Ian Noakes Family

Margaret River WA

We farm on approx. 300 hectares 20 km south of Margaret River. We milk from 400 to 580 cows calved in 2 blocks, Feb/March and August/Sept and produce about 4.6 to 4.7 m litres/yr.

My mother’s parents settled here from England in 1928 not long after farming was established here. My grandfather stopped at Fremantle supposedly on his way to NSW to look at farms. The original farm had 5 acres of clearing and he got a government loan for 5 cows to get started. Dad purchased the farm after returning from Army service in 1948 and at one stage 5 Noakes brothers were milking cows in nearby areas.

We are the only family left in dairy now. My wife Helen and I farm in partnership with sons Steven and Brad and are just starting through the process of farm succession as I start to head to retirement and they take over the enterprise.