Hillwood Berries

The Dornauf family has farmed in Meander Valley for three generations. Robin grew up on his father’s dairy farm. Ian started his farm in 1964 and to this day, still produces quality milk for Tassie consumers. Robin, his wife Karen, and their two sons, Simon and Marcus, were brought up in the same farming traditions that Robin knew. Working together, they followed Ian in producing high quality dairy products. Robin spent 10 years developing his own dairy farms before seizing an opportunity to create a dairy manufacturing business in value added, high quality dairy products and it was there that Meander Valley Dairy was established in 2003. This drew on all the experience that multi-generational farming provides. Meander Valley Dairy quickly become known for high quality production, including producing one of only two cultured butters in Australia, a brand that has been sought after by top chefs from around Australia. The Dornauf family have had a long history with berries, dating back to 1985 when Robin planted the first raspberry canes at the Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm. After establishing the Raspberry farm, Robin left the berry industry to concentrate on his dairy businesses. An opportunity for Robin to move his dairy business to an existing dairy factory in Hillwood in 2010 resulted in an unplanned opening for Robin, and now his son Simon, to rekindle their passion for berries. Robin and Simon developed the surrounding 40 hectares that came with the dairy factory into a new modern berry farm. A few years later Robin’s second son, Marcus, returned from his studies in the USA to join the family venture and help further grow the business to its current 52 hectare size.