Home to Red Hill Equestrian, 356 Shands Road, Main Ridge is currently listed for sale.
Nestled in the heart of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, 356 Shands Road, Main Ridge has been home to Alisha Griffiths for nearly 15 years. It has provided sanctuary, enabled her to pursue her love of horses – and served as her livelihood. Now listed for sale, the property offers unparalleled opportunities for one lucky new owner.
Alisha purchased the 9.71-hectare (24-acre) property in 2011 along with the popular Horseback Winery Tours business. A beautiful parcel of land with significant potential, she immediately set about developing it to better support and realise her vision.
The property features extensive infrastructure suited to a wide range of horse-related business pursuits.
“Although the tour business had operated successfully for many years prior, the property itself only offered very basic infrastructure. Between 2012 and 2014, I undertook a complete redevelopment of the entire equestrian facility – building everything you see today – with the exception of the main residence, which we renovated extensively,” she explains.
Alisha’s vision was always to create a premium, safe and professionally designed equestrian centre tailored for both commercial operations and private use – and she certainly achieved that.
Horseback Winery Tours operated successfully from 2012 to 2018, with packages incorporating other Mornington Peninsula businesses including local wineries, Peninsula Hot Springs and Moonah Links.
“We were proud to win a Victoria Tourism Award, reflecting the quality of our programs and the reputation the business earned across the Mornington Peninsula and wider Victoria,” reflects Alisha.
Beyond the winery tours, the property also hosted school holiday programs for up to one hundred children, as well as equine education programs for schools such as Mentone Grammar.
“A shift in lifestyle priorities then led us to close the tourism business and move toward agistment and sporthorse training,” Alisha explains. “This direction aligned with my own dressage background and my daughter’s showjumping pathway. This evolved into Red Hill Equestrian – a well-established agistment and training facility known for high standards, professionalism and premium infrastructure.”
The property provides plenty of space to ride and is currently running as an agistment and sporthorses training business.
Red Hill Equestrian is currently operating, and the brand – including its logo, social media accounts and goodwill – will be made available to the new owners of 356 Shands Road should they wish to continue under the existing name.
Toward the end of 2019, Alisha also founded Rehab4Rehab, a charity supporting vulnerable young people through equine-assisted therapy. Providing a second-career pathway for off-the-track Thoroughbreds and employing up to eight horse-savvy psychologists and equine therapists, Rehab4Rehab quickly gained recognition, with up to 90 children attending each week.
Many of the stables face out onto a picturesque courtyard.
Unfortunately, a significant and unforeseen health battle in 2023 forced Alisha to step back just as the charity was reaching its peak. She has thankfully recovered, and although Rehab4Rehab has not restarted due to the planned property sale, she is grateful for the children and horses she was able to help during its years of operation.
EXTENSIVE FACILITIES OFFER A TURNKEY OPPORTUNITY
Today, 356 Shands Road remains a unique turnkey opportunity on the Mornington Peninsula, offering multiple income streams and world-class horse facilities. “It’s residential… but with massive owner’s perks,” Alisha says of the rare opportunity the property presents.
The 60 x 30 metre irrigated outdoor arena features a Martin Collins surface.
The infrastructure incorporates a substantial suite of equestrian, commercial and lifestyle improvements and is suited to everything from racing and spelling to young horse auctions, performance training, veterinary practice, horse welfare, wellness, equine therapy and equine tourism. The next owner can step straight in and begin operating an equestrian business from day one.
The fully irrigated 20 x 40 metre indoor arena features a Solitex surface.
The property’s equine credentials are unrivalled, catering to a diverse range of disciplines. Facilities include:
- A 60 x 30 metre irrigated outdoor arena with a Martin Collins surface
- A fully irrigated 20 x 40 metre indoor arena with a Solitex surface
- Two stable barns totalling 24 rubber-lined stables with automatic drinkers
- Tack room with 12 individual tack lockers
- Hot/cold wash bays
- Riders’ lounge
- Eighteen paddocks, five shelters, two lunging yards, and post-and-rail fencing Machinery shed and feed shed
The property also includes an office/tourism centre, and two self-contained boutique office and consulting suites.
Extensive water sources include two dams (one spring-fed) with reticulated supply, pumps, 100,000L tanks and exceptional drainage, supported by a backup generator and solar power.
The five-bedroom, three-bathroom residence has been beautifully renovated. Set on an elevated vantage point and screened by mature hedging, it enjoys sweeping views across the pool, ornamental dam framed by weeping willows, and distant vines that trace the rolling countryside.
Cathedral ceilings, a double-sided fireplace and warm oak floors bring modern-country elegance to expansive living, dining and kitchen spaces. A 900mm oven and cooktop, walk-in pantry and stone/quartz surfaces are complemented by broad glazing that draws in northern light and connects seamlessly to the pool and entertaining deck.
The property’s main residence was already constructed when Alisha first moved to the property, however it has since undergone significant renovations.
A pool and deck area provides the perfect place to relax and unwind.
A distinct accommodation wing offers four robed bedrooms and two bathrooms, while the primary suite forms a private retreat with a timber feature wall, twin walk-in robes and an indulgent ensuite. An adjoining utility wing with external access houses a home office, laundry and mudroom. Additional features include a split system, double carport and remote entry gates.
The property also includes a caretaker’s residence, an office/tourism centre, and two self-contained boutique office and consulting suites.
Across the agistment operation, caretaker residence, office/tourism centre and consulting suites, the property generates substantial rental income – further details are available upon request.
There is also potential for the new owners to continue leasing a further 30 acres on an adjoining property – something Alisha has done for the past 14 years.
Beyond Main Ridge’s natural beauty, the location is less than 20 minutes from horse-friendly Balnarring Beach and just over 10 minutes from Boneo Park Equestrian Centre. Recently undergoing a change of ownership itself, Boneo Park’s future as Victoria’s premier equestrian competition venue is now assured. Next year it will host both the Australian Dressage Championships and Australian Jumping Championships, and with competitions of all levels held year-round, it’s a facility many riders dream of living nearby.
The 24-acre property is ready to facilitate the dreams of its new owner.
REMAINING NEIGHBOURS
While she may be selling her property, Alisha could never leave the Peninsula. Surrounded by world-class wineries, acclaimed dining, farm gates, trails and weekend markets – and just over an hour from Melbourne’s CBD – she describes it simply as a “beautiful lifestyle” that blends sanctuary with convenience. Remaining in the area, her next chapter is taking her just a little further up the hill.
Alisha says 356 Shands Road has given her a wonderful lifestyle for many years, and she is deeply grateful as she looks ahead to the future. While excited for the next chapter, she is equally eager to see the property continue thriving under new ownership.
“We’ll still be neighbours and I’m very happy to provide a full handover of the property, including all our contractor service providers, to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.” EQ
View the property listing for 356 Shands Road, Main Ridge via Buxton Real Estate here.
For more information, contact Buxton Flinders:
James Redfern: 0412 360 667
Martina Richardson: 0405 284 110
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