How did land acts in the 1860s encourage wheat farming in Victoria?

The land acts passed in Victoria during the 1860s were designed to "unlock" the vast grazing leases held by wealthy pastoralists, known as squatters, to facilitate the establishment of small-scale agriculture.12

By breaking up these large pastoral holdings, the legislation aimed to encourage the growth of small freeholders. This policy was particularly successful in the Wimmera and Mallee regions, where the acts helped establish small-scale wheat farmers. As a result of this transition, Victoria shifted from being an importer of flour to becoming Australia’s largest wheat producer by the end of the 19th century.2

However, the impact of these land reform efforts was inconsistent. In many areas, particularly the fertile Western District, wealthy landowners utilized financial manipulation and guile to circumvent the acts, allowing them to consolidate large estates into private freeholds rather than distributing the land to small farmers.12