Rosco and Karen have been farming dairy and beef cattle collectively for over 60 years. They are passionate about producing food of the highest quality. Rosco milks his herd of Jersey cows (he calls them his super models, they're slim, have pretty faces and big boobs) daily and sends it into the farm's cheesemaking room, where Karen spends her day stirring the cauldron and caring for the finished product.
We bought the farm as an ex apple orchard in 2005 and set about converting it into a dairy farm. We converted the orchards into legume based pasture, built a walk in dairy (yes we use machines) , built the cheesemaking rooms and four cold rooms and then the shop and outdoor eating area. Kids are always welcome to come a watch the milking at about 7am. (phone first please)
Granite Belt Dairy is situated at Thulimbah in the border highlands 10 mins north of Stanthorpe, Queensland. We are the highest and coldest dairy in Queensland at an altitude of 925m and night time temperatures as low as -10c. It even snows here in winter. Our truly alpine pastures respond quickly in the spring and give a flush of very creamy fresh milk to make into our gourmet cheeses. Our’s is one of Queensland’s very few genuine farmhouse cheeses made at the farm, where all the milk comes from our own herd of top quality Jersey cows.
(photo of cow)
Our cheese maker, Karen has 15 years experience and has won numerous awards, including champion cows milk cheese at The Brisbane Ekka. Her partner Rosco, is the farm manager, early morning milker & responsible for keeping “his girls” in top condition.
(photo Karen and Rosco)
‘The Dairy Shop’ on the farm is open to visitors from 10am til 4pm, seven days a week, excluding Good Friday, & the 25th & 26th December. You can sample the whole range of hand made cheeses which we bring out daily, at the peak of perfection, talk with the staff or simply relax in the licensed courtyard café where you can enjoy a glass of local Granite Belt wine with your cheese platter or a cup of espresso coffee with cheesecake or a milkshake made with fresh, creamy jersey cow milk.
When it’s time to make the choice of what cheeses to take home with you, we can pack them in a mini esky with slow melt ice packs to keep your cheese in perfect condition until your return home.
Become part of our Repeat Offenders Club, & ask our staff how this saves you money on every return visit. We cater for bus groups but do ask that you ring & book first to ensure that your visit doesn’t coincide with any other large bookings