Lifestyle Property Insurance

Premiums typically range from $1,800 to $4,000 per year for small acreages, $4,000 to $8,000 for mid-size lifestyle properties with livestock and outbuildings, and $8,000 to $15,000 or more for large rural retreats with equine facilities and extensive infrastructure. Key drivers include location, building values, fencing and livestock numbers. Shielded Insurance provides free comparisons across our insurer panel.

Yes. Standard home insurance excludes horses, equine facilities and the liability that comes with keeping and riding horses on your property. If a horse escapes and causes a road accident, or a visitor is injured while riding, you need the public liability cover that a lifestyle property policy provides. Horse mortality cover also protects your financial investment in each animal.

Yes. Lifestyle property policies cover bushfire damage to the homestead, outbuildings, fencing, contents, machinery and livestock. Properties in designated bushfire-prone areas may face higher premiums or specific excess levels. Fencing is often the most expensive item to replace after a bushfire - ensure your fencing sum insured reflects current replacement costs.

The dam wall and associated infrastructure (pumps, pipes, irrigation equipment) are typically covered against fire, storm and accidental damage under a lifestyle property policy. However, the water itself is not insurable. If your dam wall fails and causes downstream damage, your public liability section should respond to third-party claims.

Standard lifestyle property policies may not automatically cover short-term accommodation activities. If you host paying guests through farm stays, Airbnb or similar platforms, you need to ensure your public liability extends to guest injuries and your buildings cover includes the accommodation structure. Discuss your hosting activities with your broker to confirm adequate cover.

Yes. Small-scale farm gate sales of eggs, fruit, vegetables, honey and preserves are generally accommodated under a lifestyle property policy. Product liability cover protects against claims from customers. If your sales grow beyond hobby scale or you sell through retail channels, you may need to discuss upgrading to a commercial farm or small business policy.

Leading insurers offering lifestyle property cover include WFI, QBE, CGU, Elders Insurance, Zurich and Hollard. Each has different eligibility criteria regarding property size, livestock numbers and commercial activity levels. At Shielded Insurance, we compare across these providers to find the best fit for your lifestyle property.

Australian farm insurance typically includes cover for farm buildings and structures, contents and machinery, livestock, crops, public liability, farm motor vehicles, and business interruption. Most insurers offer a farm package policy that bundles these covers together. At Shielded, we compare packages from insurers like WFI, Elders, QBE, CGU, Zurich, Hollard and others to find the right combination for your operation.

Farm insurance premiums vary significantly based on property value, location, farm type, and the covers selected. A basic hobby farm package may cost $1,500 to $4,000 per year, while a large broadacre or cattle operation could range from $5,000 to $20,000 or more. Factors like bushfire or flood risk zones, claims history, and the value of machinery and livestock all affect pricing. Request a free quote through Shielded for an accurate indication.

Crop insurance is usually an optional add-on to a standard farm package, not included by default. It protects against losses from hail, frost, fire, flood and other weather events that affect crop yield and quality. Multi-peril crop insurance (MPCI) provides broader cover but is priced based on your specific crop type, location and historical yields.

Most comprehensive farm insurance policies include cover for bushfire, storm and flood damage to buildings, contents, machinery and fencing. However, coverage limits and excesses can vary significantly depending on your property's risk rating. Properties in high-risk bushfire or flood zones may face higher premiums or specific excess levels. It is important to review your policy details and sum insured amounts regularly.

Farm liability insurance (also called public liability) protects you against claims for bodily injury or property damage caused by your farming operations. If a visitor, contractor or neighbour is injured on your property, or your livestock escape and cause damage, liability cover pays for legal costs and compensation. Most farm package policies include $10M to $20M of public liability cover as standard.

Farm machinery and equipment are typically covered under the contents and machinery section of a farm package policy. However, high-value items like harvesters, headers, tractors and irrigation equipment should be individually listed with accurate sum insured values. Portable equipment and items used away from the property may need additional cover. Review your sums insured annually as replacement costs increase.

Contact us at Shielded Insurance on 1800 97 98 99 or reach out to your insurer directly. We recommend notifying us as soon as possible after a loss event, documenting the damage with photos, and keeping records of all related expenses. Our team will guide you through the claims process.

Yes. Hobby farms and lifestyle properties can be insured under specialist rural property policies or scaled-down farm packages. These policies typically cover the dwelling, sheds and outbuildings, fencing, a small number of livestock, hobby machinery and public liability. Insurers like CGU, WFI and QBE all offer hobby farm products. Premiums are generally lower than commercial farm policies.

We compare farm insurance quotes from a wide panel of Australian rural insurers including WFI, Elders Insurance, QBE, CGU, Zurich, Hollard, Nutrien Ag Solutions and others. The best insurer for your situation depends on your farm type, location, and the specific covers you need. As brokers, we do the comparison work for you.

Review your farm insurance annually at renewal, or whenever there are significant changes to your operation - such as purchasing new machinery, building new structures, expanding acreage, adding livestock, or changing your farming activities. Building costs and machinery replacement values increase over time, so keeping your sums insured up to date is essential to avoid being underinsured at claim time.