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Hard work at Boolarra South bears fruit

Tucked on a hillside in Boolarra South’s crisp, sharp air, Waterwheel Orchards resembles a paradise of fruit.

Specialising in growing kiwifruit and berries, the 40 acre farm was purchased over 30 years ago when it was being used to graze dairy cattle.  A total transformation has since taken place, and not without hard work and dedication, to now boast about 15 acres under kiwi vines and almost seven acres growing a range of berries.

Owners, Heather Heusmann and Ray Ellery, now grow enough fruit to generate income all year round, selling mainly into the Melbourne wholesale market as well as local Gippsland retailers and farmers’ markets.

According to Ms Heusmann, the business has been fully functional for 15 years, with production and turnover on the rise over the past 10 years.

“Our fruit is now sought by a wide range of regular customers who have recognised and appreciated the consistent quality of our product.  The north facing farm has superb drainage and an excellent water supply, with ideal soil for kiwifruit and berries.

“This piece of paradise in Latrobe City must be seen to be believed.  We have a substantial investment here and therefore must aim for the best quality fruit to ensure a more than adequate return.”

Waterwheel Orchards commenced growing kiwifruit some twenty years ago.  The harvest period is generally from May through until July when fruit is picked at its optimum – rock hard with optimal sugar, colour and flavour.

According to Leo Billington, Latrobe City Senior Business Development Officer, up to 27 tonne of kiwifruit is despatched to Melbourne each year.

“Many people may still recognise Latrobe merely as a place where coal and electricity is produced. However, look beyond the obvious and there are a myriad of active businesses, vital to the local economy, generating a name for our community in many different markets. These types of businesses probably need to be recognised more, as they quietly go about their daily routine successfully catering for a discerning, highly competitive market.

“But it is not without lots of hard work, irrespective of the weather and troublesome birds and native animals.  Waterwheel Orchards began growing berries about ten years ago and now can supply frozen product all year round.  Picking of fresh berries starts early in December through until about early February,” Mr Billington said.

Ms Heusmann said the extensive variety of berries includes raspberries, boysenberries, and blackberries – of which there are several popular varieties: marionberries, silvanberries, murrindindiberries, loganberries, chesterberries, youngberries, and lawtonberries.

“Our type of business needs our constant attention yet the personal reward is immediate.  Seeing young fruit budding and growing is a real sense of achievement.  Working outdoors in the picturesque hills of Latrobe City would be the envy of many office-bound workers,” Ms Heusmann said.

“We employ casual labour to help with pruning, mulching, picking and packing.  There is a section set aside for the general public to pick berries in summer.  Ray and I simply love working in this clean, green paradise with its magical backdrop of eucalypts, red leafed photinia and variegated pittosporum tree belts,” Ms Heusmann added.