Yarrawonga Cattle Co

How it started

Yarrawonga Santa Gertrudis, Wallumbilla, Queensland (Stud No: 28) was founded by the late David and Mary Bassingthwaighte in 1956. Dave Bassingthwaighte laid the foundations of the now world-famous prefix, Yarrawonga by introducing Brahmans into Shorthorn females.

The foundation sire was King Ranch Associate soon followed by Risdon Banjo. A few short years latter Dave Bassingthwaighte drew Muldoon Station and the Bassingthwaighte family staged the inaugural sale at the Wallumbilla yards where 34 first-cross bulls were sold.

Alastair Bassingthwaighte drew Waco just 95kms from Yarrawonga where that prefix was formed. Shortly after marrying Louise the couple set about enhancing their stud with sires like the $27,000 King Ranch Poseidon and the $23,000 Pampoola K141. Another milestone was created when Dave and Alastair Bassingthwaighte purchased the immortal, Elgin Downs A25. After Dave and Mary Bassingthwaighte retired to Brisbane the two studs were managed by Alastair and Louise.

During the beef depression the family purchased Kiah in the Taroom district that neighbours Waco. The studs continued to evolve and make headlines in both show and sale arenas. Two years in succession, Elgin Downs A25 was named Santa Gertrudis Sire of The Year with Alastair and Louise undertaking extensive overseas trips to familiarise themselves with global breeding trends.  The 1988 Yarrawonga and Waco Sale created history being the first Santa Gertrudis Sale to gross over $1M. The next year, at the 1989 Anniversary Sale, Yarrawonga Zupert sold for the then breed record of $70,000. Soon international attention came the way of the studs when Yarrawonga Xmas took out the World Championship Trophy at the World Santa Gertrudis Congress, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Andrew and Fiona and their three children now operate and run the Yarrawonga stud. The couple also operate grazing interests on Stockade, Tambo and Lennox Station, Jericho along with Dulacca West, Jackson which is utilised for the production of fodder (hay and silage).