Stanley Vale Merino Stud

The Bower family’s history in the New England region extends back to 1865 when Henrich Bower and his wife Maria purchased three blocks of land 10 kilometres east of Uralla which was named Stanley Vale. Henrich Junior, “Henry”, the youngest of Henrick and Maria’s sons remained on Stanley Vale. In its early days Stanley Vale was mainly cropped with grain carted out to Moree via wagon. Henry introduced the first sheep to Stanley Vale with the purchase of rams and ewes from Gostwyck Station in the early 1870’s

After buying rams at the Armidale Ram Sale for a period of time after the war brothers Jack, Frank and Kevin Bower and their Dad established the Stanley Vale Merino Stud. Word of mouth and consistently good wool sales saw the Stanley Vale Stud reputation grow and soon the Bowers were selling rams to many local clients through on farm sales and the Armidale Ram Sale. Stanley Vale rams were known for their good confirmation, staple length and bright stylish wool. 

After Mary married Henry Bower, a dairy was also established at Stanley Vale, with fresh milk, butter and cream carted into Armidale for sale. Henry and Mary’s only son Fredrick also had the Bower’s passion for the land and took over the running of Stanley Vale. Fredrick and Elizabeth married in 1918. Leading the adoption of new technologies, Fredrick installed 6 miles of power poles to ensure Stanley Vale was one of the first farms in the region to get electricity. 

The culture of generations of Bowers working alongside one another has continued to this day, with Tim returning to Stanley Vale and working alongside Kevin for many years as the “Stanley Vale Partnership”. At the end of 2014 Dom, Tim’s youngest son, returned to the New England to work on Stanley Vale. These days Stanley Vale is a predominately Superfine operation which includes the Stanley Vale Superfine Merino Stud, commercial ewes and wethers, crossbred lambs and a small Angus cow herd.