There is something grounding about working with the land. Not in a romantic, rose-tinted sense — anyone who has spent a winter morning wrestling with clay soil in a southerly wind will tell you the romance fades quickly — but in the way it anchors you to a place and a purpose that feels genuinely worthwhile.
Shire House Farm started, as most good things do, with a combination of circumstance, stubbornness, and a deep attachment to a particular piece of ground
Where The Name Comes From
The "Shire" in Shire House Farm carries a quiet reference to years spent in England — a place that shaped how we think about the land, about craft, and about what it means to make something properly.
The English countryside has an enviable reputation for a reason. Green rolling hills, hand-built stone walls marking boundaries, and country walks where the public can respectfully enjoy the land rather than being blocked from it. That relationship between people, place and produce stayed with us.
We came across an article, about open gardens in the UK, where a woman described her philosophy, and said, along the lines of, ‘all you need is a view, a brew and a loo’. That stuck. We had access to space and thought we’d start by creating the view.
Finding Our Ground On The Bellarine
When we arrived on the Bellarine Peninsula, we found a property with a long history and, frankly, a fair amount of baggage. Decades of heavy grazing had left the soil compacted and depleted. The volcanic and sandy profiles running through the property told us the potential was there, but that it would take patience and commitment to unlock it.
That suited us. We were not looking for easy.
The property stretches 800 metres with a gentle hill and slope. Our early vision was to see a sea of purple as you walk the slope - lavender and botanicals in full colour - and then, cresting the hill, a slither Port Phillip Bay opening up in the distance.
Our Approach: Organic, Ecological, Honest
Our approach from the outset has been organic and ecological. This was not simply a marketing decision — it reflects a genuine belief that the products we put into the world should be traceable, honest, and made without shortcuts.
If we are going to ask people to put something on their skin or in their food, we should be able to show them exactly where it came from and how it was made.
The Bellarine Peninsula provides extraordinary growing conditions for our range of botanicals — natives and well-known imports alike, selected for their scent profiles, their resilience, and their suitability for the changeable coastal climate.
Our rosemary has always been one of our most popular botanicals, used in both our Rosemary & Murray River Salt, our Rosemary Water and Rosemary Roll On. We’re also looking forward to distilling our tea tree soon. The trees have been growing and maturing, and it will be our first harvest from them.
A Family Farm In The Truest Sense
Shire House Farm is a family business in the most literal sense. The farm is home — to us, to Charlie and Archie, and to Monty, who contributes enthusiasm if not much practical help.
Our boys have grown up with the farm. When they were little, digging was a favoured task. Now they’re a bit older, they enjoy handling some of the tools and seeing the results of their involvement first-hand. Though the mere mention of beach, a video game or a friend available for a bike ride, and they’re off!
Still Learning, Still Growing
We are still learning. The steep curve has not flattened much since we started, and we are happy to say so. What has grown is our confidence - in the products, in the land, and in the community of stockists and customers who have come with us on the journey.
This blog is where we intend to share more of that journey: the seasonal rhythms of an organic farm on the Bellarine Peninsula, the story behind each product, and an honest account of what it takes to grow and make things properly.
We hope you will follow along.
Explore our range of farm-grown botanical products at Shire House Farm.
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