Welcome to Wollemi Farms, one of seven macadamia orchards in the Bundaberg region managed by an exceptional father-sons team. Hailing from the UK, the Temple family moved to Australia in 2020, bringing with them a passion for farming and a thirst for the lifestyle offered by our world-renowned coastal location.
Acting as General Manager, David Temple oversees the company’s large operation of approximately 120,000 macadamia trees in various stages of productivity, from fresh plantings to 12 years old. His two sons, Max and Ben, assist him in the day-to-day management of the farms, utilising their skills from former agricultural and carpentry careers in England. Living and working on a farm has brought them new knowledge and challenges; from weathering severe storm damage to adopting cutting edge technology that assists with harvesting and increasing yields.
“We've just invested in variable rate mapping, which will improve the soil tremendously. By taking soil tests throughout whole blocks, it will tell us which parts of the block are properly fertilised and where we need to increase it more. And then, with an automated fertiliser spreader, it'll read off our maps and apply the rates needed in that block,” Ben told us.
Traditional methods to improve soil health are also important, where a new batch of compost is made after each harvest. A mix of waste ingredients is made up of old husk, wood chip and other natural fertilisers and left to break down over time. Rich in organic matter, the mature compost is recycled back into the earth after soil profiling to feed the trees and biological life underground.
Efficient water management is vital on any farm, especially during the Bundaberg region’s hot and humid summers. At Wollemi Farms, the Temples have installed a state-of-the-art Pulse Irrigation system, which probes the soil to measure the exact number of hours needed to irrigate any section of the farm. Without excess water consumption from their dams and natural spring, the abundant wildlife around the properties are left to flourish.
Also flourishing in their new home, Max and Ben haven taken to the Australian lifestyle like ducks to water, making the most of the great outdoors. “I love the region of Bundaberg purely for the activities you can do, and the beauty of the area compared to the UK where it is quite bleak and miserable,” Max said. “My favorite time of the year on the farm is probably summertime because you get the nice early starts and the early finishes, and you can go to the beach afterwards.”
Running the farms together is also a pleasure for the brothers, who enjoy learning from each other’s strengths and reaping the rewards of their labour come harvest time. “It's a bit of an accomplishment when you see your yields, and you're going through in the harvester and seeing how many tonnes you’re getting in each row, knowing it’s through what you did that year. It's very rewarding I think,” Ben told us.
As newcomers to Australia, the Temples haven’t taken the nation’s iconic nut for granted and recognise the heritage and health significance their crops hold. “It's nice knowing that what we're growing is actually good for people and it's as close to a superfood as you can probably grow, and it comes from around here,” Ben said, paying homage to our corner of South East Queensland where native macadamias first originated over 60 million years ago.
Freedom Fresh Australia proudly welcomes the Temple’s and their team to our farming family. With their commitment to superior quality and care, their supply of locally grown nuts is integral to producing our delicious range of pre-cut and flavoured macadamia products.