About us
Hello, my name is Michelle, and together with my husband Rob and our family, I’d like to share the story of how we came to call Scotchwood Farm home.
Scotchwood Farm was founded from a desire to step away from suburban life and build something purposeful and sustainable.
Alongside establishing the farm, we built and operated a successful shopfitting business, while I also worked as a registered nurse. Today, I manage the farm full-time, while Rob continues to run our second business.
Our small farm focuses on regenerative farming practices and breeding quality livestock. We are committed to improving the land, preserving strong genetics, and building a respected breeding program for future generations.
After an extensive search, we found our home in the rural town of Benjinup, a 205-acre property that provided the space and opportunity to establish the farm and lifestyle we had envisioned. Benjinup is in the shire of Boyup Brook and a 10 minute drive from Bridgetown.
The beginning of the
Scotchwood Highland cattle
ALONG CAME MARY
Our journey with Highland cattle began at the 2023 Perth Royal Show, where we were reintroduced to the breed following a recent trip to Scotland. After meeting our first Highland heifer, Mary, we established what would become Scotchwood Highlands.
Today, our fold continues to grow, with genetics sourced from Scotland, the United States, and Australia. Our breeding program focuses on continually improving quality, structure, temperament, and breed character with each generation.
We actively exhibit our Highlands throughout the year and have participated in the WA Highland Cattle Show at the Harvey Show since its establishment in 2025.
When Mary and her Highland x Dexter companion, Ebony, arrived, it quickly became clear that Highland cattle require confident handling and proper livestock experience. Despite their calm nature, they are still large, powerful animals that must be managed correctly.
An incident in the first week of their arrival, where Mary accidentally caught me with her horn, left me fearful and highlighted the importance of proper cattle handling skills. It became a turning point that led me to develop a better understanding of cattle behaviour.
While looking to improve my cattle handling skills, I came across Bree’s Bovine Behaviour, which focuses on understanding cattle behaviour and low-stress handling.
I travelled to Melbourne to attend one of Bree’s workshops, where I gained practical experience, learned the fundamentals of safe cattle handling, and connected with experienced Highland breeders. The workshop gave me the confidence and knowledge to continue growing our fold and confirmed that Highland cattle were the path we wanted to pursue.
Bree has remained a valued mentor and friend ever since, and now regularly runs workshops in Western Australia.
