With two birds, two cats, three dogs and 21 alpacas, Alison Pongraz is never short of company. The owner of Bluestone Alpacas opened her home to Caitlyn Morgan and shares what she loves about living on a property with her “usual” animals. Picture: Ben Gross
DRIVING out to Alison Pongraz’s Coomealla property, it isn’t hard to understand why she loves it so much.
Limited housing, peaceful location and the odd kangaroo or two are all features of the area surrounding her home.
When Alison thinks about the meaning of home, it’s the life she has built on her four-acre property that springs to mind.
While having only lived there for three years, Alison says it was like the property was built just for her.
“I just love everything. I love the feeling of when I first come home and how by making it my own it has become my sanctuary,” she says.
“It was overgrown and overrun, so I made it my own by building paddocks and a shelter.”
While Alison loves the house, it’s the animals that are the real highlight.
“I love just sitting out with the alpacas – there is just something about them,” she says.
Alison admits to having always been an animal lover, even studying to become a vet nurse in her early 20s and dreaming of one day owning a property, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that the idea of owning alpacas was something to consider.
“I have always been an outdoor girl and have just always loved exploring,” she says.
“It wasn’t until a friend suggested I get alpacas that it all came about.
“I got my first five in 2015 and it just went from there.”
Now Alison is the proud owner of 21 alpacas and has 13 “bubs” on the way, all due next year.
“When it comes to the births I do usually like to be there; it’s so stressful but an amazing experience,” she says.
“For a livestock animal they are relatively easy to look after, it’s all very basic.
“They are very unique to how they operate compared to other livestock, they are very environmentally friendly.”
While Alison says they are easy to care for, they are not generally suitable as household pets.
“Hand-raising alpacas is not ideal, as they can develop berserk alpaca syndrome,” Alison says.
“They are cute and cuddly but ideally they are not pets, they have to have a very specific personality to be suitable to that.
“They are such beautiful animals and they are what I am passionate about, there is just something about them that makes you fall in love with them.”
Alison says not only are they nice to look at, their fur coat is considered “one of the best fibers in the entire planet”.
“The industry is only 30 years old and it really hasn’t reached the commercial stage yet,” she says.
“We are pretty remote here with not many others with alpacas so I have just had to learn as I go and learn from every mistake.
“From learning about picking the right males to the impact the environment and food can make on the coat quality. It has been hard and if it wasn’t for my friends and neighbours I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Alison has big plans for her future, with the hope of educating others on alpacas and continuing to expand her business.
