A group of local beef producers has banded together to re-open Corryong’s butcher shop, with a focus on sourcing meat from local farms.

Upper Murray Beef (UMB) is a community-driven initiative that was born from the Upper Murray 2030 Plan with an emphaisis on ‘value adding’ to local production.

The project was driven by Dan Whitehouse who was closely involved with bushfire recovery support in the Upper Murray.

A private company was established by a number of local beef producers as shareholders with Ian Cesa, Ross de Clifford, Jayden Pierce and Dan Whitehouse acting as directors.

Its mission is to brand and market Upper Murray beef as the the best grassfed meat in Australia.

The group tested the waters by selling its meat online and then began supplying Corryong IGA supermarket.

The positive response encouraged UMB to establish its new retail outlet which is trading as Corryong Butchery.

The search was then on for a qualified butcher and the opportunity piqued the interest of Brad and Kelly Smith, who were in Broome at the time while travelling.

“The Upper Murray was somewhere we hadn’t visited,” Brad said, “but we love Victoria and have found Corryong to be very welcoming.”

Brad has been a qualified butcher for more than 30 years and he and Kelly intend to provide the community with “the best quality beef in the country” and also with a select range of pork and lamb products and monthly fresh fish.

They are also exploring the option of sourcing chickens from local producers.

The meat is currently processed off-site but UMB will further develop the business with the addition of a mobile butchery within the next 12 months to meet its commitment to value adding for local producers; which is expected to create 15-20 jobs.

UMB is also planning to grow by expanding into other markets as its branding and marketing takes effect.

The Corryong Butchery in Hanson Street is open six days a week Monday to Thursday from 8.30am-3.00pm, Friday 8.30am-5.30pm and Saturday 8.30am-12pm.

This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 16 May 2024.