Our Story
a site with a story
Located in Ceres, Geelong, the property known as 'Prospect' has long been a local icon.
The land that is now home to Bird Rock Farm is a famous property with a long farming history. The historic homestead was built by John Leigh in 1861, and the land was farmed by the Leigh family for over 160 years.
When the time came to sell, the Leigh family was determined to pass on their cherished property to a new owner who would uphold the care of the site and continue with a solid farming tradition. And along came Ben and Jess…
the founders
Meet Ben and Jess
Ben and Jess Mills purchased 'Prospect' in 2022 with the view to continue the proud farming legacy of the Leigh family.
Jess is a local to the Geelong area, born and bred on the Surf Coast. Ben comes from a strong farming background – his father is a stock agent and his mother grew up in the Western district farming region.
Having moved from their previous farm in Barrabool to take over the operation of ‘Prospect’, Ben and Jess are dedicated to the care of this land, and to the production of the region’s finest beef.
the homestead
The 'Prospect' homestead was built by John Leigh in 1861, a stunning example of colonial Georgian architecture.
It is said that John Leigh owed much of his early prosperity to a bushfire that devastated Ceres in the 1850s. While much of the surrounding land was decimated in the fire, the family wheat crop was miraculously spared. With the dramatic rise in grain prices that followed the event, the Leigh family was in a fortunate position to nett significant returns.
The profits from this period allowed John Leigh to build ‘Prospect’ homestead, a symbol of Leigh’s status as a respectable and wealthy farmer. The two-storey, architect-designed home was constructed using Barrabool sandstone, likely to have been sourced from the local quarry.
