The Story begins in 1838 when the Reverend Joseph Docker overland day from Sydney to establish the Bontharambo Pastoral run of 100 thousand acres on the Ovens river Victoria. By the late 1870s, Docker had introduced 20 Angus cattle from NZ and ran commercial cattle until 1920 when Grandson Hubert Docker on returning from the 1st World War started the Bontharambo Aberdeen-Angus Stud. Hubert, a founding father of the breed in Australia purchased the nucleus of the Herd in Scotland in 1919. The original cattle were selected by James Whyte from Hayston Farms Angus Scotland. These were the Bulls Envy of Bywell and Hayston by Jingo and the cow Beauty 91st of Hayston.Beauty dropped a heifer calf on the voyage to Australia and it was called Perinthian Beauty; it was sired by Perinthian Scotland’s 6000 guinea bull, a record at the time. By this time Docker also introduced 40 Edinglassie cows so began the Stud Herd.

By 1946 Bontharambo had probably the largest registered Aberdeen Angus Herd in Australia. Uniquely not a single female had been introduced since 1920. Today it still has 14 of the cow family’s from the original first 41 cows. With careful selection, Bontharambo now boasts a herd of 200 females and is committed to preserving the foundation of the Breed. Old bloodlines have been sourced from Scotland and New Zealand to ensure the phenotype that was synonymous with Aberdeen-Angus is not lost. Some earlier sires used are from the well-known Naranghi herd, Mike Burston are industry bred bulls Naranghi Fisherman and Naranghi Irish Y208

Other outstanding sires in more recent years Sarum Noble N7 by Hazeldean H58, Sarum Lucky Banner L2 by Black Banner of Matauri born 1966, Bontharambo Resolution R34 (ET),Dunlouise Curve Bender S611 by Piledrive of Haymount born 1970, Bontharambo Remarkable R41 (ET) are all producing progeny that is winning steer trials and at the same time leaving magnificent breeding females in the herd

Bontharambo are proud to announce the recent arrival of two new sires from Dunlouise Angus in Scotland, one particular outstanding bull was voted champion of UK for the prestigious “Champions of the World” competition, by the famous world judge PJ Butler