Millin’s Free Range Butcher in Balgowlah Heights has officially been named home to the best sausages in New South Wales, beating butchers across the state to take out two top gold awards at a major industry competition.
Local Butcher Makes Statewide Impact
Earlier this year, Millin’s Free Range Butcher won gold for its Traditional Australian Beef and Satay Malay Chicken sausages at the NSW Sausage King finals. The shop also claimed silver for its Lamb & Raisin sausage and a beef burger blend. Owner Stef Millin has spent over a decade refining his craft, entering the competition regularly.
He started in 2001 and opened the Balgowlah Heights store in 2011 after earning top honours as a TAFE apprentice. Today, his butcher shop is well known across the Northern Beaches for its handmade smallgoods and locally sourced meats.
Handmade Sausages and Homegrown Ingredients
The secret behind the win lies in the quality and preparation of the sausages. Millin and his team use only grass-fed beef from regions like Barrington Tops and the Hunter Valley, as well as locally raised lamb and Borrowdale free-range pork. Each sausage is hand-mixed, hand-linked, and made fresh in-store.
The award-winning Chicken Satay Malay sausage, for example, includes a base of peanut, chilli, and coriander, flavours Millin says are bold but balanced. The butcher shop’s approach involves continuous product testing, new flavour trials, and a commitment to consistency, freshness, and flavour.
Community at the Core
Millin credits his success not just to his personal skill but to the effort of his entire team. He says it’s the teamwork behind the scenes that has allowed the store to grow and compete at the top level.
Over the years, Millin’s has earned a strong reputation among locals, with regular customers dropping in not just for sausages but also for gourmet items like chicken schnitzels, house-smoked bacon, and seasonal roasts.
The butcher shop operates out of New Street West and also offers home delivery to the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore, making it easier for local families to support a business rooted in their own backyard.
Looking Ahead with a Passion for the Craft
As a regular contender in meat industry contests, Millin’s shop is no stranger to the spotlight. But the recent gold wins are a reminder that small, community-based shops can still shine in a field filled with larger commercial operations.
Stef Millin continues to explore new sausage blends and keep quality at the forefront, with an eye on future competitions, and, more importantly, feeding the neighbourhood with food that’s thoughtfully made.
Published 20-June-2025
