Five minutes with a Farm Manager at Rouse Hill Estate

At Museums of History NSW, caring for our historic properties goes beyond conserving buildings – sometimes it involves feeding horses, exploring upgrades to farming equipment and establishing healthy pastures!

We spoke with Andrew Scarsbrook, Farm Manager at Rouse Hill Estate, about the unique balancing act of managing a historic working farm, caring for its livestock and landscape, and preserving the heritage values that bring its past to life for contemporary audiences.

Tell us about your role and what it involves.

My role as Farm Manager at Rouse Hill Estate encompasses the day-to-day management of the farm and its livestock, alongside the planning and oversight of pasture management, cropping, fencing, machinery, infrastructure, staff, budgets, compliance and biosecurity.

As a working agricultural landscape, the property presents a unique balance between productive farming and heritage conservation. My responsibility is to ensure the farm continues to operate efficiently and sustainably while respecting and preserving its significant historic character.

I oversee cattle, sheep, horses and poultry, manage pasture improvement and seasonal cropping programs, maintain farm infrastructure and machinery, and coordinate staff and contractors. A significant part of my role also involves shaping the long-term direction of the farm by improving productivity, animal welfare, pasture performance, operational efficiency and sustainability, all within the context of a historic property.

What makes farming on a historic site different from farming on a modern commercial farm?

The key difference is that you’re managing a productive farm while also protecting an important piece of history. On a modern commercial farm, decisions are often driven primarily by productivity, efficiency, animal welfare and economic outcomes. At Rouse Hill Estate, those considerations remain important, but every decision must also account for the property’s heritage values.

Changes to infrastructure, fencing, roads, drainage and other aspects of the landscape must be carefully assessed because modifications cannot always be made in the same way they might be on a conventional farming property. This requires a different mindset. The challenge is finding agricultural solutions that support productive farming while preserving the historic character and significance of the estate. That balance is what makes the role particularly rewarding.

What does a typical day look like for you?

There really isn’t a typical day, which is one of the things I enjoy most about farming.

Most days begin with checking livestock, water supplies, feed availability and the overall condition of the farm. From there, the day can head in many different directions. I may be working with livestock, carrying out fencing projects, operating machinery, monitoring pastures, managing cropping activities or addressing animal health and welfare requirements.

There’s also a substantial management component to the role. I spend time planning works, coordinating staff and contractors, managing budgets, organising maintenance programs, ensuring compliance requirements are met and identifying ways to improve farm operations.

Farming is highly reactive. You can start the day with a detailed plan, only to have a machinery breakdown, animal health issue, water supply problem, weather event or damaged fence quickly shift priorities. The ability to adapt, solve problems and make sound decisions under pressure is an important part of the job.

What is your favourite part of caring for a living historic landscape?

My favourite aspect is seeing the property continue to function as a genuine working farm. Rouse Hill Estate is much more than a historic homestead surrounded by paddocks. It has a rich agricultural history, and I enjoy playing a role in ensuring that farming remains an active and meaningful part of the property’s story.

I particularly enjoy working with livestock and seeing the direct outcomes of good farm management. Maintaining healthy pastures, ensuring strong animal welfare and seeing stock thrive is always satisfying.

There’s also a strong sense of responsibility that comes with looking after a place of such significance. In many ways, you’re caring for the property today while helping preserve it for future generations.

Tell us about your career journey.

My career has been built within the rural and livestock industries. I began working in rural contracting, where I developed a strong practical foundation in livestock handling and rural fencing. This experience provided valuable hands-on skills and taught me the importance of completing work safely, efficiently and to a high standard.

From there, I progressed into larger-scale agricultural operations, holding positions including Livestock Coordinator and Farm Manager. These roles provided extensive experience in managing livestock enterprises, infrastructure, staff and the day-to-day operation of working farms. While Rouse Hill Estate is very different from a modern commercial farming enterprise, the fundamentals remain the same.

Alongside my professional career, I’ve continued to invest in formal education. I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of New England, majoring in Beef Cattle Production. Overall, my career has been shaped by a combination of practical experience, increasing leadership responsibilities and a commitment to ongoing learning.

What experiences or skills have been most valuable in helping you get to where you are today?

My practical experience has been one of the most valuable contributors to my career development. Working in rural contracting, fencing and livestock operations taught me resilience, problem-solving skills and the importance of delivering results in real-world conditions.

Working with livestock has also strengthened my patience, observation skills and attention to detail. Animals rarely tell you when something is wrong, so learning to identify subtle changes in behaviour or condition is essential.

As I progressed into larger management roles, planning and organisation became increasingly important. Managing livestock, infrastructure and staff requires the ability to think strategically and understand how individual decisions can affect the broader operation. Leadership and communication have also become critical skills. Effective management isn’t about doing everything yourself; it’s about building a capable team, communicating clearly and creating an environment where people have the confidence and resources to succeed.

My university studies have complemented this practical experience by providing a deeper understanding of agricultural science, livestock production and the principles that underpin on-farm decision-making.

What career moment are you most proud of?

On a personal level, I’m honoured to have been recognised within the Hawkesbury agricultural community, including being named Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association Rural Ambassador in 2024 and Hawkesbury Young Citizen of the Year in 2025. These achievements are particularly meaningful because they reflect my passion for agriculture and my commitment to encouraging the next generation to become involved in the industry.

What’s one thing about your work that might surprise people?

Many people are surprised by the amount of management and decision-making involved in running a farm. There’s a common perception that a Farm Manager spends most of the day operating machinery or working with livestock. While those activities are certainly part of the role, there’s also a substantial workload involving budgeting, compliance, procurement, project management, maintenance planning, staff leadership and strategic decision-making.

What’s a project you’ve really enjoyed working on recently?

One project I have particularly enjoyed has been improving our pasture establishment and cropping program.

We’ve focused on refining paddock preparation, soil aeration, seeding and fertiliser application, while closely monitoring outcomes. These improvements have resulted in stronger pasture growth, increased biomass production (organic matter produced from the growth of plants and animals) and greater forage availability for livestock.

I’ve also enjoyed exploring machinery and equipment upgrades, particularly investigating no-till seeding technology. This has provided an opportunity to assess how modern agricultural innovations can improve efficiency and pasture performance while still respecting the constraints of a historic property.

For me, the most rewarding projects are those where you can identify a challenge, develop a practical solution and then see measurable improvements on the ground.

What trends, opportunities or changes in the industry are you most excited about?

I’m particularly interested in the growing role of technology in agriculture and livestock production.

Advances in data-driven decision-making, livestock genetics, pasture monitoring, precision agriculture and farm machinery are creating significant opportunities to improve productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

The future of agriculture lies in combining practical farming knowledge with technology, science and innovation. I’m also excited by the opportunities available to young people entering the industry, particularly those who can bridge the gap between practical agriculture and modern technology.

What advice would you give your younger self at the start of your career?

I would tell myself to take every opportunity to learn and never be afraid to step up and accept responsibility.

You don’t need to have all the answers when you’re starting out. Much of the most valuable knowledge I’ve gained has come from working alongside experienced people, asking questions and learning from mistakes.

I would also stress the importance of practical skills. Experience in areas such as livestock handling, fencing, machinery operation and farm maintenance has provided a strong foundation for my career and management development.

Most importantly, I would encourage myself to keep learning. Agriculture is constantly evolving, and success increasingly relies on combining practical experience with formal education, technology and innovation.