GUNDAMAIN PASTORAL CO OUR HISTORY
Discover the rich history behind the evolution of Gundamain Pastoral Co.
OUR HISTORY GUNDAMAIN PASTORAL CO
Gundamain was first settled by Edward Herbert in 1873- but the family history of farming began with a First Fleet convict, John Herbert. John arrived in Australia in 1788, and married Deborah Ellam , also a First Fleet convict in April 1788. John was granted 70 acres of land at Prospect Hill west of Sydney in 1792. This became known as ‘Herberts Farm’. John later moved to Castlereagh and continued farming.
The Herbert family have been farming ever since.
John’s grandson Edward Herbert ventured west of the Blue Mountains in 1873 and purchased land from early pastoral lease holders at Eugowra. The Robertson Land Act of 1861 freed up large areas of land previously held as leases to promote closer settlement. In 1874 Eugowra had been reserved as an area for a village, and finally surveyed in 1880. The same land selected by Edward is still owned by the Herbert family and is where Don and Joan Herbert (4th generation) built their family home.
Current owner Andrew Herbert began working on Gundamain after leaving school, managing the on-farm piggery and small cattle feedlot. Relationships with Lachley Meats abattoir in Forbes and custom feeders Samsung began in the 1990s. On the back of these relationships a development application and EPA licence was sought to construct a 6,000 head feedlot on land on Paytens Bridge Rd, over the road from the existing small cattle feedlot.
The first cattle ran into the new feedlot in 2001. Custom feeding cattle continued to cope with construction costs. Other feedlot interests came and went over in the next few years. The Herbert family continued to expand their farming operations during the time from the construction of the feedlots until now. The Herbert family, including Andrew, Tess, their daughter Caitlin and her husband, Edward, continue to farm at Gundamain and look forward to sharing this with future generations.
HISTORICAL
BEGINNINGS OF GUNDAMAIN
1788
YEAR JOHN HERBERT ARRIVES IN AUSTRALIA
7
GENERATIONS
235
YEARS IN THE MAKING
1788 | John Herbert arrives in Australia on the ship ‘Charlotte’ as a First Fleet convict. John marries Deborah Ellam also a first fleet convict
1792 |John is granted 70 acres of land at Prospect, west of Sydney.
1801 | James Hebert is born.
1836 | Edward Hebert is born to James and wife Harriet.
1873 | Edward (and his brother James – second and forth sons of James Snr and Harriet) move to Eugowra. Selects 160 acres of land on the Mandagery Creek, where Gundamain stands today
1874 | Eugowra designated as a village.
1882 | Edward marries Rebecca Stanton (first wife, Matilda, died during childbirth of tenth child). They have 6 children (and adopt one more).
1895 | Andrew Francis Herbert (Frank) born (15th child of Edward Herbert). Frank was the last child to stay on at Eugowra after his father’s death.
1932 | Donald Herbert born to Frank and wife, Rose. His siblings were Bruce, Graham, and Rosemary
1958 | Donald Herbert marries Joan Wilkinson. Don and Joan build their house Gundamain on the original block on the Mandagery Creek
1961 |Andrew Francis Herbert born, his sisters are Jane and Esther.
1972 | Don Herbert builds original ‘growing out’ piggery facility on Gundamain.
1974 | First cattle harvested as ‘grain-fed’ out of Gundamain Forbes Abattoir.
1980 | Breeding facility built into piggery.
1992 | Andrew marries Tess Flynn.
1993 | – Piggery was closed due to collapse in market, the focus of the business shifted to cattle.
1994 | Andrew and Tess have their first daughter – Caitlin Herbert. Followed by Siobhan, and Lachlan.
2001 | Andrew and Tess build ‘Gundamain Feedlot’ as it currently stands
2014 | – Gundamain wins Australian Feedlot of the Year (3,000 – 8,000 head)
2015 |Purchase of ‘Island View’ Farm north-east of Eugowra, expanding breeding cattle and cropping operations, and introducing first-cross lamb and wool production to the business.
2020 | Purchase of ‘Jondara’ easterly of Eugowra, expanding cropping operations and introducing merino wool production to the business.
2021 |– Gundamain wins Australian Feedlot of the Year (3,000 – 8-000 head)
2022 | Caitlin marries Edward Thomas at Gundamain. Both Caitlin and Ed are working full-time at Gundamain
2023 | – Andrew and Tess Herbert win Australian Farmers of The Year Award.
2024| Farms are purchased to expand current cattle breeding, backgrounding, lamb and wool production and cropping operations.
FAMILY TREE GUNDAMAIN PASTORAL CO
John Herbert married Deborah Ellam
James Herbert married Harriet Purcell
Edward Herbert married Matilda Howell
Then married Rebecca Stanton
Andrew Francis Herbert married Rose Davis
Donald Herbert married Joan Wilkinson
Andrew Herbert married Therese Flynn
OUR FUTURE GUNDAMAIN PASTORAL CO
The current owners Andrew Herbert began working on Gundamain after leaving school, managing the on-farm piggery and small cattle feedlot. Relationships with Lachley Meats abattoir in Forbes and custom feeders Samsung began in the 1990s.
On the back of these relationships a development application and EPA licence was sought to construct a 6,000 head feedlot on land on Paytens Bridge Rd, over the road form the existing small cattle feedlot.
The first cattle ran into the new feedlot in 2001. Custom feeding cattle continued to cope with construction costs. Other feedlot interests came about in the next few years.
Coonamble Feedlot. In 2006 a 10,000 head yard was constructed at Coonamble in northern west NSW in partnership with livestock agents AJF Brien. This yard was sold to the business partners in 2011.
Ladysmith Feedlot. In 2010 an existing 6500 capacity feedlot was purchased at Ladysmith near Wagga Wagga ins southern NSW by Andrew and Tess Herbert. This yard was sold in 2022.
The Herbert family continued to expand their farming operations during the time from the construction of the feedlots until now.
These include:
- Springfield – purchased 1998
- Glenora – purchased 2013
- Omeo – purchased 2014
- Federal View – purchased 2014
- Mountain View – purchased 2014
- Island View – purchased 2015
- Jondara, Rosehill, Heatherville – purchased 2020
- Arador – purchased 2024
- Pine Park – purchased 2024
