In 1903 the Beauna Vista Stud had its beginnings on the Northern bank of the Shoalhaven river flood plain four miles east of Nowra. My Great Grandparents started on a 40ac farm leased from the Berry Estate and produced milk and cream supplying a small butter factory at Bomaderry. By the 1920s they were able to purchase two adjoining blocks which brought the holding to approximately 120ac.
James William Henry, my Grandfather, commenced recording and registering Milking Shorthorn type dairy cattle from 1915. He was a member/Councillor of The Illawarra Dairy Cattle Association which published a herd book in 1921 vol 2. Cow families mentioned in that herd book that are still in the herd today include Blossom, Buttercup, and Scarlet. The interest in recording and registration of stud cattle continued through to the formation of the Australian Illawarra Shorthorn Society. About 1938/39 my father “Jim” James Albert Henry became responsible for the breeding of the stud. Jim Henry showed cattle at local shows, was an Illawarra and Southern Branch committeeman, eventually being awarded Life Membership of the Branch.
1963 saw the purchase of a further 80ac and by then a milking herd of 70 to 80 AIS cows being milked year round supplying milk to Nowra Co-op Ltd factory at Bomaderry. The 1970s saw three major floods in the Shoalhaven river and in 1979 a further 94acs were purchased bringing the holding to almost 300acs. By now the AIS society was changing to the Illawarra Cattle Society of Australia Ltd and I, David Henry, began taking on the responsibilities of the breeding herd which by now totalled over 300 head of registered Illawarra dairy cattle.
The year 2000 saw my son Ashley Henry assume the responsibilities of the stud breeding, registration, herd recording and showing of the Beauna Vista cattle.
Over such a long period of time there have been many achievements. In the early days studs such as Fairfield, Greyleigh, Swanlea and The Wattles played an important part in its development. During the late 1950s and onwards, and with the introduction of artificial insemination, many studs contributed to the breeding program. Studs such as Parkview, Tabbagong, Lemon Grove, Sunny View, Alanview, Meadowhaven and Midlands to name just a few appear in our pedigrees. Cattle from the stud have been sold to most states including Western Australia. Purchases have also been made, one most noteworthy was the purchase of Alanview Plum 5th at the Alanview dispersal sale in Qld. She was the dam of Beauna Vista Plum 5th who was awarded Supreme Champion Dairy Cow at Nowra show in1982 and was later exhibited at the Sydney Royal Show by Tom and Ted Walsh and was awarded Champion Cow on two occasions. Another purchase at the sale of the Berry Child Welfare Department herd dispersal commenced the Canary family of which there are now two classified Excellent.
The stud continues to progress and uses the young Illawarra bulls that are available through Artificial Breeding Centre’s as well as sampling genetics from overseas.
