The historic Gundowring property, originally settled by the family of explorer Hamilton Hume in 1835, encompasses 1000 acres in the Kiewa Valley in northeast Victoria. Magnificent river red gums line the river flats and grey box eucalypts dot the hillsides of this pristine landscape watered by melted snows from Mount Feathertop.

The Crooke family are committed to respecting and preserving the integrity of their inheritance. Environmental biodiversity is as important as the cows, so over 20% of the farm has been fenced off to facilitate an annual revegetation program and to create a wildlife and riparian reserve.

Natural corridors connect rocky outcrops and gullies to the significant wetlands and stream banks where native birds and animals thrive. Gundowring is home to many species of migratory birds, black wallabies, echidnas, kangaroos, wombats, possums and a colony of platypus.

Other endeavours to improve Gundowring’s environmental footprint include the installation of solar hot water and there are plans to use solar power to run the micro-factory.

Water conservation is equally important, so rainwater is collected in tanks and recycled within the factory. All waste water is treated and used for revegetation.

All cardboard cartons are made from recycled materials, reused where appropriate and then composted. Plastic ingredient containers are collected for recycling and retail plastic tubs are re-usable or recyclable. Even the wooden tasting spoons are recyclable!