, you can explore the scenery, wineries and history of the Macedon Ranges – all this and only 40 minutes from the centre of Melbourne and 30 minutes from Melbourne airport.

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Photo Shoot

Have your very own photo session with our professional photographer (Jess from Foxtail Photography), with our Highland cows and Highland Ponies. Jess will capture candid moments while you interact with the animals. There are a couple of packages available, or we can tailor a photographic session to your specific needs.

This is the perfect gift for an anniversary, birthday, marriage proposal, or just to surprise that special someone who is besotted with Highland cattle!

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Paint, Pat, Pinot

Paint your own masterpiece, under the guidance of a local artist.
Pat some Highland cows
Sip a Pinot and some other locally sourced wines, while nibbling on an antipasto plate.

You get to be artistic (you’ll be amazed at how Amber can bring out the inner Picasso in you), in our purpose build function room in “Glen’s Shed”. We will take you out to meet some of our Highland cows, and you can give them a scratch and make their day too.

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Highland Cow Experience (Farm Tours)

Want to PAT A HIGHLAND COW – we offer up close and personal & private tours of our farm, where you can meet our Highland cattle and Highland ponies.
You travel around our property on a 6-seater CanAm side-by-side, and visit several groups or cows and calves and ponies. You also have the option of a “Picnic in the Paddock” as well.
Yes, you can touch them.
Yes, there are Highland calves
Yes, they are adorable!

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Bree’s Bovine Behaviour

Since 2018, Bree has been teaching a new way of thinking about moving and training cattle. She teaches Natural Cowmanship around Australia to increase safety (for cattle and their handlers), improve the lives of cattle undergoing training. She can help you make your cattle actually want to be with you.

With a deep knowledge on bovine behaviour and a simple way of articulating and explaining what she practices, Bree’s instruction will give you the ultimate experience in how to understand your cattle.

Read More »

Tailored Special Events

If you have an event or small function that you think could happen at Ballybrook Farm, contact us and we can work with you to make it happen. This can include:

Proposals
Elopements
Anniversaries
Birthdays
Weddings
Work Functions

You name it, and we will make it memorable for you.

Read More »