The History of Mansell Farms.
Reuben Mansell arrived in Mildura in the 1890s, bringing his family with him from Apollo Bay. Reuben was responsible for building the Mildura Wharf and the Church of Christ on Deakin Avenue.
Stephen Robert Mansell, Reuben’s son, was offered the pre-emptive right that had once belonged to the Chaffey’s, who developed the Mildura Irrigation Colony. The pre-emptive right provided a significant parcel of land that overlooked the river and Stephen developed one of the largest dried fruit properties in the district at that time. Stephen’s son Arthur took over this property and combined that with a political career in State Parliament.
Arthur worked with his sons, Ian and Russell in developing the properties at Colignan, hence the ARM brand that remains on our citrus boxes to this day. Mansell Farms Colignan transitioned into a partnership with Ian, his wife Ruth, sons Robert and Ken and their wives Julie and Anne.
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Over the last thirty years two neighbouring properties were purchased which doubled the farm size from 80 hectares to 160 hectares.
Another smaller property of 6 hectares closer to Red Cliffs was purchased in the 1990s. This property has been upgraded with the addition of new plantings and irrigation infrastructure bringing it into line with existing plantings at Colignan and also making it easier to manage and more productive.
Packing shed equipment has been renewed with computer based technology to more readily cope with increasing production, and irrigation infrastructure has been upgraded to state of the art systems to better utilize our water resource and fertilizer applications.
Mansell Farms Colignan is a business based on family values, asset growth and efficient use of resources to enhance productivity within the farming enterprise.
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