Agritourism spotlight on South Gippsland

LEONGATHA North agritourism venture and fifth generation family farm Wandilla features on Channel 9’s Today Show tomorrow, Wednesday September 23, sharing what South Gippsland has to offer.

“We’ve been working with the State Government; we’ve got a cracking team and we’re doing dairy, beef, wine, and building accommodation,” one of the farm’s owners Glenn Calder said.

“We’ve also got two butcher shops that the beef goes into and also a shop in the Prahran Market, really trying to promote Gippsland, particularly South Gippsland.”

Wandilla’s red Akaushi Wagyu cattle are renowned for fat naturally high in oleic acid, similar to olive oil, their monounsaturated fats offering health benefits.

The cattle are bred on the property.

People are encouraged to tune into Wednesday’s Today Show, with a series of live crosses taking place from 5.40am until about 9am, and those based nearby are welcome to pay a visit, with Mr Calder extending an invitation for breakfast in the shed and suggesting you arrive by 7.30am.

Wild Dog House, the initial Wandilla accommodation project will feature on the show, Sentinel-Times having enjoyed a visit to the building that can sleep 12 and affords spectacular views of rolling South Gippsland hills and cattle.

Its rammed earth walls provide insulation and quiet.

In conjunction with traditional solar panels, a stunning and innovative approach to generating electricity on the property has been adopted.

“We’ve imported from Austria these great big SmartFlowers, which are solar panels but ecologically inspired and they’re the first ones in Australia,” Mr Calder said, the company behind the structures being American.

He is captivated by the technology and its contribution to sustainability.

Each SmartFlower opens at the start of the day, exposing its 12 energy-generating petals, that taking about 10 minutes.

“Then they track the sun all day, so they generate about 30 per cent more electricity than a traditional fixed solar panel,” Mr Calder said.

Brushes on the underside of the petals keep the flowers’ generating surface clean, avoiding the declining efficiency traditional solar panels are subject to as they become dirty.

As well as producing more electricity, the SmartFlowers are striking in appearance.

The farm has been in the family since 1936, traditionally a dairy operation but having now branched out extensively.

Wandilla produces six types of wine, its Pinot Noir and Riesling being its flagship varieties.

Wild Dog House makes a perfect setting to enjoy a glass or two, being intended to address the lack of high-end accommodation in South Gippsland.

Local draftsman Dave Trease brought the design to life, with builder Paul Smith also throwing himself into the project, including working weekends and holidays, but a big team was involved.

While acknowledging everyone who has contributed, Mr Calder noted the support of the Commonwealth Bank and the interest it has taken in the project and fostering innovation.