Mt Lofty Ranges turf farm hits the market

JUST west of Cambrai near the Mt Lofty Ranges, locals Doug and Diana Fleet have been growing and supplying instant lawn to South Australians for more than 30 years.

The couple are now ready to retire and are selling their 111.75ha Marne Valley Turf farm business through Ray White Woodside principal Angus Campbell, rural agent Alastair Johnson and Ray White Business Sales SA principal Brett Buckley.

The turf farm, which is on the rich alluvial flats of the River Marne, is being sold by private treaty with a price guide of $5.3 million.

Marne Valley Turf farm is the main supplier for South Australia’s biggest landscaping business Garden Grove and boasts an experienced group of staff who Mr Fleet said already know how to run the business.

“We won’t be selling the farm to just anyone, we want someone who will come in and look after our staff and the business that we’ve grown for the past 30 years,” Mr Fleet said.

“It will be sold to someone who can continue our legacy and look after the products we’ve built up over time.

“It would be a great opportunity for someone who wants a turnkey agricultural investment. You don’t need to know about the turf industry because the staff have been here for years and know how to run the day-to-day operations.”

Ms Fleet has successfully run the office since the inception of the business while Mr Fleet has been in the farming industry all his life, coming from his parent’s potato, dairy and sheep farms and going straight into agriculture after he left school.

“Farming is in my blood but it’s time for me to move on, Diana and I have plenty of things to do and are hoping to do some travelling when the international borders open back up again,” Mr Fleet said.

Mr Campbell said the sale includes the business, land, well cared for plant and equipment and a substantial water licence of 614.2 megalitres. Marne Valley Turf grows different varieties of drought tolerant, hard wearing instant roll out lawn including Kikuyu, Santa Anna and Sir Walter Buffalo. Marne Valley Turf also supplies premium mulched topsoil.