Celebrating multi-generational Australian agribusinesses

“Our business is five generations old, and the biggest pressure I feel in my working life is the thought that I don’t want to be the one that ruins it. I think about that every day I come in here.”

That’s the powerfully honest proclamation from Akubra Managing Director Stephen Keir IV, the fifth member of the Keir family (and fourth Stephen) to run this most iconic of Australian rural enterprises.

But with that pressure comes an intense pride in the achievements of previous generations – pride that acts as a powerful spur, keeping Stephen firmly focused on ensuring his family firm remains in business. And in Australia. 

In an era when offshore manufacturing is so often the norm, the business is committed to Kempsey, on the NSW Mid North Coast, where the more than 100-strong workforce turn out over 200,000 hats a year. 

Akubra has been making its famous broad-brimmed hats – a quintessential item of everyday workwear for farmers around the nation – for more than 100 years and hopes to be doing so in another hundred. “We’re an Australian manufacturer beating the odds,” Stephen proclaims.

By adopting a similar ethos of generational trust, preservative-free Victorian winery La Cantina King Valley has prospered. As La Cantina viticulturist Peter Corsini puts it, older folk who are open to new ways of working – and give the younger generation their blessing to experiment – are more likely to see the enterprises they’ve established prosper after they’ve stepped aside. While Peter’s father, Gino Corsini, the 86-year-old founder of La Cantina, is yet to put his feet up, he’s always been happy to let Peter do things his way.

“Some of my friends had issues with their fathers because they wouldn’t try new ideas,” Peter remembers. “Dad was always open to that.

“That’s made it interesting for myself and my sister Linda, who manages our sales. We’ve been able to experiment with new technologies and grow the business.” That growth now sees La Cantina produce 150,000 bottles a year. In turn, Peter’s son Reuben, who’s studying winemaking at the University of Adelaide, is expected to put his stamp on things after fulfilling his ambition to produce a vintage in Europe.

For many primary producers and agribusinesses, access to finance for expansion, diversification and investment in equipment and technologies to improve productivity and yield is critical to long-term viability. As Australia’s leading agribusiness bank, NAB supports one in three of Australia’s 85,000 farm business and rural enterprises. Many farming families, like La Cantina’s Corsinis, have been customers for generations. 

“Dad started banking with NAB in 1952 when he arrived in Australia, and the relationship has continued down the generations,” Peter Corsini says. “NAB remains the only bank our family has been with; we’re grateful for their support.”

“NAB is very excited to see so many agribusinesses thrive through the generations,” adds Julie Rynski, Executive, NAB Regional and Agribusiness. “We’re especially proud to have accompanied them along the way.” 

NAB has supported Australian agribusinesses through times of adversity and progress for around 160 years. To speak to us, contact your local Agribusiness banker, or our team on 13 10 12.