The 2024 National Economic Development Award for Excellence winners went to Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council and the Tilma Group for the category of Economic Development Initiatives for regions under 15,000 residents at a gala celebration during the National Economic
Development Conference (NEDC) at the stunning Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne, Naarm.
It’s an award recognised for CGRC’s Agri-tourism mentoring project.
It’s had a lot of traction on their Facebook page and they are getting a lot of likes and comments.
Launched in September, Welcome to Farmily has proven to be a success for the Council and their partners in the community.
The strategy is highlighting a sector of tourism within the region that historically has not been promoted, it is an approach to boost tourism in a non traditional way and give farmers income diversity, whilst educating city dwellers about life on the land and farm to fork concept.
A spokesperson for Council said, “There has always been synergy and a great working relationship within the departments in Cootamundra and Gundagai, it has also been a good networking opportunity for the farmers who were involved. There are some who have not been highlighted and
who are in the process of building their agri-tourism businesses and they have benefited from the whole concept, with case studies, marketing advice, risk assessments, budgets and business plans.”
For more information in becoming involved, go to https://www.cgrc.nsw.gov.au/agritourism-
development/
And https://www.cgrc.nsw.gov.au/inspiring-agritourism-case-studies/
or contact Council.
Some of the agri-tourism businesses involved in the promotion include the following.
Tarrabandra Retreat
Offers cosy comfortable accommodation set on a 400-hectare property.
The house is fully self-contained and sleeps up to 10 guests (4 bedroom home) offering 7 beds and 1.5 bathrooms, all surrounded by a beautiful garden and views of the surrounding hills, and only a short walk to the picturesque River.
Farmhouse accommodation set on a working property approximately 20kms from Gundagai, with access to both the Tumut and Murrumbidgee Rivers. The home is set on a working property with
access to the Tumut and Murrumbidgee Rivers. To reach the property you will be required to travel on a dirt road for approximately 8kms.
Whether it’s casting a line in the River, exploring the rolling hills, or simply unwinding on the veranda with a good book, you will feel yourself unwinding as you soon as you arrive.
Wallendbeen Park
Experience the expanisve practice of regenerative farming at Wallendbeen Park Farm, a 20-minute drive north-east of the country town of Cootamundra, equidistant from Young and Harden Murrumburrah, and about a four-hour drive from Sydney.
Christoph and Annie farm free-range Berkshire cross pigs, Wiltipoll sheep and a herd of cattle. The quality of their pastured produce is known in the paddock to plate butcher market and in restaurants in Sydney.
In addition to their farm actives, they have turned a former schoolhouse into a private guest cottage that sleeps two, allowing visitors to enjoy their own rural retreat. An exhibition space – The Green Room – is a special space for art, which visitors also enjoy.
Stockinpiggle
By September 2018, Stockinpiggle reached a business milestone supplying premium pork to butchers in Sydney and Melbourne. In 2019, they collaborated with local butchers to process their pigs and introduced their popular farm open days, held every second weekend.
Kestrel Nest EcoHut
Is the perfect off-grid and off-line (no phone or internet) eco-retreat for couples and small families. An eco-retreat doesn’t mean you go without. Solar panels and batteries will guarantee energy for your stay, while panoramic double-glazed windows will allow glorious views. Linger in the outdoor bath. A well-equipped kitchen will have you cooking up a storm with their farm-fresh produce and locally-sourced produce available for purchase. They also have special hampers
and local wine.
Hillview Farm Stay
Ruth and Pierre feel blessed to have been in the right place at the right time. Bogged down in the Sydney rat-race, both working full time while looking after their 4 children, Ruth and Pierre knew
they had to make a change. The initial idea was to look for a hobby farm to give their children ages (0-9) space to run around and explore. However, soaring property prices in Sydney made purchase of 5-acreas unreachable. So one day, they decided to look at Regional Australia, specifically Gundagai.
In July 2017, they set an appointment with a real-estate agent to look at a 200+ acres farm so they decided to spend the weekend in the area. Where else better to stay than a farmstay in Gundagai so Ruth booked two nights at Hillview Farmstay. It was a love at first sight – comfortable accommodation and lovely country setting. As fortunes had it, Ruth and Pierre found out that that same weekend was the first open-house for Hillview Farmstay.
Without wasting much time, Pierre and Ruth pulled in all resources they had and made the best they can. The rest is history – Jann and Peter accepted and the baton is now with Ruth and Pierre.