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Historic farm turns Sunday roast into paddock-to-plate dining experience

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • The Archer family is offering paddock-to-plate dining experiences at their historic Brickendon Estate in Tasmania for the first time in 200 years.
  • The initiative aims to diversify the UNESCO World Heritage-listed convict site into an agrifood destination as the owners transition to retirement.
  • The farm feasts are inspired by a surge in interest in paddock-to-plate dining and Tasmania's off-season tourism campaign.

For the first time in its 200-year history, Tasmania's Brickendon Estate is opening its doors to the public for on-site dining experiences. The historic farm, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed convict site run by the Archer family for seven generations, is now offering Sunday roast lamb dinners with seasonal vegetables and gravy.

It might be the dream for a lot of farmers, to put their produce in front of other people.

— Will ArcherFarm manager Will Archer discusses his long-held desire to connect consumers directly with the farm's produce.

Farm manager Will Archer and his partner Sarah Bensen are spearheading this new venture. They aim to establish Brickendon as a significant agrifood destination, complementing its convict history, as Will's parents, Richard and Lou Archer, move towards retirement. Archer expressed his long-held desire to connect consumers directly with the farm's produce.

The couple drew inspiration from UK farms that have diversified into tourism. They believe the recent surge in interest in paddock-to-plate dining, partly fueled by shows like "Clarkson's Farm," has encouraged businesses like theirs to embrace agritourism. This trend aligns with Tasmania's off-season tourism campaign, encouraging interstate visitors during cooler months.

That's brought farming and paddock to plate in front of the world. It's probably helping a lot of businesses like ours take the plunge into agritourism.

— Will ArcherWill Archer comments on the influence of popular culture on the agritourism industry.

Brickendon Estate also features a farm shop to support the property's upkeep. Catering manager Larna Pittiglio, a proponent of local food, has designed the Sunday feast menu, incorporating ingredients from other local farms. She emphasizes the importance of Tasmanian food on Tasmanian plates and educating people about better nutrition. The estate hopes these culinary experiences will attract visitors seeking authentic agritourism, with seven out of ten tourists in Tasmania reportedly seeking such activities.

I'm passionate about more Tasmanian food on Tasmanian plates. And educating people on how to better feed themselves, which is what this is all about.

— Larna PittiglioLarna Pittiglio, Brickendon Estate's catering manager, expresses her commitment to local food production and education.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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