An Aussie and a Scotsman

Two worlds, one fold — where Scottish heritage meets Australian country life

Three children seated inside a red Polaris off-road vehicle, wearing helmets, on a grassy field with trees in the background, on a cloudy day.
A man wearing a beige plaid shirt and a wide-brimmed hat standing next to a woman in a red shirt holding a cane outdoors in a rural setting with trees and a lake in the background.

Our Story

In 2011, Kieran moved to Australia from Scotland with his daughters, Olivia and Sofia. A few years later, he met Sasha, and together they had a son, Johnnie. In 2020, they found a property near Trentham that felt like the right fit—and gave it a name with Scottish roots: Cadzow Croft.

A Farming Heritage

Sasha had grown up with a few animals—chickens, dogs, and a couple of acres to explore—and always felt at home in the country. Kieran had spent summers helping on his family’s farm in Ireland. When Sasha visited Scotland to meet Kieran’s parents, she came across Highland cattle for the first time—and the idea of one day owning a fold stuck.

Finding the Right Land

After a few years of searching, they found a property close enough to Melbourne but with enough space for the kids and dogs to run, and for Highland cattle to thrive. It had what they needed: room for the animals, bushland for exploring, and a chance to raise their kids in the outdoors.

Animals That Found Us

Not long after moving in, Sasha connected with a herd of goats being agisted on the land—and ended up keeping a few. Then came the horses and a beautiful cat named Jinx:

  • Alby, a calm ex-racehorse

  • Coco, a one-eyed Shetland cross with plenty of attitude

  • Leo, another off-the-track thoroughbred that Kieran is learning to ride on.

These days, Johnnie’s learning to ride on Coco.

The Highland Fold Begins

Their first Highland cattle were two steers, Hamish and Tommy. From there, the fold slowly grew, with guidance from Glen Hastie —one of Australia’s most experienced Highland breeders. The aim is to build a well-balanced fold of around 15 registered Highland breeders, all F-grade and fully recorded with the Australian Highland Cattle Society.

The Life We're Building

Cadzow Croft isn’t a big operation. It’s a small, family-run farm with a focus on good animals, well-managed land, and raising a family connected to both.

Five people standing in a grassy field with two horses, holding the horses' reins, under a partly cloudy sky with a rural landscape in the background.
A black Highland cow with long hair and horns is licking a black stick held close to its face in a grassy field. In the background, another brown Highland cow is grazing, with trees, buildings, and a blue sky with scattered clouds above.
A man and a young boy sitting on a fallen tree by the water, fishing in a peaceful, natural setting with trees and tall grasses nearby.
A brown and gray dog with a white face and bright eyes, raising one paw towards the camera, standing on green grass
A young boy wearing a helmet is riding a small black horse, with an older woman holding the horse's reins beside them in a fenced outdoor area on a sunny day.
Two children wearing protective gear sit on small dirt bikes on a grassy field near a wire fence with trees and farm structures in the background.
Three kid goats standing on dirt and grass outdoors with trees, water, and a sky with clouds in the background.
Cute puppy with black and tan fur, sitting indoors near a metal bowl, looking at the camera with a happy expression.
A man in a blue shirt and glasses taking a selfie with a brown horse, outdoors on a partly cloudy day.
A young boy stands in a pond at sunset, holding a green toy boat, with two dogs nearby in the water and a rural landscape in the background.
Sunrise over a misty rural landscape with trees, fence, and a small building.
A dog with large ears and a mixed coat sitting on a rolled-up piece of netting outdoors during dusk, with trees and buildings in the background.
Close-up of a brown alpaca with curly hair on its head, looking directly at the camera in a dry grassy field with trees and a blue sky in the background.
Close-up of a vibrant pink rose in full bloom with dew drops on its petals, surrounded by green leaves.
A small black pony wearing a blue blanket standing on a grassy field with fencing and other paddocks in the background.
A young boy in a white shirt and rain boots petting a sheepdog while two large Highland cattle graze in a grassy field on a sunny day.
A fuzzy, green fruit on a tree surrounded by green leaves with some brown spots.
Two goats standing in a grassy field with rolling hills and trees in the background.
A blue plastic bucket filled with freshly picked olives on the ground, with grass and dried leaves around, and a person's shoe at the bottom of the image.
Black and white cat lying inside a fluffy, gray, fur-like circular bed, looking at the camera.
A man with glasses and a beanie standing next to a highland cattle with long shaggy reddish-brown hair and large horns in an outdoor field.
A Weimaraner dog sitting outdoors among trees and a wire fence, with grass in the background.