The evolution of Chestnut Brae

The History of Chestnut Brae Farm

Early Origins: Group Settlement and Dairy Days

The story of Chestnut Brae begins in the early 20th century during the WW1 Group Settlement scheme in Carlotta, part of the South West Boojarah region of Western Australia. Mr. Forest developed the land, and families arriving in the area were each given a few cows to start small dairies. By 1953–54, there were 96 dairy farmers in the region.

One of the early settlers was Mr. McKittrick, who worked the land before it changed hands again.

Moroko Valley: The Meade Family Era (1950–1977)

In 1950, the Meade family — Cyril, Amy, and their children Max, Melva, Pat, and Brian — left Bunbury to take up a rugged 400-acre block they named Moroko Valley, inspired by a phrase meaning “Valley of the Sky.”
At the time, the property was abandoned and overgrown. With sheer determination, the Meades carved out a farm by hand, clearing bushland, building a home, and establishing a dairy.
Milk and cream were sent to the Sunny West butter factory in Busselton, with skim milk used to raise pigs sold at market.
Tragedy struck in 1958 when Cyril Meade was badly injured in a tree-felling accident, forcing young Brian Meade to take over much of the farm work at just 13.
Despite hardships, including a devastating house fire in 1971, the family persisted until 1977, when they sold the property and moved to the Gairdner River region.

Visionaries and Chestnuts: The McBain Years (1978–1993)

In 1977, a group of four — John McBain, Tony Woods, and the Harper brothers (Kim and Chris) — purchased Moroko Valley.
John McBain eventually bought out his partners and continued the farm’s transformation.

Through connections with Swiss agricultural innovator Werner Leiter, John became involved in growing alternative crops. Werner, frustrated with Australia’s slow innovation in agriculture, encouraged the planting of chestnuts, walnuts, and pecans, imported from Oregon, USA.

The chestnut trees were biodynamically managed, following organic and sustainable principles.
Although early harvests were small (under 10kg), the farm eventually achieved harvests of up to 2 tonnes of chestnuts.
They invested in infrastructure — installing irrigation, restoring an old cool room (formerly the “Tiger Snake Dairy”), and building new sheds — while selling chestnuts at markets and raising funds for the local fire brigade.

John McBain also became deeply involved in sustainable agriculture, speaking at the Earth Summit (1992) and advocating for food security and Aboriginal justice.

Renewal and Expansion: Kim Bellairs (1993–1997)

In 1993, Kim Bellairs purchased the property.
By  1993 the farm house was riddled with termites, and the orchards had become  neglected.

Kim undertook a major renovation:

• Saved and restored the cottage, transforming it once more into a liveable home.
• Rehabilitated the chestnut orchards:
  • Cut back 600+ seedling trees and regrafted them using top-quality stock from Flemings Nursery in Victoria.
  • Replaced and expanded the irrigation system.
• Diversified income by planting daffodils as a buffer against dieback and for market sales.
• Built the big shed, installed a cool room, and designed a chestnut grader.
• Boosted production, achieving crops of up to 8 tonnes and creating a successful pick-your-own chestnut season, especially popular with Perth’s Italian community.

Kim subdivided parts of the 400 acre property and later sold the 70 acre Chestnut Brae farm around 1997.

A Period of Transition (1997–2013)

Several owners contributed to the farm’s maintenance and changes over the following years:

• Paul and Pip Chester (1997–2003)
• Graeme and Marilyn Wells (2003–2011)
  Graeme and Marilyn Wells were responsible for planting the garden.  Graeme’s passion was David Austin roses and Salvia.  Graeme reputedly had the best collection of Salvia in the state.
• Kate Clark and Damon Feeney (2011–2013)

Each left their mark in small ways, maintaining the orchards and improving farm infrastructure.

A New Chapter: Linda and John Stanley (2013–Present)

In 2013, Linda and John Stanley took ownership and breathed fresh life into Chestnut Brae.
Today, the farm is a thriving enterprise known for:

• Organic chestnut production
• Pasture-raised, chestnut-fed pigs
• Regenerative farming practices
• Artisan wood products from old chestnut trees
• Natural skincare using ingredients grown or raised on the farm

Linda and John have worked to preserve the rich heritage of Chestnut Brae while ensuring it thrives for future generations. Their stewardship continues the legacy of pioneering spirit, innovation, and care for land and community that began over 70 years ago.

Timeline Summary