Fruit, fruit picking, apples, peaches, plums, nashi, pears, cider, wine, juices, gold mining and a marron farm plus a restaurant with great lunches!
Operating as a family farm since 1862, this business opened to tourism in January 1997. The orchard currently exports fruit to Europe, Asia and the Middle East as well as supplying the Eastern seaboard and Perth markets. Tourists are encouraged 'pick your own' fruit during the harvest season. Buckets are provided and visitors pay by the kilo for their choice for fruit.
Gold was discovered on the farm in 1897 and the fascinating story of the Donnybrook Goldfields is told by way of an on-site local history museum. Gold pans are available for hire and visitors have a choice of panning in tubs (ideal for school groups), or trying their luck on the waters edge of Mount Cara. Tourists are invited to climb the poppet head and explore the grounds by way of established and sign posted walk trails. A nature trail extends across the dam wall to a wattle and daub miners hut and adit (mine tunnel) into the side of Mount Cara. A DVD on orchard management (horticulture), as well as a second DVD on cider production shows on demand in the small museum.
Eight marron ponds have been established and stocked, and seven aquaculture tanks and a bio-filter system have been installed in a purpose built aquaculture shed adjacent to the Barn. Tourists are able to view close up marron, trout and silver perch as well as gain an understanding of a bio-filter. 6,500 silver perch and 2000 rainbow trout have been stocked into Mount Cara dam, and these should be available for "fish out" by tourists from Spring 2007.
The Old Goldfields in Donnybrook was the first and only Western Australian boutique cider factory when production commenced in late 1996. Since opening, the range has been expanded to include apple wines, fresh apple juice, apple and ginger juice, apple and cinnamon juice, apple port and grape wines. The rammed earth and jarrah restaurant is set amongst fruit trees and beautiful garden surrounds, overlooking a large lake and Mount Cara.
Disabled Access:
Wheelchair ramp access to verandah, pergola, restaurant and toilet. Free cider/ wine tasting.
Children:
Childrens playground. Infants sandpit. "Quiz game" whereby children explore the grounds to win a prize. Miniature horses. Gold panning.
Email: trigs@oldgoldfields.com.au
Phone: 08 9731 0311
Website: www.oldgoldfields.com.au
Address:
Goldfields Road
Donnybrook, Western Australia, 6239
Guest Facilities:
Access Without Assistance for the Disabled, Cafe, Car park, Child Activities/Child Minding, Coach Parking, First aid equipment, Guide, Interpretive Centre, Picnic Area, Public Toilet, Shaded Area, Sheltered Area, Toilet facilities for the Disabled, Viewing Platform
Experiences you can enjoy at Old Goldfields Orchard & Cider Factory:
Educational Tourism, Farm Stay, Food and Wine, Historic/Heritage, Industry/Mining/Agriculture