The Spring Park property in Warrong belonged to Pierre Johnson and was central to a long-running legal battle between Mr Johnson, his neighbour and Moyne Shire regarding a road on the property.

The Supreme Court eventually ruled in favour of the neighbour after a 12-year battle, leaving Mr Johnson bankrupt. 

The sale of the property was finalised after being passed in at an auction held at the Koroit Senior Citizens’ Clubrooms.

Agent Nick Adamson, of Charles Stewart Western Victoria, conducted the auction. The property included 294 hectares (731 acres), a four-bedroom house, and hay and woolsheds.

Bidding began at $1700 an acre and slowly rose to $2250, with three bidders taking part.

The final bid was below the reserve price and after discussions with the highest losing bidder the property was sold for an undisclosed sum.

 The final price would have exceeded $1.656 million — the amount had the $2250-an-acre bid been accepted.

In a separate auction, 80.9 hectares (200 acres) of prime dairy land at Naringal East was sold under the hammer yesterday. 

Elders Camperdown agent Rob Rickard said the land, on the corner of Moreys Road and Ayrford Road, attracted bids from five people. 

He said bidding opened at $2000 an acre before being sold for $6400 an acre. 

“It shows there is buyer confidence in the dairy industry,” Mr Rickard said.

Meanwhile at The Sisters Hall, two auctions were held for nearby grazing land. The first lot comprising 87.5 hectares (216 acres) was passed in following a bid of $2600 an acre and was purchased later by a local family for a higher price. 

A second lot of 68 hectares (168 acres) was passed in on a vendor’s bid of $2900 an acre but was later purchased by another local family for a higher price. Auctioneer Brian Hancock said about 40 people attended the auction.