22/08/2026
Some MOOOOOOing Random Fun Facts About Our New Milk Vendor at the farmers market.
But first, let’s talk about the local dairy industry. Around 100 years ago, there were 100 dairy farms along the mighty Clarence River.
Today, there are just two commercial dairy farms remaining.
You may remember former NRL coach Brian Smith, was raised on a dairy farm at Tyndale. He knows all about those early morning starts, moving herds to higher country and dealing with the inevitable Clarence Valley floods!
The dairy industry has changed dramatically over the years, with deregulation, modernisation and major changes in the way dairy farming, regulations, market forces and milk businesses operate.
And that brings us to our new milk vendor: Pepe Saya Butter Co.
The farm itself is owned by longtime dairy identities Tim and Julie Bale, who also own a dairy farm Stuarts Point and in the Manning Valley. Tim recently joined the board of EastAUSmilk, with a mission to help get more young people back into the dairy industry.
Tim brings more than 40 years of experience in dairy, including 30 years running his own two dairy farms, one in the Manning Valley and the other right here in the Clarence Valley at Southgate.
The farm is managed by a local farming family who look after the milking herd and the day-to-day running of the farm operation.
From the 1st July Pepe Saya took over chain of custody of the milk supply from the former Big River Milk dairy on Lawrence Road, about 10km out of Grafton and the dairy at the Manning Valley.
And there’s another interesting piece to the story.
The Southgate farm is also home to a milk bottling and processing plant, which began operating around 10 years ago as an independent processor and producer under the Big River Milk brand.
This is what makes the milk a single source of origin because it is sourced from only two dairies in the Northern Rivers Region.
Pryor to the new operations commencing from the 1st of July the Southgate Dairy herd had continued to be milked and sent to the Richmond Dairies where it was freeze dried and sent to the UK.
Pepe Saya Butter Co began their operations at Southgate from the 1st July with the Manning Valley coming online two months earlier.
They are a national and international recognised butter brand who have now ventured into supplying premium quality milk in glass and plastic bottles.
Mr and Mrs Pepe Saya began their business life in 2010 at the Carraigeworks Farmers Market at Redfern and still operate there every Saturday. Last week they did their Sydney milk launch and sold out within an hour.
So when you grab a bottle of milk from our local Yamba farmers and producers market or at any of the local shops you’re not just buying local milk you’re supporting a local dairy story that stretches back 100 years.
Photo Captions
1. From FB 2016
2. From FB 2016 - Big River Dairy brand begins
3. From FB 2017 - the operations crew in 2017
4. 1st July Pepe Saya take over the milk supply
5. Pepe Saya launches at the Yamba farmers market
6. From FB Pepe Saya is interviewed by Chanel 7 in the milk processing unit at the Southgate Farm.
7. From FB Pepe Saya Dairy Farm front gate at Southgate
