The results of the 2025 Dairy Industry Association of Australia (DIAA) (WA) Dairy Awards were announced on Friday evening, and it was a night of accolades for Bannister Downs Dairy. The company was awarded eight Gold Medals and two Silver Medals for the ten products entered into the competition. Notably, Bannister Downs Fresh Cream was named Champion Cream of the Show—a title it has now won four times in the last five years, confirming its status as a product of excellence.
A particularly exciting highlight was the award of Champion Milk to Bannister Downs’ new Lactose Free Milk, which is a recent addition to the company’s product range. This achievement is a fantastic milestone for the team and represents a major win in making farm-fresh milk accessible to individuals with lactose intolerance.
Bannister Downs Lactose Free Milk also won Champion Milk at the 2024 Perth Fine Food Awards, hosted by the Royal Agricultural Society. It’s quickly becoming a popular choice for consumers who are looking for real, fresh dairy flavour without the discomfort of lactose intolerance.
These results are a fantastic recognition for the hardworking team at Bannister Downs who are dedicated to producing the highest quality milk, cream, and flavoured milks for consumers to enjoy.
Sue Daubney, Managing Director of Bannister Downs Dairy, expressed the company’s pride in these achievements. “We are very proud to be recognised for producing premium-quality milk, cream, and flavoured milk. We make 11 different products each week, and for every product we entered to win a gold or silver medal is an outstanding achievement for our dedicated team. For our Lactose Free Milk and delicious Fresh Cream to both be champions in the 2025 State Dairy Awards is a result that fills us all with pride.”
Mrs. Gina Rinehart AO , also founder and patron of national agriculture and related industries day , shared her thoughts on the awards, celebrating the quality of Bannister Downs’ premium dairy range and emphasising the importance of Australian-produced dairy. “Australians are fortunate to be able to enjoy such high quality dairy products every day. For me, I especially like Bannisters milks and creams! and again extend my warmest congratulations to all at bannister dairy. These dairy awards give each of those working hard day after day in the industry , encouragement. This is especially so given the many difficulties faced by our agricultural industry, worsened by damaging government policies and consequent costs. As farmers struggle, it’s time payroll tax and license fees, that were meant to be removed more than 2 decades ago when gst came in, are removed, and government tape diminished, to help preserve this Industry we are all so fortunate to have in Australia.
On behalf of Bannister Downs Dairy , we would also like to extend our thanks to the many volunteers of the DIAA, whose hours of dedication to organizing the entries, judging, and awards event play a crucial role in supporting the dairy industry.”
BANNISTER DOWNS DAIRY, a partnership between the Daubney Family and Australia’s leading private company, Hancock Prospecting (HPPL), led by its Executive Chairman Mrs Gina Rinehart AO are thrilled to secure these coveted Champion titles along with gold and silver product medals.
“As we have reached more than 100 years of dairy farming, we’re proud of the legacy we are creating, not just for our family, but also for our community, our customers and our team who are all instrumental in this win,” Daubney said.
As one of the few processors in Australia using the traditional low temperature pasteurisation methods, Daubney said investment in the state-of-the-art ‘The Creamery’ using bespoke equipment design, and a focus on cow welfare, allows for milk to be dispatched within hours of milking.
“We know happy, healthy cows produce the best milk. We want our customers to choose our products because they know our milk tastes great, and because they know we’re dedicated to cattle and staff welfare practices. Our cows are free range and come in to be milked on a voluntary low stress milking basis. All of this ensures we can produce noticeably better milk,” Mrs Rinehart added.
“People want to know that animal welfare is a priority, as is cleanliness of facilities and healthy products. We share these priorities at BANNISTER DOWNS and we are constantly looking at ways to deliver them,” Mat Daubney said.
This latest awards announcement follows on from a very successful year on 2024 for Bannister Downs with a string of National Awards at the Australian Dairy Awards in May and fantastic results at the WA DIAA Dairy Awards night in April, as well as winning the Champion Cream and Grand Champion Product of the Year at the Australian Grand Dairy Awards. Previously Bannister Downs’ Farm Fresh Milk has also been voted Australia’s Favourite Milk at the Australian Grand Dairy Awards in 2022 and The People’s Product Award 2024 at the Good Food & Wine (WA) Awards, along with a long list of gold medals and Champion titles over the last 20 years since commencing milk processing at Bannister Downs.
BANNISTER DOWNS is owned by the Daubney Family in partnership with HPPL, led by its Executive Chairman, Mrs Gina Rinehart AO, and their business relationship, spanning close to a decade, is strong due to their shared values, including around animal welfare, clean facilities and providing excellent produce. There is solid alignment in values and the care of their cattle is paramount.
BACKGROUND
The multi-award-winning milk products are all processed with milk fresh from the farm and the team take pride and care to achieve the highest quality products from farm to fridge. BANNISTER DOWNS fresh milk is available throughout West Australia in IGA’s, Coles, Woolworths and Independent retail stores and is the milk of choice for a large number of cafes and restaurants in pursuit of excellence for their coffees and more.
The Northcliffe-based dairy was established in 1924 and has a long history of producing premium quality milk, available since 2005 under its family operated BANNISTER DOWNS DAIRY brand which features a critically acclaimed range of single origin farm fresh milks, creams and flavoured milks.
Following the establishment of the Bannister Downs Dairy brand in 2005, the Daubney family, seeking to grow their business further, were fortunate to be able to do this via a partnership with Gina Rinehart in 2014. The partnership has been very positive and has allowed for significant investment across all aspects of the Bannister Downs Dairy business, always with animal welfare, team well-being and product quality as shared priorities between the Daubney family, Mrs Rinehart and her team at Hancock Agriculture.
Bannister Downs Dairy remains a dedicated family farming business with a strong focus on excellence, and with all the added benefits of the commitment and experience in Australian agriculture that Mrs Rinehart brings, and the expertise and enthusiasm of the Hancock Agriculture team that she leads.
