CHERRY HILL COOLSTORES &
TASMANIAN SEED POTATOES
Pictured: Something big is on the horizon at Cherry Hill Coolstores.
SEPTEMBER 2025
In our September newsletter, Edition 43, we are happy to report our seed line machinery reports excellent results. We also share with you our Cherry Hill season report and final in the series of Adventures of Amos. Read on for these stories and more…
IN THIS ISSUE
SEASON REPORT
Pictured left to right: Lynette Nankervis, Wayne Maxwell, Andrew Vandenberg, Justin Johnson, Iris Bacosa, Conor O’Doherty, Dominy O’Doherty, Andrew Langmaid, Kurt Norris and Pam Langmaid.
We commenced pre-cutting seed in early May and are now over halfway through the scheduled program. Wayne has done an excellent job managing the storage requirements for everyone’s seed. We currently have 12,000 tonnes in storage with an aim to have over 11,000 tonnes pre-cut by the start of Spring.
We’ve received positive reports regarding seed quality, with Wayne noting, “It’s looking alright.” We’re on track for a mid-September to early October planting season and will soon begin warming up the seed for everyone.
SEED LINE MACHINERY FOLLOW UP
The new cutting line equipment is performing exceptionally well. We’re adapting to the machinery and continually refining our workflow. The most rewarding aspect is the noticeable improvement in product quality, with glowing feedback from clients stating this is the best seed quality on record.
Pictured: Cranes on site for the construction of the new coolrooms.
MORE COOLROOMS UNDERWAY
Our ever-expanding storage needs, driven by industry demand, has meant we require more cool storage capacity, and construction of our new coolrooms is officially underway! This expansion will add capacity for an impressive 7,000 tonnes of seed potatoes and it is on track for the 2026 season.
The seven new coolrooms will increase our overall storage capacity to a total of 30,000 tonnes. We’re also adding a new dry room and a machinery shed for bulk bagging and grading lines. On completion, our single-site capacity will include a total of 31 coolrooms and drystore rooms.
We’re extremely proud to offer this additional storage for our clients, which create opportunities for growth, and supports many new jobs in the industry – both immediately and into the future.
If anyone has any special requests, please contact Kurt Norris on 0439 977 541.
TASMANIAN SEED POTATOES
“Our price negotiations with McCain are well underway. We expect to receive final approvals soon, after which we’ll schedule all seed growers for the start of the planting season”
Andrew Vandenberg
MAINTENANCE REPORT
Everything is going steadily this year. We’re hitting all our goals and targets, and we aim to increase capacity for 2026.
We’ve been navigating the new seed cutting line equipment and are busy planning ahead for the end-of-year equipment rebuild and servicing work.
Please call Justin on 0498 780 553 if you require any maintenance or metal fabrication.
Justin Johnson
WAYNE’S WORLD
“I’m reasonably happy with the seed, it’s looking alright. The new machinery is going well, and we’re making continual adjustments to our workflow and processes to suit the capabilities of the new seed cutting line. We’ve received feedback from growers that this is the best job we’ve ever done cutting seed, and they’re really happy with the quality.
We’re on track to meet our storage goals this season, with growers planning to plant in September and October.”
Wayne Maxwell
ADVENTURES OF AMOS – PART FOUR
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THE FIRST LANGMAID IN TASMANIA
Pictured: Amos Langmaid
This article was re-written from original story and research by Marion (Langmaid) Brown.
Amos (Langmead) was the great, great grandfather of Andrew Langmaid. This last instalment of Amos’s adventures see him in and out of prison while his children struggled to keep the assets afloat, ultimately ends with Amos selling the lime works to James Blenkhorn.
Unfortunately, in 1866, Amos was put up on a charge of cattle stealing from Torquay (East Devonport). Amos was sentenced to a term of five years at Port Arthur. Hannah and her children moved to the family cottage at Dulverton. The circumstances were difficult for the family and made more tragic by the death of Amos’s youngest daughter Louisa in 1869, aged 4 years.
Arthur William Langmaid struggled to keep the Limeworks going, while the younger Alfred Tarleton Langmaid worked on the farm. The financial pressure was too much to bear and Arthur William was forced to mortgage his property to a businessman in Latrobe.
In 1871, Amos was released from prison and he returned to his family at the farm at Dulverton. For a time, he had an interest in a local timber mill cutting sleepers for the new railway from Launceston to Formby (now Devonport).
Meanwhile Arthur William Langmaid met Elizabeth Jane Jeffries, a farmer’s daughter from Victoria. The first four children of Arthur William Langmaid and Elizabeth Jane Jeffries were born at Railton between 1871 and 1878. Tragically, their eldest child Arthur William Jnr. died in 1879.
In 1885 the Langmaid family sold their interest in the Limeworks to a neighbour James Blenkhorn. Arthur William Langmaid and his family moved to Waratah to work at the Mount Bischoff tin mine. His signature can be found on a wages sheet at the Waratah Museum showing that he was earning 10 shillings per shift at the mine in July 1887.
The family of Arthur William and Elizabeth Jane grew to thirteen children. The family moved onto a farm at Mengha around 1900, but misfortune followed the family. Their youngest daughter Lillian Melba Langmaid died from injuries caused by scalding water in 1907. In 1910, a scandal involving a son split the family apart and many of the children moved to Victoria. Arthur William Langmaid died on 5 August 1933 and was buried at Wivenhoe.
Alfred Tarleton Langmaid opened the first hotel in the Railton district in a house on the road not far from the Limeworks. His family eventually moved onto new farms at Moltema and Dunorlan.
Amos Langmaid remained on his farm at Dulverton until he passed away in 1894. He was buried at Railton. The age claimed on his death certificate of 101 years is false, as his true age was 84 years. He looked much older, with a crippled back, still suffering from the lashes and other punishment he received for misdemeanours in his convict years.
The Limeworks continued to be operated by the Blenkhorn family and their descendants until 1997 when the Limeworks finally closed down. The original limestone quarry has been filled in, fenced off and a stand of pine trees now cap the hill behind the old quarry.
A limestone monument to Amos Langmaid and the Railton Lime Works has been erected beside the Latrobe-Railton Road. It represents a proud mark for Amos Langmaid who pioneered industrial development in a country far removed from his homeland.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our final article in the series of Langmaid history.
STAFF PROFILE: DAVID AND BRETT HAINES |
David (Desi) grew up in the Fingal Valley and now calls Railton home. During his teenage and early adult years he played cricket, and remains a keen fan of the sport today. Over the years, Desi has enjoyed a wide range of hobbies – including caring for sheep – but these days he mostly enjoys watching AFL, proudly supporting North Melbourne as a one-eyed fan. Desi joined Cherry Hill Coolstores in February this year and works primarily as a forklift driver on the seed cutting line.
His son Brett lives in Sprent and has a passion for rodeos. He even used to compete, until a youth injury brought his rodeo days to an end. These days, Brett unwinds by helping out on a friend’s farm with cattle and potato growing. Brett joined Cherry Hill Coolstores in February 2024 and helps in managing the washing and cool storage of dirty carrots. When the season allows, he assists with loading seed potatoes into trucks for our growers when they’re ready for planting.
Pictured: Left to right, David and Brett Haines, our father and son duo.
Pictured: Wayne is inspecting the new coolroom expansion
TESTIMONIAL… Fantastic to work with
“My father, Gerard, founded our business around 35 years ago, by growing fresh produce. The farm is now run by myself and my sisters, and we’ve been working with Cherry Hill Coolstores for 11 years. I primarily collaborate with Wayne on seed-related matters. He’s a fantastic guy, knowledgeable, experienced, and knows everything like the back of his hand. For accounts and administration, I work closely with Conor and Iris. Overall, my experience with Cherry Hill has been fantastic. They’ve been incredibly flexible, especially during challenging times for farmers. Our family is particularly grateful for Cherry Hill’s support, as we’ve had several tough years with very wet conditions for seed growing in southern Tasmania.”
Nathan Daly – Daly Farm
View more of our testimonials here.
CHERRY HILL COOLSTORES SEED GUARANTEE
Our Seed Management Services. Cherry Hill Coolstores will guarantee our services on Seed Growers seed. If you buy someone else’s certified seed, which is presented to Cherry Hill in good condition, and it breaks down, we will replace our cutting and services at no charge.
This guarantee specifically refers to seed piece breakdown (i.e. rot), and refers to seed which is delivered directly to Cherry Hill Coolstores from the seed paddock for chemical application, coolstoring and cutting. In order for this guarantee to be valid, the Buyer must make claims within 24-hours of the seed leaving Cherry Hill Coolstores and 
before planting.
In order for this guarantee to be valid, the buyer must make claims with 24 hours of the seed leaving Cherry Hill and before planting.
View more about our guarantee here.
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