Hiraeth farm rests on Taungurong country, one of the five peoples of the broader Kulin Nation. They are the High-country people of the Kulin Nation. We pay respect to them and seek to be good custodians of our small part of their traditional country.
The Strathbogie tableland is granite country as the remains of a previously active volcano network. Hiraeth Farm sits atop a granite aquifer that drains down into the Seven Creeks catchment, which flows through Euroa, the Taungurong word for Joy! On this farm and surrounds is an abundant wetlands environment when seasonal conditions are kind. Hiraeth is 500m above sea level, with Mt Wombat at 799m.
White settlement in the 1870’s saw the wild Strathbogie tableland converted for ultra-fine Merino wool-fleece production. The Strathbogie is also famous for an escape route for the famous ‘Kelly Gang’ who held up the National Bank in Euroa in1878 and then were killed or captured at Glenrowan in 1880.
Hiraeth Farm was historically a sheep farm when around 1990 it was planted out with Blue Gums, Chestnuts, Pines, and a variety of other trees, including Walnuts, Hazelnuts, and Pistachios.
A major advantage of the trees on Hiraeth is the abundant wildlife of Koalas, Kangaroos, Swamp Wallabies, Frogs, Wombats, Echidnas, and an extraordinary array of native birdlife. WA bird highlight is the black feathered, red eyed Chuffs that inhabitant the farm; they patrol in gangs and will call out as you walk around the farm; they are a
native Woodland bird. Koalas are on the farm, including the small woodland in front of the bedrooms; a male Koala grunting will guide you to them, and if you are lucky, you may catch them moving on the ground.
The future of Hiraeth is to protect the natural environment and enhance the amenity of the country we live on.