Biara, the family Enterprise

Biara, a 2144 acre, mostly uncleared block, was purchased in 1951 by Lloyd Hasleby, who was a shearer at the time. Early days at Biara were tough as rabbits and septoria outbreaks took its toll on cereal production on the unfashionable sandplain. As technology and new wheat varieties arrived, the sandplain has transformed into very productive grain growing country today.

Lloyd Hasleby married Barbara King, a nurse, in 1953 and produced four children, Sue, John, Ricky and Pauleen. John returned home from school in 1969 to work on the family farm and married Maree Simpson in 1976 and that year we purchased a 1283 acre block next door. They raised four children Donna, Kasey, Lara and Glenn and today Biara is in another transitional period as Kasey and Glenn prepare to take over management of Biara.

In 1996 a further 4000 acres was purchased also next door to complement the existing farmlands and again In 2015 we purchased a 2891 acre block some 20kms south of the original farm which will enable our enterprise to further develop our stock holding.

Biara Santa Gertrudis Stud Location

Biara is situated on the outskirts of Northampton, a small town with one of the richest histories in the State of Western Australia and is approximately 500km north of Perth and 65km north of Geraldton and just16km east of Northampton in Western Australia.

Northampton early history reads like most colonial settlements in that the colonists were attracted by the obvious natural resources. This quaint old town is set in undulating country on the edge of the wheat belt with the rolling hills, drained by creeks with permanent natural waterholes which attracted wildlife and provided a steady food source for Aboriginal people who inhabited the region long before the first shepherds moved into the area in the early 1840s. The area proved a haven for Australian Aborigines as evidenced by their cave paintings at the Bowes River.

Northampton can also boast a vibrant and colourful wildflower season, good beaches for swimming and fishing. Northampton exudes a friendly, warm country charm with historic buildings lining the main street surrounded by rich, golden agricultural lands.

At one stage the Northampton mineral field boasted 65 lead mines – 22 at the Geraldine end and 43 at the Northampton end. Lead, copper, zinc and silver were mined in Northampton and surrounding districts.

William Burges established the first pastoral property in the district at the Bowes in 1850.

The town was surveyed and declared in 1864. Its original name was 'The Mines' but it got its present name in 1871 as a combination of Northampton in England and an honour to the then governor of Western Australia, John Stephen Hampton.

In 1879 a railway was completed from Geraldton to Northampton. It was the first government built railway in Western Australia and was later extended to Ajana in 1912. It was a very winding and hilly line and continued to run until it was finally closed in 1957.

In 1993 Northampton was classified as a historic town by the National Trust of Australia.

Today, agriculture has taken the place of mining as the major industry and the large sheep runs of the early days are now sub-divided into prosperous farms and the town boasts many fine sheep and cattle studs. Mining is still happening in and around the Shire with many old mines being resurveyed and the “Garnet Sand Mine” being operated on the inland side of Hutt Lagoon or Pink Lake as it is commonly known. Also situated on the Pink Lakes is an algae biotechnology plant which harvests algae to produce Beta Carotene (Pro Vitamin A) which is the substance that gives carrots their orange colour. This produce is used as a natural colouring agent in drinks, margarine and animal feeds.

How to find us from Geraldton Western Australia