In 1902, our great grandfather Fred moved his wife Ada and their 7 children to the Far North Coast of New South Wales, where he had grown up as child. They dairy farmed in Wyrallah for 3 years before moving the family onto a piece of the old Wooroowoolgen station at Shannonbrook. Here they continued to rent a dairy farm from a local doctor, producing milk, cream and butter until their son Melville purchased the farm. Fred and Ada then moved with the younger children down the creek to another farm. The couple were instrumental in starting the Shannonbrook school with another local family.

While Melville continued to run the dairy, he married a local girl, Emily, and they went on to purchase a farm on the hill that came with good flats for cultivation. The couple had 5 children which were reared on the property. Their eldest son Cedric had started his own successful dairy breeding program at the age of 15 before expanding into breeding pigs. He went on to buy the property from his father.

In 1959, Cedric went on to marry, Daphne and had 4 children. The children grew up on the family farm learning Cedric’s tricks of the trade before he decided to stop dairy farming in 2006. Cedric, Daphne and their (now adult) children had decided to expand into cropping and beef cattle. They went on and purchased properties together, some of which were adjoining to the family farm to expand this venture. Cedric and Daphne’s children have also purchased their own properties within the Shannonbrook, Woodview and Casino areas whilst continuing to run the family farm.

Over one hundred years later we are proud to say that we are now onto the 4th and 5th generations of farming at Shannonbrook and are so grateful for the opportunity.

It was within our family, that we started to notice within the community, that people wanted to have more of a connection with where their food was coming from and how it was being produced. They were becoming more savvy in how they spent their money and their ways of saving it too. So with this in mind we decided to create what you now know as Shannonbrook Farms. We wanted to have a quality product that is not only affordable but has a story behind it, to show you and your family where your food comes from, and what it takes to put it on your plate at home.

We are currently running a commercial herd of cattle at Shannonbrook on the original farm and sheep at our Woodview property. Our herd of beef cattle consists of predominantly Angus and Hereford breeds. Some of the reasons we chose these two breeds were for their high fertility rates, ease of calving, temperament and ability to do well on a wide range of pastoral conditions. Our herd of sheep are the Dorper breed. We chose this breed because of its low maintenance, reproductive maturity and their natural strong instinct to flock when faced with vermin.

The properties are enriched with various types of soil which allow for the sheep and cattle to naturally graze the land to suit their own nutritional needs. The herds have access to a large natural creek that cuts through two sections of the Shannonbrook property along with large dams and water toughs throughout the paddocks on both farms.

They have unlimited access to fresh grass at all times, whilst having the option available of hay. Our hay is also taken from our own properties allowing for vertical integration and quality control. We allow the cattle a second option of food during different times of the year to help give the land time to recover, replenish its nutrients and to ensure the herds have an efficient amount of feed to keep them happy and healthy. The herds are handled in a minimal stress environment and are free of any hormone or growth promontents.

Our philosophy at Shannonbrook Farms is to bring you the best, fresh premium beef straight from our family farm to you.

We believe that the combination of our family's farming practices and your need for premium affordable beef, allows us to bring your family and friends local beef that you will love!

Along the way, we aim to build a connection with you and your family, to show you where your food comes from and what it takes to put it on your plate at home. Come follow our family on our journey of producing our ethical, sustainable and fresh beef straight to your door.