St. Fillan Soil Carbon Project

St. Fillan Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon project located at the historic St. Fillan Farm in Narbethong, approximately 87km northeast of Melbourne in Victoria. It was registered in June 2024 and covers an area of 162.57 hectares.

The project operates under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models methodology. This method involves building soil organic carbon by implementing new or materially altered agricultural management practices. Standard requirements include undertaking a baseline physical measurement of soil carbon and using ongoing measurements and modelling to estimate the carbon sequestered over the project's crediting period.

The Narbethong area, positioned near the foothills of the Black Spur in the Yarra Ranges, is considered a high-rainfall region receiving approximately 1,365mm annually. The local landscape features deep, highly fertile soils that support both productive agricultural enterprises and lush native forests. General land use in the region includes beef cattle grazing, extensive forestry operations, and tourism.

To achieve carbon sequestration, the project will implement multiple activities on the farm, including altering grazing intensity and stocking rates, applying gypsum and targeted fertilisers to improve soil health, re-establishing pastures, and using cover crops and legumes. Notably, St. Fillan Farm itself has a rich history; established in 1880, it was originally the private country retreat for former Victorian Premier Sir James Munro. The property also boasts magnificent heritage gardens originally influenced by renowned botanist Baron Ferdinand von Mueller. The farm has traditionally operated as a high-end beef cattle property, concentrating on Black Angus genetics. Furthermore, the property was recently managed for sale in 2023 by Elders Rural Services, who is notably listed as the active agent for this carbon project.