About Us
Victoria’s High Country
Welcome to Elevation652 Farm
Perched high in Victoria’s High Country, Elevation652 Farm is a working property spanning 1,500 acres of vineyards, olive groves, orchards, pastures, and breathtaking views. At 652 metres above sea level, it’s more than a destination, it’s a place of connection, calm, and country charm.
A Message from Phil Ross
Hello, I’m Phil Ross, the proud owner of Elevation652 Farm. It’s coming up to ten years since I first arrived here, and not a day goes by that I don’t feel grateful for this land.
I’ve spent my life in business, from Melbourne to Queensland, and even two years in the USA, travelling the world for work, but nowhere has captured my heart like this. Elevation652 is truly special, and it’s my privilege to share it with visitors who want to experience the High Country’s beauty and tranquillity first hand.
I’m supported by a dedicated local team, farmers whose families have worked this region for generations. Together, they care for our vineyards, cattle, and olive groves, and tend to our much-loved animals: miniature donkeys, pygmy goats, horses, and chooks. Their passion and experience are at the heart of everything we do.
And of course, Linda, my partner, brings her warmth and care to every corner of the property. She ensures our animals receive the love and attention they deserve, and she’s often found sharing a moment with guests who stop by to say hello.
Our Philosophy
We believe in authentic country hospitality, the kind that welcomes you like an old friend. Here, life moves at the pace of the land. Mornings begin with soft light over the dam, and evenings close with sunsets that colour the sky from gold to deep violet. Our goal is simple: to give you a place where you can reconnect, with nature, with loved ones, and with yourself.
Whether you’re staying in The Cattleman’s, The Lakehouse, or The Garden House, you’ll find tasteful, comfortable accommodation designed to complement the land, not compete with it. Guests are free to wander, explore, and discover. Visit the animals, follow the walking track to our sunrise and sunset lookouts, or relax by the picnic tables scattered through the orchard, by the dam, and beside the tennis court. It’s all here to be enjoyed, naturally, and at your own pace. Elevation652 Farm, where the sky meets the vines and time stands still.
History of Elevation652 Farm
Perched high above the winding valleys of Victoria’s northeast, Elevation652 Farm commands the very summit of Mt Bellevue. This is more than just a farm; it is a sentinel on the landscape, a unique domain shaped by a rich tapestry of history, the raw beauty of nature, and the dedicated hands of the generations who have worked its lofty, windswept slopes.
In 1824, explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hovell set out to chart new routes from New South Wales into the lands we now know as Victoria. Their journey led them across rivers, ridges, and mountains. Some of which form the landscape that surrounds Mt Bellevue today.
Though their exact trail across these ranges isn’t precisely mapped, locals believe their expedition marked the first European passage near this summit, opening the region to future settlement and agriculture. The fertile volcanic soils and cool climate they documented would later give rise to the thriving vineyards and farmlands that define the area today, including the property that would become Elevation652 Farm.
By the late 1800s, this part of Victoria had become the backdrop for one of Australia’s most famous outlaw tales, Ned Kelly and his gang. Local stories tell that at the southern end of what is now Elevation652 Farm, Ned Kelly would occasionally rest his horses and camp among the lake and leafy trees that offered natural shelter from the wind and concealment from prying eyes. The terrain’s isolation and dense vegetation made it an ideal hideaway, tucked safely out of sight from those pursuing him. That same sense of remoteness, peaceful, hidden, and protective, still lingers in the air here today.
As settlement spread, the land atop Mt Bellevue became an important part of the region’s pastoral development. What is now Elevation652 Farm was once managed as a cattle and grazing property, and The Cattleman’s building was originally constructed as the home of the farm’s cattle manager, who oversaw operations across the High Country slopes.
Over time, new ventures took root, from vineyards and olive plantations to fruit orchards and cattle pastures. Each generation added something to the story, blending traditional farming with innovation and care for the environment.
At Elevation652 Farm, we see ourselves not just as owners, but as caretakers of this remarkable land atop Mt Bellevue. Every vine planted, every fence built, and every animal nurtured is part of a living legacy, one shaped by generations of local farmers and the enduring spirit of Victoria’s High Country. Our connection to this place is built on respect: for the soil, for the history beneath it, and for the future we’re growing together.