Bushfire emergency impacts major Victorian farms

Several major thoroughbred properties around in northern Victoria, including Leneva Park, Lindsay Park and Longwood Thoroughbred Farm have been impacted by a major bushfire emergency.

An emergency warning is current for the fire on the south-eastern side of the Hume Freeway, around 150km north of Melbourne with conditions expected to worsen again on Friday.

Bushfire raced through paddocks at Leneva Park on Thursday, while it also impacted Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, which is across the road. It is not yet clear what damage there may be to stock or property.

Residents in several surrounding towns, including Creightons Creek where Lindsay Park is located, have been told to seek shelter.

Other farms potentially impacted in the region include Larneuk Stud and Blue Gum Farm, which are both in the emergency area.

More than 400 firefighters are tackling the bushfire, which has so far burnt through 27,000 hectares.  

Leneva Park’s pre-training centre is on Longwood-Ruffy Road and general manager Mick Sharkie told The Straight earlier on Thursday that a change of wind direction meant the fire will likely impact the property.

After a rapid change in circumstances early on Thursday afternoon, Leneva Park was readying to evacuate staff. Sharkie latter messaged confirming the farm had been severely impacted by the fire.

Sharkie earlier said horses had been moved towards the front of the property and away from the fire. He said the property had a large buffer zone between the front and back areas of the farm.

Operations manager Sarah Beaumont was coordinating the response.

Michael Christian’s Longwood Thoroughbred Farm is on the other side of Longwood-Ruffy Road, with the images circulating on social media indicating that fire had reached the farm. 

Several houses have been lost in Longwood East.

The fire has closed a 75km section of the Hume Freeway, while there are reports of properties being lost in the region.

Sharkie said all the major thoroughbred farms in the region had worked with the CFA on fire plans last year and that preparation was proving invaluable as a host of properties face this latest threat.

He praised the CFA for their communication but said Friday’s extreme weather conditions presented a major concern.

Temperatures are again expected to reach 44 degrees on Friday.

There are a host of smaller training and agistment properties in the Longwood/Avenel region. Major operations such as Darley’s Northwood Park and Yulong are at Northwood and Mangalore, respectively, where there is no current emergency advice in those areas.