The Noojee Lea homestead, located at picturesque Canowindra.

Koonwarra Merino Stud is owned by Koonwarra Merino Stud Partnership, which is jointly owned, by Capital Investments Rural Pty Ltd, of Mr Charles Curran and his family, and Merrignee Pty Ltd, of Messrs Charles and Jonathan Merriman. Koonwarra Merino Stud is managed on the property Little Range at Boorowa on the south-west slopes of NSW, and managed by Charlie and Jono Merriman, with the help of Stuart Hodgson, the Stud Classer.

Mr Curran is a director of a number of public companies, and was the inaugural Chairman of the Australian Wool Exchange. Capital Investments Pty Ltd has investments in satellite communications, television production, manufacturing and commercial property. Mr Curran has conducted rural operations at Canowindra since 1980. The Noojee Lea operations at Canowindra, comprise of a Koonwarra merino flock, together with cropping, lucerne hay, crossbred fat lambs, Nassau Estate vineyard and Springdale thoroughbred stud.

Charlie Merriman and his wife, Pip have lived at Little Range since 1977. Until July 1990 Charlie was a partner in Merryville Pty Ltd, which was managed by Charlie’s father, Bruce Merriman. In July 1990, Charlie and Pip, separated from Merryville Pty Ltd, after Bruce died. They commenced C.T. Merriman & Son, and with their one-fifth share of Merryville Pty Ltd they started the Merrignee Merino and Poll Merino Studs, and Merrignee Poll Hereford Stud, on their property Little Range.

Merrignee Merino Stud is a Superfine and Fine wool stud, and they feel the addition of the Koonwarra Stud is a good partnership, as they have known and admired the quality traits of the fine/medium wool of the Koonwarra sheep for many years. Their son, Jono is very interested and positive about the merino industry, and is keen to be involved. As part of his three year Marcus Oldham course, which he graduated from in December 2005, Jono spent 12 months working for H E Kater & Sons, who own Egelabra Merino Stud at Warren, Jono spent most of his time on the stud sheep property Eenaweena.

Up until 1998, Koonwarra Merino Stud was located at Crookwell and owned and managed by Mr John Williams, Thalaba Crookwell. He is a very highly regarded stud master, and Koonwarra amassed many prestigious awards under his guidance, and developed a much sought after and renowned Koonwarra sheep type.

In 1998, Mr Charles Curran bought the Koonwarra Merino Stud and moved it to Canowindra. Now, in 2006 with the help of Mr Curran, Charlie, Pip and Jono Merriman have been able to move the famous Koonwarra Merino Stud to Boorowa. They look forward to the future, with the two merino studs, that they feel will now allow them to service a bigger clientele with a more diverse choice.