A Netherby family’s gypsum mine returns after a missed season

Steve and Sarah White are dual farmers and miners. Their gypsum and lime mine reopened in time for sowing, after rain drowned their 2024 season.

Steven and Sarah White, from Netherby, at their gypsum mine. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

It’s not often a farmer doubles as a miner, but Sarah and Steve White are showing how the a gypsum and lime business can work in with their Merino flock and cropping operations.

Steve White’s father, who was the second generation on the farm, started the Whites’ the mine on a former freshwater lake on their Netherby property.

Sarah said a bulldozer contractor would break up the wall of the mine to bring up the gypsum and lime product, before it’s loaded into a crusher for processing.

“We’re only small mining, compared to people up north. There’s enough to get by, we don’t want to sell heaps because we don’t want it to run out,” she said.

“We’re just lucky enough to have it on our property, it’s our main source of income on the farm.”

Gypsum at a Netherby family-owned mine. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

Sarah and Steve were forced to close the mine for its 2024 season, after they recorded 200mm of rain during summer. It was the first time in 50 years the property significantly flooded.

“In 1974 we had the big floods,” Sarah said. “The water runs off from the west and east side of the farming lands, and it naturally flows to the lake.

“We had water where we haven’t had water in a long time.

“The kids were paddleboarding on it.”

Sarah said it typically only took about 3.5mm of rain to cause a “sticky” effect and make the country difficult to mine.

Sarah White's pet sheep Otis, at Netherby. Picture: Rachel Simmonds

They also manage about 600 Merino ewes for first-cross lambs, and wheat, vetch and barley crops. Meanwhile, the farm is also home to four Clydesdale horses and a pet sheep, Otis.

Steve said this gypsum season had been quieter than usual, due to a tougher cropping season. Western Victoria and South Australian farmers, particularly near Bordertown, were regular clients.

“There’s not as much money out there as what everyone thinks, and this is one of the first things they cut back on,” he said.

Sarah and Steve would finish the gypsum season, which runs between February and early April, in the next fortnight as they prepare for their sowing program.

White’s Gypsum and Lime mine at Netherby. Picture: Rachel Simmonds