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.
To this end, and two decades later the stud runs 700 primarily white alpacas for wool production with select colour lines of fawn and grey (popular for handspinning and export). With fleece quality paramount and quantity when available, they manufacture and supply five speciality outlets throughout Australia, – The Alpaca Centres of Berrima and Leura in NSW, Denmark and Margaret River in WA and Alpaca Homewares, also in Berrima, as well as the online shop.
Coolaroo is spread over 420 acres and provides immaculate facilities tailor made for alpacas. Paddocking is generous on rich native and improved pastures with MN Levels, Non Assessed, Assesses MN 1, 2 and 3 and quarantine zones.
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 Principle: Janie
Hicks
Animal Carer/specialist: Greg Wishart
Sales: Nicola Hayes
Stud Consultant & Classer: Dr Jim Watts