All Things Cherry: Rowella Cherry Farm

Now this is a grass roots rustic farm. Wear your walking shoes or gum boots and get ready for a straight-talking talk about all things cherry.

Located in Rowella on the west bank of the Tamar River, this region is known for its agricultural bounty, particularly its stone fruit and berry growers.

This cherry farm is the result of a lot of hard work, which husband and wife team, Paul and Regine will tell you all about.

And don’t forget to stock up on Regine’s famous cherry pies, jams and All Things Cherry before you leave – a delicious souvenir of a fabulous Farmgate Festival day.

Brady’s Lookout Cider

A picturesque orchard high on the sloping Tamar riverbanks, planted with over eighty-five heritage apple varieties, some dating back to 1608.

The orchard is nurtured using organic principles, by owners Caro and Chris Brown, with the apples used to produce small batch Methode Traditionelle sparkling ciders of the finest quality. Brady’s is the only cider mill in Tasmania to use this traditional sparkling wine technique, combined with the flavour of heritage apples, the resulting cider is refined and authentic.

The Brady’s Lookout cider mill is on site, at the brand new cellar door.

Fork n Farm

Farmgate is excited to welcome Fork n Farm to this year’s program, the only business in Tasmania offering unique cooking classes in cheese-making, charcuterie, sourdough, artisan pasta, wood-fire pizza and mozzarella, pickles and preserves, hot and cold smoking and open fire cooking feasts.

There are even blacksmithing workshops and cold process soaping and body product workshops. And as if that is not enough, Fork n Farm also offer uniquely build accommodation using up-cycled and recycled materials.

Join Cassie and Aaron for a sneak peak at this beautiful piece of Tasmania, watch a demonstration and don’t forget to grab some delicious souvenirs before you leave.

Hedgewitch Cottage

To call Carol-Anne a master weaver is an understatement and to think it all starts at the heritage-listed Hedgewitch Farm! This sustainable ‘paddock to craft’ farm is ready to welcome Farmgate visitors.

Be prepared to visit the friendliest, cutest English Leicester sheep who graciously give up their fleece for Carol-Anne to dye, spin and create beautiful works of art.

Carol-Anne will be joined by her ‘Fluff Fest’ participants who will all be busy demonstrating the paddock to craft processes steeped in tradition and craftsmanship.

Hillwood Berries

Heading over the Batman Bridge to the East Tamar, Farmgate is proud to welcome this family owned berry farm in the heart of the Tamar Valley.

Hillwood Berries pride themselves on the quality of produce and commitment to local, fresh produce.

Having grown from our humble beginnings as Meander Valley Berries into a 50 hectare property growing berries for both commercial supply and open to the public through our pick your own and farmgate café.

A fantastic opportunity for the public to see a working berry farm whilst having the experience to harvest your own berries.

Lavender House – The Perfumery

Located in the small town of Rowella, Lavender House was established in 1991 and is inspired by a passion for lavender and the natural therapeutic values of herbs as simple natural remedies. The heart of the business is the bright Perfumery building where products are made on site.

Your Farmgate tour will take you through the manufacturing plant, explaining the oil distillation process and a chance to purchase the products using handmade recipes produced to provide head to toe remedies for most aliment.

Lentara Grove Olives

One of Tasmania’s oldest olive groves with almost two thousand mature olive trees and young olive trees, and a state-of-the-art pressing and processing shed on-site.

Owners Martin and Sophie Grace produce award-winning extra virgin oils and a range of dukkah, tapenade, table olives and also sumptuous skincare products.

Lentara is now the state’s first commercial scale pomegranate farm, with a small orchard recently planted.

Enjoy a tour of the farm, samples and sales of all products.

Marions Vineyard

Marion’s Vineyard is a second generation, family operated wine retreat offering visitors some of the most magnificent views of the beautiful Kanamaluka River.

There are a variety of vines, most of which are now 42 years old, offering low yields but highly flavoured sparkling, whites and full-bodied reds.

Listen to brother and sister team Cynthia and David as they tell you about how the family is integrating organic and biodynamic principles into their vineyards, olive groves and market gardens.

Join them for a tour, purchase their wines, olives, red wine vinegar and other produce grown on the farm, and be sure to visit the Festival Feasts page to book your place at the long table Greek Feast lunch in their magnificent tavern. Definitely the best views in Tasmania

Muddy Creek Apples

Muddy Creek Apples, the 2021 Farmgate Festival Hub (please head to the Festival Hub Tab in the Menu for more details).

It is a historic apple and pear orchard just outside Legana, owned and run by Kym Shilton and Peter Farquhar, assisted by their three boys.

It is a perfect 130-acre property is bordered by Muddy Creek with views out to the Tamar River.

It features heirloom apple varieties like Gravenstein, crofton, cox’s orange pippin, red delicious, fuji and lady in the snow along with six types of pear, including the original winter cole trees planted in 1915.

Peter and Kym sell all their fruit direct from the apple shed on weekends from February to July, and supply the IGA in Exeter, and speciality produce store Alps&Amici in East Launceston.

Farmgate thanks Peter and Kym for hosting the Farmgate Festival Hub. Be sure to visit the Farmgate Feasts page for your ticket to the family-friendly bush feast in a barn event on Saturday night November 27. It is going to be heaps of fun.

Tamar Valley Truffles

A magnificent farm and leading producer of black perigord truffles, Tamar Valley Truffles is located in a sweeping valley just behind Launceston.

Around eight hectares are given over to some three thousand stately oak trees planted in 2001. Join a tour through the orchard where the truffles flourish and hear about the growth habits of this mysterious culinary delight.

Finish your tour with samples of award winning truffle infused products and truffle flavoured dishes.

Tandara Ponies

This is sure to be a family favourite. Listen as Sharron and her team talk about how to care for a pony, then have a short riding lesson followed by a lead pony ride, fully supervised by the Tandara Farm trained staff.

Helmets are provided – all the kids have to do is smile.

Village Olive Grove

A picturesque olive grove consistently producing top quality, award winning oil.

Take a walking tour of this grove of over eight hundred trees in flower and bud, and see a demonstration of harvesting techniques.

Sample the oil, olives and dukkah and learn more about running small scale olive oil production from owners Allen and Barbara Baird.

Waterton Hall

Family-owned vineyard estate producing award winning wines from vines of Shiraz, Riesling and Viognier.

The sixty acre estate is well known in the region for its historic significance, home to the magnificent Georgian hall, fully restored convict built barn with shingle roof, and schoolhouse. The picturesque boathouse on the river’s edge is everyone’s favourite spot. 

With no cellar door at the hall, visiting is usually by appointment only. The Farmgate weekend is a rare opportunity for a walking, talking historic tour or gardens and buildings with glass in hand.

Be sure to visit the Festival Feasts page to purchase you ticket to a magnificent high-tea in the historic barn (tickets on sale September 2021).

As Waterton Hall does not have a cellar door there is normally no access to the property and makes this a unique opportunity to tour the historical garden and buildings.

Westbay Truffles & Tea

Westbay Truffles & Tea is a small family farm located in Rowella on the Tamar River.

They specialise in future tea and truffle farming and are the only tea plantation in northern Tasmania.

Listen as Aimee talks about her passion for her family farm, and what it takes to grow and process tea in the Tassie climate

Wilmore’s Bluff

This magnificent farm on the banks of the Tamar River at Rowella is home to one thousand crossbred ewes and one hundred head of cattle.

Join a tour through the historic apple shed, now converted to a shearing shed and learn about wool classing and baling. Then it’s out to the pens and paddocks beyond and a chance to get closer to some farm livestock.

Mandy and Carl will be joined this year by the spinners weavers and a number of local wool artists. They even have a coffee van on hand.

Fleece suitable for spinning will be available for purchase on the festival weekend.

Winter Brook Vineyard

An estate boutique vineyard, winery and tasting room located in the West Tamar Valley specialising in cool climate wines and apple cider.

Their range of wines include traditional varieties, such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Sauvignon Blanc, to rare varieties; such as Dornfelder and Blaufränkisch. New owners, Sandy and Adam Gibson are excited to welcome you to their new home.

Join them on a tour of the winery, as well as barrel tastings and a preview of tastings of wines due to be released.