Posted by on
12/08/2025
Aaron, Emily, and sons Jack and Harry are looking towards a bright future
For five generations Victoria’s Margery family has been growing and fine-tuning its Barnawartha enterprise to leverage the farm’s unique geography and natural capital.
And now it’s 37-year-old Aaron Margery’s turn to look to the future, and he’s arming himself with all the tools to continue growing a strong beef business.
Playing to the farm’s strengths
Together with father Geoff, Aaron backgrounds between 1,700 to 2,400 Angus feeder steers primarily for the feedlot market, taking advantage of the property’s mild winter climate for premium pricing between winter and early spring.
“Over the years the property has run cows and calves as well as some sheep and wool, and it was dad who shifted to purely focus on feeder steers,” Aaron explains.
“You can run steers more intensively, and we can take advantage of our close proximity to the local saleyards.”
The Margerys buy in Angus steers – their preferred breed due to ready availability, demand and ‘do-ability’ – and grow them out for feedlot weights.
“Over the generations the property has evolved through various enterprises, and I think dad’s direction for the business is a winner, it’s leveraging our geographic and climatic competitive advantage so we can chase genuine premiums in the cattle market.”
However Aaron is leaning on history in his vision for the future.
Barnawartha’s Aaron and Geoff Margery
“I’ve actually re-introduced sheep into our system, buying in wether lambs during spring and summer, growing them out in our hill country, shearing them once and then fattening them for the winter market – it’s another way to value add our land.”
Goats are also creating opportunity on the property’s rougher hill country, providing a weed control solution and further grazing diversification.
Rabo Farm Management Program drives a business-led approach
Having returned home straight after school, Aaron embraces the chance to get off-farm and upskill, and credits Rabobank’s Farm Management Program as one of his most valuable learning opportunities.
Aaron during his FMP graduation, with FMP Program Director Dr Robin Stonecash
“I did the program in 2019 and it was terrific, I learnt so much about myself, and the nuts and bolts of running a strong farm business.”
“I also met some great people, many of whom I’ve kept in contact with – including one participant who we now buy our grain off – that’s the beauty of opportunities such as the FMP, the contacts and learnings are always worthwhile beyond expectation.”
His greatest take-way from the program was learning to move from working in the business, to on the business.
“I always keep this front-of-mind, but it’s not easy in such an intensive livestock business,” Aaron concedes.
“We have, however, just employed someone so hopefully this will give me some time to dedicate to the foundations of the business.”
Whilst the Margerys enterprise “Rocky Point Pastoral” has been in a growth phase over the past three generations, Aaron believed now was the time to consolidate, reduce debt and improve what they have.
“Land in the region is now so highly priced, however I still see huge opportunity through investment in innovation, improved pastures and tightening efficiencies – there’s so much progression to be made, it’s really exciting.”
An in-paddock weighing platform is next on Aaron’s wish list, and he believes investing in this sort of technology will certainly save money in the long run.
“In a year like this when we’re spending so much on feed, knowing gains per day would really help us assess our feed rations.”
A relationship through the generations
Whether it’s infrastructure expenditure, land purchase or finance for cattle, Aaron is grateful to have long enjoyed Rabobank’s support, particularly that of their manager Ivan Liley out of the Albury branch.
“My father and I have both bought land with Rabobank, and it’s been a relationship that’s enabled us to grow our business.”
Geoff, Aaron and Ivan on-farm.
“Ivan is so easy to do business with, and as a bank dedicated to agriculture he – along with the whole Albury team – know how our business works, and there’s a genuine culture of wanting to see farmers succeed.”
The family also credits Peter Evans, their former long-term manager and now a Head of Relationship Manager, for supporting their growth aspirations.
Aaron and Rabobank manager, Ivan Liley.
“Pete was always so willing to back us and had a great understanding of our business – which, I think we can say confidently about all the Rabo managers.”
“He was our manager for a good ten years, and became a personal friend – even in his new role he checks in on us, which he doesn’t have to do.”
Aaron believes the Rabobank products also make doing business straightforward, particularly the signature All in One Account.
“The All in One account so simple, we couldn’t manage our finances any other way. It’s perfect for an operation like ours that isn’t reliant on regular cash flow – we can trade our cattle when they’re ready, for the best price, without any pressure as it’s all in and out of the one account.”
Always keen to get-off farm to see what he can learn, Aaron considers Rabobank’s events highly valuable.
“There’s always an interesting guest speaker or RaboResearch analyst providing a market breakdown, but the real beauty of these event is the networking – discovering how other people do business is fascinating, and it makes me challenge myself.”
Together with wife Emily, and two young sons Harry, five and Jack, three, Aaron is looking to the future with optimism.
“From a very young age I knew that this is what I wanted to do, and it makes me proud to continue the legacy of generations before me, and hopefully I can continue to build and improve the business for the next generation.”
Aaron Margery is helping build a business fit for a strong future.