A Rushworth farm has been in the one family for more than 150 years, but it’s a relatively recent crop which is attracting national attention.

Lisadurne Hill is spread across about 200 hectares of undulating land to the west of the old gold mining town and for the most part of its life after white settlement, it has been home to sheep and crops.

But 17 years ago, Tina Knight and her husband, Russ, decided they would try something different on the historic property.

They planted 27,000 olive trees, including a few hundred of the well-known table variety, Kalamata.

All under drip irrigation from the neighbouring Waranga Mallee channel which bisects the property.

They have since successfully harvested their olives for oil and for the table.

Recently, Tina brought home three trophies from the Australian International Olive Awards in Adelaide, including awards for their Kalamata table olives.

The Australian International Olive Awards are held annually by the Australian Olive Association, drawing entries from across the country and the world.

Judging this year was conducted by a 19-member Australian team and expert panels in Italy, New Zealand, Tunisia and China.

Although the FS17 variety olives (the greater number in the grove) are machine harvested for pressing at a Kialla processing plant, the Kalamata trees are hand-picked.

They are sorted, brined and cured before bottling in the distinctive Lisadurne Hill bottles.

The choice of olives for the property came about when Tina and Russ were thinking about a crop that would do well in the climate and on the challenging rocky soils characteristic of the Rushworth area.

The sloping hills provided good drainage and the couple decided to apply fertigation through the drip lines, to compensate for nutrient shortfalls.

Tina and Russ are working the land on a property that has been in the family, since Tina’s great-grandfather, Dr John Heily, bought the farm in 1876 after migrating in 1864.

He set up a general practice in Rushworth and became involved in town activities.

Tina has invested considerable effort in developing the gardens and grounds around the original house and the couple is working on restoring some of the old farm buildings with an eye to becoming a regular tourist destination.

The gardens include a plantation of 700 Damask roses which generates petals for Tina to distil for rejuvenating oil and moisturisers.

Her interest in roses was prompted by her late mother, who is remembered by a memorial cairn garden, featuring a distinctive central rose.

A former barn used for storing grain is being converted into a workshop .

A wall of windows flood the Murray pine lined room with natural light and provide a view across the olive groves.

The Lisadurne Hill oil and table olives are marketed on-line and available in several Rushworth retail outlets.

HEALTH BENEFITS

“Olives and Extra Virgin Olive Oil as the main source of healthy fat, with additional powerful bioactive compounds, is central to the Mediterranean Diet. There is increasing evidence describing the unique and powerful role of Extra Virgin Olive Oil at the heart of the numerous regional variations of the Mediterranean Diet. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a crucial enabler of a diet rich in vegetables, making a plant predominant diet enjoyable and sustainable.

“The Mediterranean style diet is now recommended by governments, scientists and health professionals as an example of a nutritional gold standard with a considerable body of evidence to support very significant beneficial effects on health and wellness.

The Mediterranean Diet is a nutritional recommendation based on the traditional dietary patterns of Southern Europe. This diet is characterised by the high consumption of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, legumes, unrefined cereals, fruits and vegetables; moderate to high consumption of fish and dairy products; and low consumption of non-fish meat. In 2013, UNESCO listed the Mediterranean diet as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.”

– Olive Wellness Institute

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Sunday, 19th March 2028

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