From a Dam Tank to the World: The Remarkable Evolution of a WA Yabby Business
Western Australia’s agricultural sector has long been built on grit, innovation and community. But few stories capture that pioneering spirit quite like the evolution of a family-run yabby enterprise that began as a hobby on the side of a dam and grew into an international export operation.
This is a story of resilience, rapid growth, regional women in business, and standing up for what you believe in.
The Humble Beginnings: A Hobby in the 1980
In the 1980s, the business wasn’t really a business at all.
It began with catching yabbies from a farm dam and selling them to a local wholesaler. It was considered a sideline — something extra. There was no grand strategy, no export plan, no processing facility. Just hard work and opportunity.
Everything changed when outside buyers recognised the potential.
A restaurant wanted supply. Demand increased. And what had once been a hobby quickly began to grow “like topsy”, as they used to say.
By the early 1990s, husband and wife were packing yabbies at three o’clock in the morning to meet couriers. The learning curve was steep, and the stakes were rising.
Understanding the Product: The Science Behind Yabbies
The yabby (scientifically known as Cherax destructor) is a native Australian freshwater crayfish, originally from Victoria but introduced into Western Australia in the 1930s. Over time, they spread across the Wheatbelt and Great Southern regions.
Success in the industry required more than catching and selling.
They had to learn:
- Yabbies are cold-water species
- Proper refrigeration is critical
- Purging is essential to empty the gut
- Handling directly affects flavour and survivability
- Transport conditions determine export viability
Yabbies were placed into cold water tanks to purge, ensuring a sweeter taste and better travel resilience. With correct handling, they could survive long-haul freight.
At their peak, Western Australian yabbies were flown to New York and then distributed across the United States via FedEx an extraordinary achievement for a business that began beside a dam.
Watch the complete Podcast on YouTube.
Scaling Up: From Producer to Aggregator
The evolution of the business followed a classic agribusiness growth path:
- Producer – catching and growing their own yabbies
- Processor – installing tanks and cold storage systems
- Aggregator – buying from other local growers
- Exporter – supplying interstate and international markets
Between 1991 and 1998, expansion was rapid and relentless.
- The operation moved from a dam-side tank
- Into a section of the shearing shed
- Then into the hay shed
- Then doubled in size
- Installation of a refrigerated tank measuring 13 metres by 3.8 metres
In just seven years, the business transformed from hobby to serious commercial enterprise.
The Power of Regional Women in Agribusiness
One of the most striking elements of this growth story was the workforce.
As demand increased, the business employed and partnered with many local women.
The philosophy was simple: women nurtured the product.
Handling live seafood requires attention, care and consistency. Keeping yabbies cold, reducing stress, maintaining water quality these details determined survival rates and profitability.
Women across the region began growing yabbies and supplying the facility. The enterprise became not just a family business, but a community-driven network.
In many ways, it was an early example of regional female entrepreneurship in action long before the term became fashionable.
Advocacy and Environmental Risk: The 2006 Turning Point
By 2006, the business was thriving. But external risks emerged.
There were plans for aerial spraying across large areas to control grasshoppers. Anyone familiar with aerial spraying understands the risks of drift and inversion layers, sometimes extending up to two kilometres.
For a live aquaculture business, this posed a serious threat.
The response was proactive and determined:
- Engagement with politicians
- Advocacy through the media
- Public awareness campaigns
- Securing the right to refuse aerial spraying over the property
Although the property itself was not sprayed, the broader environmental impact was felt. Dead birds appeared likely having consumed poisoned insects or aquatic life.
The episode highlights a crucial reality for Australian primary producers: success depends not only on markets and hard work, but also on environmental policy and regulatory decisions.
Lessons from a Regional Success Story
This story reflects several enduring truths about Australian agribusiness:
- Great businesses often start as hobbies
- Rapid growth demands constant learning
- Processing and logistics are as critical as production
- Community partnerships strengthen supply chains
- Advocacy is sometimes necessary to protect livelihoods
- Women play a vital, often under-recognised role in regional enterprise
From packing yabbies at dawn to exporting to New York, the journey reflects resilience, adaptability and vision.
It is also a reminder that regional Australia continues to innovate in ways that shape global markets.
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