Australian Grand Dairy Awards: Dellendale, Bannister Downs win 2024 honours

West Australian producers have taken out both top honours in the nation’s dairy awards. Here’s why judges thought west is best.

Western Australia has secured both crown prizes at the Australian Grand Dairy Awards, with Dellendale Creamery and Bannister Downs Dairy clinching the top honours.

Awarded on Wednesday night, Dellendale won the Grand Champion Cheese title for its Churchill Rd Raclette while Bannister Downs received the Grand Champion Dairy Product award for its Double Cream.

Mat Daubney on his Bannister Downs dairy farm at Northcliffe in Western Australia in 2015. The farm was established by Mat’s grandparents in 1924.

More than 400 entries were received across 22 categories for the 2024 awards, with AGDA entrants having to clear a state-based final before heading onto the national awards.

Several Victorian producers took out national champion awards including Melbourne-based Floridia Cheese winning champion hard cheese for its Pecorino Red Chilli, and Bulla winning the novelty ice cream category for its Murray Street Lemon Meringue Tart Sticks.

International cheese judge Jill Allen said a range of flavoursome creations involving masala lassi, Japanese-inspired yuzu custard gelato and native Tasmanian pepperberry gave entrants the winning edge.

“This year, I’ve seen a lot of flavours that I haven’t encountered before, especially from my past judging in the US,” Ms Allen said.

“(That variety) speaks to the characteristics and diversity of Australian dairy.

“To have this accolade bestowed on a product is a nod to the quality and standard of a producer. Australian consumers can feel confident knowing that when they purchase a product with a blue and gold medal, that they’ll be experiencing the very best of Australian dairy.”

Gippsland-based Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese continued its winning streak on Wednesday night after several years of success at the awards, clinching the 2024 champion blue category for their Oak Blue.

Dairy Australia marketing head Glenys Zucco said eligible products for the awards had to be produced in Australia with 100 per cent Australian milk.

Successful entrants also needed to have won gold at a state qualifying competition.

Berrys Creek Cheese owners Barry Charlton and Cheryl Hulls following their 2020 Grand Australian Dairy Awards. Photo: DANNIKA BONSER

FULL LIST OF 2024 GRAND DAIRY WINNERS

Grand Champion Cheese:

Dellendale Creamery - Churchill Rd Raclette

Grand Champion Dairy Product:

Bannister Downs Dairy - Double Cream

Champion Fresh Unripened

Cheese La Casa Del Formaggio Mascarpone

Champion Fresh Stretched Curd Cheese

Montefiore Cheese Australia Ovolini

Champion White Mould Cheese

Hunter Belle Dairy Co. Ash Briebelle

Champion Semi-Hard/Eye Cheese

Dellendale Creamery Churchill Rd Raclette

Champion Cheddar Cheese

Bega Cheese Heritage Reserve Vintage Cheddar

Champion Hard Cheese

Floridia Cheese Pecorino Red Chilli

Champion Blue Cheese

Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese Oak Blue

Champion Washed/Mixed Rind

Cheese Milawa Cheese Company King River Gold

Champion Flavoured Cheese

Saputo Dairy Australia- King Island Dairy Stokes Point Smoked Cheddar

Champion Goat/Sheep/Buffalo and Camel Milk Cheese

Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese Riverine Blue

Champion Butter

Fonterra Australia Pure Valley Unsalted Butter

Champion Cream

Bannister Downs Dairy Double Cream

Champion Flavoured Milk

Sharma’s Kitchen Khajoor Milk

Champion Modified Milk

Brownes Dairy Farmdale Full Cream Lactose Free Milk

Champion Milk

Lactalis Australia – Lidcombe Pauls Farmhouse Gold Full Cream Milk

Champion Dairy Dessert

Jay’s Dairy Pineapple Shrikhand

Champion Dairy Gelato

Gelataria Gondola Yuzu Custard Gelato

Champion Novelty Ice Cream

Bulla Family Dairy Murray St Lemon Meringue Tart Sticks

Champion Ice Cream

Van Diemens Land Creamery Pepperberry & Leatherwood Honey Ice Cream

Champion Flavoured Yoghurt

Jay’s Dairy Masala Lassi

Champion Natural Yoghurt

Brownes Dairy - Greek Unsweetened Natural Yoghurt

Champion Other Goat/Sheep/Buffalo or Camel Milk Product

Meredith Dairy Natural Goat Milk Yoghurt Probiotic