About Coolaroo
Coolaroo was born in 1987/8 from the interest and investment of three traditional Merino sheep breeding families; the Streets, the Pearces and the Forrests, who envisaged the establishment of a vertically integrated industry involving superior genetic management, fibre processing, weaving and finally production of garments.
The stud has expanded to two farms and three Alpaca specialty outlets – The Alpaca Centres of Berrima and Leura, and Alpaca Homewares, also in Berrima, and an online shop.
The two farm properties, Coolaroo and Mt Minderoo are spread over 580 acres to provide immaculate facilities and quality grazing for the stud as well as agisted guest studs and is home to some 700 Alpacas and the families of Jude and Phil Street and Janie and Aldous Hicks.
Paddocking is generous on rich native and improved pastures with MN Levels, Non Assessed, Assesses MN 1, 2 and 3 and quarantine zones. With the timely purchase of Mt Minderoo in 2000 Janie & Aldous were able to safeguard the herd from overstocking during the drought years.
Coolaroo has pioneered the adoption of the SRS techniques in the Australian Alpaca Industry and first approached Dr Jim Watts in 1995, having heard of his extraordinary advances accomplished in the merino industry. Since then Coolaroo has shared its knowledge with its daughter studs and the industry at large in an effort to focus Australian breeders on providing the world with unique and supreme examples of the Alpaca breed and the finest fleeces ever known.
As a result, the name Coolaroo has become synonymous with championship quality breeding based on a highly experienced and scientific approach since modern alpacas first landed in Australia.
Located a 1.5 hour easy drive from Sydney, and accessible to most Alpaca breeding regions, Coolaroo is able to provide extensive support to its international, interstate and local breeders..
Stud Principles: Janie & Aldous
Hicks
Stud Manager: Janie Hicks
Assistant Manager: Neil Parker
Stud Consultant & Classer: Dr Jim Watts