- Other stories on this topic: Falls for a feast
The Burrawang Village Hotel uses Mauger’s Meats, and so does the Burrawang General Store. And the latter stock Highlands Beverages, spring water bottled and carbonated at the source in Burrawang, as does Fitzroy Falls General Store.
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This is just a hint of the inter-connectedness that develops between producers and business owners in a regional area, especially when it is intentionally fostered.
That’s what the Fitzroy Falls Food and Wine Cluster is all about – promoting and delighting in all the goodness the area has to offer.
There are newcomers, such as Virginia Edwards, who has lived in the area for five years and is launching her fermented food classes next month. Learn how to make kombucha, keffir and pickled vegetables, all of which will contribute to better gut health.
And there are old-timers, such as the Burrawang General Store, that has been serving the area for 150 years.
Erica Leeming, who heads up the cluster, took over the store two years ago and ‘unrenovated’ it, paring it back to its original state and filling it with spectacularly good food. She also offers cottage-style accommodation.
“We’ll be celebrating our 150 years with a special dinner in November, using recipes from Mrs Beeton’s Cookbook, which is 150 years old too,” she said.
Another relative newcomer is Katrina Sparke, who has lived in the area for nine years and, with her husband Sam, established a top of the range source of organic pork, beef and lamb at Redleaf Farm.
But their newest venture has only just opened its doors. Redleaf Carriages offers unique, luxury accommodation in two cleverly converted railway carriages.
Katrina has renovated the carriages herself – doing everything from a spot of welding to re-cutting the old train seats into walls. Katrina even made the deerhide covered benches, all the way from the shotgun to the upholstery needle.
If that all sounds too exhausting, take time to recover with a peaceful, indulgent foray into the waterways of the Kangaroo River, accompanied by gourmet food and wine. The mind behind this – WILDfest’s Amanda Fry – said it’s crucial that the cluster works together.
“Real collaboration is having skin in the game,” she said.
You’ll find more at www.southernhighlandsfoodandwineclusters.com.au.