Real farm. Real life. Regeneratively.

We’re farmers first. That means producing food and fibre while looking after the land that supports it. Sustainability isn’t a slogan for us — it’s part of our day-to-day decisions. Some things we’ve nailed, some we’re still working on. But we’re in it for the long haul.

Farming with a long view

At Gilgooma, we run sheep, grow crops, and host guests — all on the same patch of country. That means every choice has to work across the board: for productivity, for resilience, and for the land itself.

We rotate wheat, barley, chickpeas, fabas and lupins. Our grazing is planned to protect ground cover and keep soils in place. We use soil testing and targeted inputs to manage fertility without overdoing it. Drought is a constant background risk, so we’ve built flexibility into our livestock system, including a feedlot when pasture’s tight.

We’re not chasing perfection — we’re building systems that are tough, smart and responsive.

Water, Energy and Emissions

We're pretty practical about resources. Water’s too precious to waste, so we invest in good infrastructure and keep a close eye on storage, flow and leaks. Energy-wise, we’ve added solar, wind and EV charging to the mix — not because it looks good on a website, but because it makes sense in the long run.

We're working on measuring emissions across the business, with the aim to reduce where we can. Some of that’s straightforward. Some of it — like diesel for tractors — is harder. We're honest about that too.

Waste: Less of It, Better Use

We keep it simple:

  • We compost green waste or feed it to stock.

  • We recycle what we can, and repurpose materials around the farm.

  • We avoid single-use plastics in guest areas and ask visitors to help us keep waste to a minimum.

It’s not fancy, but it works.

Looking After Country

This land has been looked after for tens of thousands of years. We acknowledge the Wailwan people as Traditional Custodians of Gilgooma and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We try to walk gently here — to understand, to learn, and to share with others.

We promote local Indigenous artists, events and stories where we can, and we’re always looking to learn more about the history and culture of this place.

Supporting Locals

We hire local when possible, and we buy local too. We’re part of the Coonamble community — through council, local networks and tourism groups — and we believe rural businesses thrive best when we back each other.

When guests stay here, they’re not just visiting us — they’re supporting a whole region.

What Visitors Can Expect

We’re a working farm, so what you see depends on the season — lambing, shearing, harvest, fencing, feeding, repairs. But no matter when you come, we’ve set things up to tread lightly:

  • Low-flow water systems

  • Clear waste and recycling instructions

  • Well-thought-out animal interactions (no chasing chooks or bottle-feeding in every season)

  • Honest conversations about how farming and sustainability actually work in real life

We don’t promise a petting zoo or polished experience. We offer a genuine look at farm life, warts and all, and the work it takes to care for land, animals and people over time.

We’ve completed the Ecotourism Australia Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard and received strong marks for environmental impact, cultural respect, and local contribution. There’s always more to do, but we’re proud of the progress we’ve made.

Want to know more? Ask us when you visit. We’re always happy to share the why behind what we do — and learn a bit from you, too.