A Proud Heritage

« Charles Leach ( circa 1923)

The Leach and Holland families have an unparalleled poultry farming heritage in Australia. Three generations of the Leach family have been involved in pushing the barriers forward in the dynamic poultry industry since 1904. Ted Holland, shortly after WW11 commenced poultry farming at St. Johns Park. His son George and wife Julie have continued the association and are active producers of high quality eggs, with several farms under their control in the Sydney basin. Ray Leach and George Holland have joined forces to continue a combined century old tradition of egg production.

Distribution

» Chas. Leach (circa 1927)

“The last stage through which eggs pass before ready for the housewife, leave much to be desired, especially in the case of grocers and such good shops. It is here that very often good eggs are kept under such unsatisfactory conditions, frequently exposed to the sun or kept in the open for days that it is little wonder complaints are heard about the quality of eggs, for which the farm often gets the blame.

Thus, to ensure good fresh eggs to the public, there must be proper and systematic handling in all channels through which they pass. This would in turn lead to increased consumption of one of the most valuable articles of food.”

Fortunately, modern fresh food retailers such as Woolworths have demanded of their suppliers that they install food Safe systems, second to none in fresh food retailing. All food suppliers to Woolworths must pass, on a continuous basis, a rigorous, well documented standard to supply eggs to Woolworths. Free Range Egg Farms enthusiastically embrace and support this drive for high food quality as enunciated by Chas. Leach in 1927 and now adopted by modern food retailers.

Innovators

« Mr Sid Leach receives recognition for mastering his art

Mr Sid Leach continued the tradition of his father, always searching for ways to improve poultry production techniques. In 1935 , Sid seized the opportunity to master the art of chick sexing. He was the first Australian to learn and master this technique as passed on by the Japanese. This technique lowered the cost of producing laying hens and hence egg production costs dramatically.

Free Range Farming – The Past

» Pioneer Stud Farm – Revesby (Circa 1928)

“The industry has taken up the ideas and copied the modalities generated by the Leach’s in the past 50 years, moves that initially were innovative and untried and which in time proved their worth in more productive bird strains, lowered incidence of disease and better quality table meat and eggs”

Country leader, March 1986.

Free Range Farming – The Present

« Free Range Egg Farms continue the tradition of innovation with Ecoeggs. Ray Leach and George Holland have developed a modern approach to the traditional method of free range egg farming as pioneered by Chas. Leach, owner of the Pioneer Hatchery. Ecoeggs are produced by hens thriving on lush improved pastures, natural grains and natural supplements to produce high quality eggs which are naturally richer.