The love for this AgTown just keeps growing
When Penola was crowned 2024 Agricultural Town of the Year it was off the back of its diversity and innovation in primary production. But – hold onto your Akubras – it’s also forging ahead in agritourism.
Penola, the winner of 2024 Agricultural Town of the Year, has a lot going for it, said local Wattle Range councillor Emma Castine.
But it took making it to the award finals for the town to understand the extent of its successes.
“That made the town all come together to show off what we could do – and it was huge when we looked at it,” said Castine.
“Mixed farming, which means people do sheep, cattle, cropping and maybe a small forestry or vineyard, has been the foundation of the region.
“But now we have this massive pine industry and the Coonawarra vineyards, and the spin offs from these industries too. So, the wineries, the cellar doors, the trucking companies taking out produce into the cities all the time.”
The Agricultural Town of the Year is an initiative of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions and delivered in partnership with InDaily. The award recognises South Australian towns that excel in agricultural practices and are great places to live and work.
Penola is located in a region of historical fault activity and the resultant diversity of soils has enabled farming of everything from olives to pasture to newer crops like hemp.
“Visitors can come here and see that it’s not just miles of one thing. It’s fascinating to drive through here, and you don’t see that a lot in your drives around Australia,” said Castine.
A born local, she moved back to Penola after a stint in the Adelaide Hills and is keen for people to experience the award-winning region either as a tourist or a tree changer.
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Life in the region is better than in the Adelaide Hills, she said.
“We’ve got great coffee, great food, all of those touristy, entertaining, fun, weekend things to do, but we can work without driving an hour into the city in traffic.”
For those considering a permanent move there are other sweeteners: “We weren’t hit by the housing boom, there are businesses for sale and we’ve got great schools.”
“There are so many opportunities down here if you’re interested in living a life that’s in tune with nature … and we’re only 50 minutes from the coast and Robe, Beachport and Kingston.”
The other drawcard, she said, is the emergence of agritourism in the region, which will likely fuel its own growth as word spreads.
Examples include tours and stays on working farms, tasting experiences at olive groves and other interactive and immersive experiences.
“We’re trying to share what is so unique about the geology and the lifestyle,” said Castine.
Warrawindi Farms is one of those adding an additional income stream to their business.
Owned and operated by David and Alison Galpin, their six children and their partners, the 3000-acre Warrawindi runs a Limousin cattle stud, plus commercial herds of Herefords, Angus and Black Baldies beef and Poll Dorset sheep for meat production.
More than a decade ago, the seed was planted to get into agritourism when they hosted friends of a relative who were visiting from Melbourne and keen to experience life on the land.
Warrawindi’s Ben Brooksby said that “first official tour,” though unpaid, was the start of the on-farm experiences, which led to them now offering stays in two luxury, purpose-built retreats.
The family has been working through the South Australian Tourism Commission’s agritourism toolkit and Brooksby estimates that by 2030 one-quarter of the farm’s income could come from agritourism.
One aspect of farming that may help them achieve that goal is a move they made five years ago to practise regenerative agriculture – giving up fertilisers and focussing on restoring and improving the health of their soil.
“David and Allison are forward thinkers and really encourage [their son] Jordan, [my husband] Mason and myself who are working here on the farm to think outside the square and let us make decisions, and then we discuss it as a group,” said Brooksby.
The family were advised by the Gippsland-based agronomist who helped them implement the practice that it would take at least four years to see the true impact on their pasture and herds.
“But by year one, our herds’ fertility rates went through the roof,” said Brooksby.
This was followed by the animals having better weight gain, improved herd health with fewer health issues and shiny, healthy coats – and, ultimately, fewer vet bills.
The pasture also improved greatly, while the fertiliser bill is zero.
Regenerative agriculture is not widespread in the region yet and its benefits are mainly shared by word of mouth.
“Our pastures are retaining that moisture, so they are lasting longer,” Brooksby said. “When you look over the fence to another farm near us, it’s completely different.”
This bucolic landscape is even more inviting to tourists, who can sit on the verandah of a retreat at Warrawindi Escapes and watch cattle graze.
“We’ve got an abundance of native wildlife as well, like the brolgas that nest here, red tailed cockies, kangaroos and emus … and they’re grazing the paddock with our livestock,” said Brooksby.
Brooksby said much of the groundwork for agritourism in the region was done by Simon and Kerry Meares, who also own a local tourism business and are the “biggest advocates” for the Limestone Coast.
At trade fairs overseas the couple has been meeting with travel agents, spruiking the region’s attractiveness as a destination. David and Alison will join them at two upcoming fairs overseas.
“We’re seeing the effects of [the Meares’ work] coming through – we’ve had a lot of visitors from France, Singapore and New Zealand come over recently to check out what’s going on here, so that they can start sending their clients,” Brooksby said.
“Their excitement at the end of the tour is just so rewarding to us, because we’re just doing our farming, what we always do every day, but they absolutely love it.”
If you know of a South Australian town that deserves to be 2025 Agricultural Town of the Year, nominate it here.
