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24/07/2026
Donald and Georgie Gee, with children Hamish and Annabelle.
Tasmania’s rich agricultural offering has afforded 85-year-old Harvey Gee a lifetime of opportunity adapting his farm business to meet the market, today culminating in a modern, intergenerational, future-fit Wagyu operation.
With son Donald and wife Georgie at the helm, the Gee family pivoted into Wagyu in 2017, compelled by the premium price per kilo.
Early adopters within the region, Donald reflects that it was a worthwhile decision, allowing for farm expansion, and labour savings.
“We run roughly 1,000 breeder cows, producing around 950 calves from Wagyu bulls, and turn off our Wagyu calves at a backgrounding weight of 265kg to maximise profits.
It’s enjoyable getting paid fairly for what we’re doing – we can manage cashflow, gain a higher return, and minimise our risk thanks to the Wagyu price premium.”
Leveraging Tasmania’s ag offering
Donald, 46, achieves a high-quality product based on carefully selected Wagyu sires with EBVs focused on intramuscular fat (IMF) and growth balance, and looks for strong Angus maternal based on fertility, milk, and low-cost production.
Investing for the maximum capital gain has underpinned the Gee’s farm business success, with Harvey originally establishing a fine wool operation on the east coast, before the purchase of their current Exton property, where he and Donald previously turned to intense cropping, fat lambs and Angus beef – as dictated by the market.
“There’s so much versatility in Tasmania – this property can do a lot of things and we’ve come a long way in a short-time as a result, which makes us all really proud,” Harvey reflects.
Donald and Georgie Gee are grateful to be farming in such an abundant region.
“We’ve shifted and expanded a number of times, and strategically upsized for better country and rainfall, and I feel very grateful to be in the position I am today, running a profitable beef cattle operation,” Donald adds.
“ It’s a privilege to have the scale to make money off beef cattle here in Tasmania, and now, thanks to the Wagyu premium we’re receiving, you really couldn’t ask for anything more.”
The opportunity at such a relatively young age, while working side-by-side with his father, is clearly not taken for granted as Donald now looks to the next generation.
“I reflect on my childhood on the farm, and seeing my two children Annabelle,13, and Hamish,10, enjoying chipping in, I feel grateful to now replicate the opportunity for them.”
Farm growth with Rabobank
Expanding from an initial 600 hectares to 1,700 hectares, the family has also invested in cattle yards, weighing systems and other labour saving machinery feed efficiency measures.
And having purchased four separate holdings during their 14 years with Rabobank, Donald said the process is always exceptionally straightforward.
Donald and Harvey Gee with Rabobank’s Sophie Pitchford, centre.
“The team always goes above and beyond, which gives us the confidence that they have our back, and our manager, Sophie Pitchford, out of the Launceston team, is excellent – she stepped-up during our most recent property purchase and ensured nothing was a problem – the whole process was seamless.”
Harvey agrees, adding that as a specialist rural bank, with staff primarily from ag backgrounds, the understanding Rabobank has when it comes to supporting a farm business is second-to-none.
Rabobank’s All in One account has also been instrumental to their management, Donald explains, enabling flexibility that suits their business.
“The All in One supports our cash flow, we trade cattle from time to time and thanks to the All in One we don’t have to source finance through a livestock agency, we can do what we want, when we want, all from the one account – it’s flexibility that’s unmatched.”
Gaining inspiration at Red Meat Updates
This month, Donald will attend the Red Meat Updates in Launceston, and is looking forward to listening to a range of speakers, all relevant to his business.
“It’s always valuable attending these sorts of events, you only need to hear one idea that you can put into practice on your own farm, and it’s all worth it.”
Donald is particularly keen to learn more about getting the most out of in-paddock weighing systems, and catching up with Rabobank’s Senior Protein Analyst, Angus Gidley Baird, who will be on the ground with the Rabobank team.
“Angus, and the whole RaboResearch team, are always really informative, I find the agri monthly emails interesting, and the protein market updates are certainly valuable.”
For now, Harvey and Donald will continue ‘doing more of the same’ – improving efficiency, growing their landholding, and enjoying their beef operation.
“Knowing how difficult it would be to get into a business like this today I feel very lucky to be doing what I love, and grateful for my mum and dad’s vision and flexibility,’ Donald smiles.
A move into Wagyu production has been a business boon for the Gee family.