The pioneering Shaw River brand has made a celebrated return to the market, bringing back original cheesemaker Andrew Royal, who is once again crafting cheese and yoghurt by hand in small batches. The venture began in 1995 with the import of select milking buffalo from Italy and Bulgaria and was initially located at Purrumbete Homestead near Camperdown, Victoria. In 2000, the name changed to Shaw River Buffalo Cheese when a new facility was built along the banks of the Shaw River in Yambuk, a small coastal town along the Great Ocean Road and the farm and factory continued operations until 2021.

 

In a new chapter for the brand, Melbourne entrepreneur Ignatious and his wife Muliali purchased the factory and hired Andrew to revive the iconic business. They source buffalo milk from a South Australian producer, and cheese production officially resumed in May 2025, marking a fresh start for a beloved Australian dairy legacy.