Coolindown Farms home block was purchased by the AJ Lay in 1977, and was cleared by Deon and his brother. The house was built in 1987 and underwent a major extension in 2007. The property is located 55kms East/Northeast of the town of Esperance in Western Australia. Coolindown Farms has expanded over the years and now comprises 4 locations, a mixed enterprise of sheep and grains. We have been developing our own line of Merinos for 30 years and were also an early adopter of Clayspreading innovation to counter nonwetting soils. We have been reaping the benefits of staging this investment over the last 20 years.

Born in Lake Grace in the mid 60’s, Deons’ parents Jim and Melva took up a new land block in Esperance and they moved there with the children when Deon was about 2 yrs old. They worked hard to clear it and establish a productive farm.  The eldest of 4 children, Deon was educated in Esperance, travelling to and fro on a bus each day.

Upon completing year 12 Deon came home to the farm to work with his dad but didn’t take long before setting out doing contracting work so he could branch out on his own. Deon is currently in the process of handing over the day to day management to his eldest son and third partner in the business Joshua and managing our off farm contract clay spreading operation.

Born in Albany in the late 70s, the eldest of 4 children. Belinda grew up in the small town of Beverley with her mother. It was the regular visits to her Grandparents farm that led her to fall in love with life on the land and decide to pursue a future in this Industry. Her role has evolved over the last 22 years to accommodate the changes that having a family brings. Belinda is responsible for the partnerships paperwork including all grain marketing but she also loves being in the sheepyards. Belinda won the WA Agrifutures Rural Woman of the Year Award for her innovative project looking at sheep tracking collars. Read more about the RESEARCH TRIAL here.

Born in Esperance in the late 80’s Joshua is the eldest of Deons’ 5 children, travelling on the same bus run as his dad Joshua went to school in Esperance before opting to do year 11 & 12 at Narrogin Agricultural College. It was here he met his now wife Emma and came home to the farm straight from school. In 2011, Joshua decided to expand his wings and utilise his machinery operating skills in the mining industry. Returning to the farm in 2013 his passion for animal breeding is has always been evident, chickens at Ag College, now Berkshire pigs - winning champion sow at the Royal Adelaide Show in 2018. Joshua became a partner in 2015 and is embracing the challenge of taking over the day to day management of farm activities from his dad.

Born in Collie in the late 80s to parents Geoff and Colleen she is the 3^rd of 4 children. Emma grew up and went to school in Collie before deciding to follow her passion for horses by enrolling in the Equine Course at Narrogin Agricultural College. It was here she met Joshua and decided to follow him back to Esperance, working first at Farm & General followed by Landmark.

Emma blessed us with the next generation of the Lay family in 2011 with the arrival of Dakota and then Toby in 2015 (below). Emma works on the farm helping with livestock and has recently taken on the responsibility of HR/Payroll.