Workers rehired as new managers revive Dicky Bill salad farms

Two separate businesses will take over failed salad operator Dicky Bill’s farms in Victoria and Queensland, with some staff already back at work.

About 165 workers lost their jobs when the company went into administration in November 2025, with debts estimated at up to $10 million.

Hussey & Co will run the farm at Maffra, about 220km east of Melbourne, while Riviera Farms will take over the Drinan operation, near Bundaberg, 350km north of Brisbane. 

Both companies are based in Victoria. 

Riviera Farms managing director Nelson Cox said that two former staff members had already been rehired, with three more expected to start work in the coming weeks. 

“A different area has different growing challenges than what we have, so to get that knowledge has been really great.

“We’re glad to be able to fill that gap and make up a bit for what’s happened.” 

Mr Cox said planting for the winter crop was expected to start in February, and on-site processing would also continue. 

“The site was originally doing some washing, so we’ll just have to move some machinery back to get it set up,” he said. 

Mr Cox said it was disappointing Dicky Bill had ceased operations, but trading conditions had been tough across the board. 

“Sadly, it’s probably a legacy of what the horticultural industry’s gone through in the last three years,” he said. 

“It’s certainly been trying times.

A fifth-generation family-owned farm business, Riviera Farms came to national prominence in 2022 when they were the source of a spinach contamination outbreak. 

Mr Cox said adding the Queensland operation broadened its production portfolio, which already included farms in Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and New South Wales.

“We do struggle in the winter months with growing; it can get quite cold down in Victoria,” he said. 

“Our customers expect a consistent 12-month supply, so we took the opportunity to go to Bundaberg.”

Victorian salad factory to remain closed

In Victoria, Hussey & Co managing director Jeremy Haw said they did not plan to reopen the on-site processing factory, which employed most of Dicky Bill’s former staff.  

The company already operates a salad farm at Newry, close to the Maffra site, a farm and factory at Somerville on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, and farms and processing facilities south of Perth in WA. 

Hussey & Co only plans on hiring about five new farm staff.

“Depending on how we develop … we will get that factory going again, but certainly not in the short term,” Mr Haw said.

In a statement, Warakirri Asset Management, which owns the two farm properties, said the businesses were highly productive and valued by the fund. 

“We acknowledge that the circumstances surrounding former tenant, Dicky Bill, continue to have impacts on the local communities, employees and other creditors,” a spokesperson said.

“Warakirri remains engaged and is working constructively with the administrator on these matters.

“At the same time, Hussey & Co and Riviera Farms are working hard to return the two sites to full operation, and in turn, restoring the significant economic contribution and employment opportunities these properties offer the respective regions.” 

Dicky Bill administrator Cor Cordis has been contacted for comment.