Bambra Agroforestry Farm

In 1987, Rowan Reid set up the Bambra Agroforestry Farm in the Otway Ranges of southern Victoria as a private landholder. The idea was to display the potential for integrating commercial tree growing into a farming landscape. The 42 hectare farm now has over 25% tree cover.

The farm displays more than 45 commercial tree species, various planting arrangements and management options. More than 4000 people have visited the farm as part of field days, tours or training programs.

The farm provides Rowan the opportunity to learn from experience and undertake practical research particularly looking at the silvicultural management of trees in multipurpose farm plantings. Pruned eucalypt sawlogs have been harvested for sawmilling research and furniture production from multipurpose riparian plantings on the farm in joint projects with CSIRO and other research organisations. Pictured is some furniture Rowan made from 10 year old pruned Eucalyptus nitens harvested from the riparian creek planting shown above. The log truck is being loaded with 16 year old pruned eucalypt logs from the same planting.

Watch a video of the harvest

Specialty species

Many of the species we are planting and managing for high quality timber are not commonly grown in Australia. Little is known about their silvicultural management or wood quality so there is much to be learnt from having a go. For example, below is a photo of an 18 year old River Sheoak. Milling with a simple chainsaw mill allows us to review the potential of this promising species. For more on this example look for an article in the Oak edition of Agroforestry News.

See it for yourself

Tours can be arranged for groups of farmers including a visit to the Yan Yan Gurt West property of Andrew Stewart and his family and the Yan Yan Gurt Catchment.