It may be situated in the high country 45 minutes north of Toowoomba but the scene greeting visitors opening the standard property gate at Bunnyconnellan is straight out of the Mediterranean.
Fat Dorper sheep rest under olive trees shading the driveway to the homestead and The Studio B&B accommodation, all set among a background of wine grapes in a paddock nearby.
The Crows Nest lifestyle is very different to the one at Hughenden that Ninian and Ann Stewart-Moore were living until April last year, but it’s one that has captured their hearts as they experiment with a paddock to plate story of a different sort.
Revelling in an edible garden – fresh honeycomb for cheese platters, flowering artichokes, and delicious plums and apples, awarded second prize in the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers productive garden category last year – the couple is keen to explore all the opportunities open to them.
As well as a cellar door, they offer a delicious range of olive and deli delights, a catered function venue, and hands-on experience.
When he was a shivering schoolboy at Prep, Ninian Stewart-Moore vowed he would never go back to the Darling Downs.
Not only is he back, but he and wife Ann are creating a produce story of excellence.
They moved south from Dunluce, west of Hughenden, nearly a year ago, to the 250 acre block with the playful Irish name of Bunnyconnellan, as part of their succession plan.
“We looked at a leucaena farm on the Central Highlands, and I wanted a sailing boat, so this was totally out of left field, but we fell in love with it,” Ninian said.
Their newfound proximity to markets – they can see Toowoomba through a gap in the hills around their Crows Nest home, and foodie fests at Caboolture, South Bank and Felton are within easy reach – is presenting the couple with the perfect opportunity to connect with consumers.
They’ve inherited 250 olive trees and 600 grapevines producing red wine varietals, which they are value-adding to.
Neither the grove nor the vineyard is in production at the moment, although they both could be; instead the Stewart-Moores buy in bulk and value-add with herbs and spices, and produce tapenades.
Thanks to an inherited recipe, their Siesta brand of olives won a gold medal in the 2016 national table competition.
It’s a prize that can be added to 37 medals collected by previous owners at the Sydney Royal Fine Food Show over a number of years, along with a gold medal at the Vogue Entertaining & Travel Magazine awards, and a silver medal in the 2013 Original World Marmalade Awards, held at Cumbria, UK.
It’s a similar story on the wine side, where they buy in raw product from places such as the South Burnett for bottling with labels that reflect the history of the place – Laneway Chardonnay, Washhouse Red Shiraz are two that feature.
“It’s no different to a steer that’s born at Georgetown, grown out at Hughenden, sent to the Grassdale feedlot, and then sold under the JBS brand,” Ninian explained.
Their proximity to the airport at Wellcamp and the second range crossing at Toowoomba also give the pair opportunities.
“I was involved in NorthBEEF, which has been dealing with overseas interest for a number of years,” said Ninian. “We’re under no illusions but we hope in time to find a market for our olives and olive oil.”
To that end, they’ve been talking with Food Leaders Australia, and recently sent a sample of their tapenade to Melbourne for taste testing.
Value-adding with lamb and glamping are also on the ideas board.
In the meantime, the Bunnyconnellan cellar door outlet, function centre that seats 40, B&B retreat, and online presence is helping tell a story of a lifetime producing food.