General News
22 March, 2026
Centenary of ‘Carinya’, the Grace Family Farm, Turriff
On Saturday, March 14, family and friends descended on the Grace Family Farm, ‘Carinya’, to celebrate 100 years since the farm was selected.
Starting the day with breakfast at Lake Lascelles, people then congregated at the farm for the unveiling of a special plaque and a sign with the names of the first generation born there.
Rev Susan Pearse from the Southern Mallee Cooperative Parish, Austin Grace’s home church, spoke of the history of the farm and said a blessing, which was followed by the cutting of the anniversary cake, followed by a day of farm-based activities.
‘Carinya’, as it became known, was selected in 1926 by John McCarthy (Mac) Grace.
Coming from Gippsland to the Mallee as a sixteen-year-old in December 1918, he was followed by his recently widowed father and five siblings.
Mac and his Father share farmed for a period and at the age of 24 in 1926, Mac selected 800 acres of “new Mallee land”, which grew to 1600 acres by the end of the year.
Life was tough and Mac used initiative, resourcefulness, resilience, hard work and determination to survive.
The first years were extremely challenging, beginning with a drought and in his memoirs, Mac records,
“We experienced mouse plagues, grasshopper plagues, sand storms, droughts, you name it, we went through it. Always with us was a shortage of money.”
While trying to clear the Mallee Scrubland for agriculture, Mac tried everything he could on the farm over the years to try and make ends meet.
This included raising poultry for egg sales. Dairy cows, sending the cream away via the train, beef grazing, sheep and grain growing.
Mac, in his understated way, refers to the steps he had to take to survive, by working off farm as they faced the financial challenges to try and get ahead.
This work commenced right from the early years.
He writes, “To keep the pot boiling, I went on the channels, clearing out sand.”
This required teams of horses to work to clear the channels and Mac worked with horses until 1948.
Setting the pattern for generations to follow, Mac adapted to changing farming techniques as times changed and the farm has examples of all sorts of farm machinery which records those changes.
Mac’s grit, will power, determination and perseverance helped him to withstand the challenges where many others had to walk off their land.
In March 1929, Mac married Gertrude Agnes Mott, (known as Gertie); they were a great team and together they faced everything.
They had 7 children who all worked hard and contributed to life on the farm and house.
They were Jessie Agnes Ruth, Dorothy Catherine Faith, Gertrude Margaret, Verna Joan, John Austin (who continues to live in Hopetoun), Beverley Joyce and Ronald Henry.
A highlight of the day was the to unveil the plaque commemorating their parents and themselves, by three of the surviving children Margaret, Austin and Beverley, whom were able to attend.
When no longer able to farm, Mac stepped back and son, Austin took over, with his sons, Mark and Michael following.
The farm is now managed by Michael and his wife Julie, with support from their children, Isabella and Flynn, while Austin continues to be actively involved.
Always keen to leave the property better than before, in 2017 Austin and Michael began a wetlands project for the future and a huge amount of work has gone into it.
It is for the preservation and protection of native wildlife and bird life.
It is now a well loved oasis on the farm.
The family continue to plant grasses and trees to help the soil and practice farming techniques to benefit all.
Descendants of Mac and Gertie, friends and neighbours, were treated to a wonderful day, including a display of historic machinery (most of which still work); a remarkable collection of traps, tools, children’s toys and other memorabilia; machine and blade shearing by father and son team, Austin and Mark; a tour of the farm; a sumptuous morning tea and luncheon, and other aspects of interest as well as catching up on stories and memories.
All involved were blessed by a wonderful day, the result of vision, planning, initiative and hard work put in by the family.
The Grace family are to be congratulated on the historic, visual and literal feast guests experienced.
– SUSAN PEARSE