HWLE has provided pro bono advice to Wallara Australia Ltd. on its merger with Collingwood Children’s Farm. Wallara is a charity dedicated to creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities and is known for its operation of Sages Cottage Farm on the Mornington Peninsula.

Collingwood Children’s Farm, located on Crown land in Abbotsford along the Yarra River, is a much‑loved Melbourne institution and charity that has been in operation for more than 40 years.

With the Farm facing increasing financial pressures, Wallara merged with the Farm to ensure its long‑term sustainability. As part of its commitment to preserving the Farm’s culture and community impact, Wallara has confirmed it will retain all existing employees and invest significant capital to support the Farm’s future growth.

HWLE advised Wallara on all aspects of the transaction, including structuring the transaction, navigating the appointment of Wallara as the new Committee of Management of the Crown land on which the Farm is located, assisting with governance requirements and preparing the key documentation required to facilitate the transaction.

Wallara has now been appointed as the new Committee of Management of the Farm land under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 (Vic), the transaction documents have been signed, and Wallara is scheduled to assume full operations of the Farm in early March 2026.

The HWLE team comprised Peter Dreher (Partner), Myra Stirling (Special Counsel) and Isobel Tennent (Associate).

“We are proud to have supported Wallara in securing the future of Collingwood Children’s Farm, a truly iconic Melbourne institution. This transaction highlights Wallara’s deep commitment to community and long-term sustainability.” – Peter Dreher, Partner

“It was a privilege to advise Wallara on the intricate legal aspects of this acquisition, ensuring the seamless transfer and continued operation of the Farm. This outcome is a testament to Wallara’s vision for preserving vital community assets and creating opportunities for people with disabilities.” – Myra Stirling, Special Counsel

Note to Editors:

HWLE is the largest legal partnership in Australia according to the most recent partnership surveys published by the Australian Financial Review.

The firm comprises 1,840, staff including 279 Partners, 1,138 other legal staff and 423 support staff across offices in nine locations – Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Melbourne, Hobart, Norwest (Northwest Sydney), Perth and Sydney.

HWLE is an independent, nationally integrated, full service commercial law firm, providing tailored and commercially oriented legal services.

HWLE operates a different business model to the other leading national law practices, and this allows us to offer unrivalled value for money without compromising quality and service. Our low ratio of solicitors to partners ensures that our clients receive optimal access to partner resources for all matters.

For further information, please contact:

Sally Bariol, Public Relations Specialist (02) 9138 2308 or sbariol@hwle.com.au

Angelique Kear, Head of Marketing (02) 9334 8541 or akear@hwle.com.au