In 1978 Rob and Jan Newell purchased 250 hectares of land six kilometres south of Goondiwindi. Today, along with their son, Andrew, and daughter, Kathy, they manage two cotton production properties, Korolea and Royston, with a combined area of 2,500 hectares. Across these properties, the family has developed 1,720 hectares of irrigated country sourcing its water from the Macintyre River.
Rob Newell has long been considered one of the pioneers of cotton in the Macintyre Valley. The family have been nominated for the Australian Cotton Grower of the Year award multiple times. Recently the Newells have teamed up with a Brisbane-based start-up Down Under Cotton to create sanitary products using Australian cotton.
The Newells are now in the process of integrating a new production system which they anticipate will result in significant benefits to the health of the landscape, as well as the profitability of their business.
