Our History

The current Muchea property formally known as Yaminga Stud was purchased in 1996 from the estate of the late Ted Hickling. The property at that stage was being used exclusively as a training operation having produced numerous outstanding racehorses including four Perth Cup winners. Upon purchase the property was immediately transformed from a training operation to a thoroughbred stud with breeding facilities. In 1998 a decision to stand a stallion named Scenic would turn the stud into one of the most powerful breeding operations in Western Australia. Scenic went on to become the greatest stallion to ever stand in the West. In 2012 the stud formally known as Durham Lodge was purchased by original part owner David Smith and renamed Scenic Lodge in honour of the champion sire.

Stallions, for the past decade Scenic Lodge have had the good fortune to own the Western Australia’s champion stallion. The stud’s foundation stallion Scenic was champion sire for seven consecutive seasons during which time he was in the top five in Australia on a few occasions. His successor Blackfriars has continued in Scenic’s footsteps and been WA champion sire for the past three years. The stud is now fortunate to stand Blackfriars and Scenic’s son Universal Ruler.

The stud operates on 350 hectares which includes the breeding complex in Muchea and summer grazing land located 12kms North towards Gingin.