Country NSW

Written by Mike Sullivan on 28 January 2025. Posted in Country NSW.

New tourist trail to showcase hidden treasures of Liverpool Plains

Supplied-Clare-LeeWindy-Station-woolshed-circa-1901-inner800pxw

The Windy Station woolshed circa 1901 will be repurposed as a conference centre. (Supplied: Clare Lee)

By Jennifer Ingall and Kristy Reading ABC New England

One of the best-kept secrets on the NSW Liverpool Plains — a historic 44-stand woolshed dating back to the turn of the century — is about to be put on the map.

Key points:

Agricultural and Indigenous history form part of a new tourism venture on the NSW Liverpool Plains.
Nine businesses are collaborating to create an agritourism trail.
The group hopes to encourage more visitor nights in the region by offering more activities.

Windy Station at Blackville, west of Quirindi, no longer uses the shed to shear sheep, and the managers are opening the space to tourists as part of a new agritourism trail.

"I have people contacting me almost weekly wanting to use the woolshed for various different reasons, so that excites me the most, being able to share it," station manager Clare Lee said.

The Lees have an ambitious plan to restore the state heritage-listed shed and open it as a conference centre.

They are one of nine farm-based businesses collaborating to create a branded tourism experience.

The group hopes the collaboration will be a money spinner for individual farms as well as bring economic benefits for towns in the district.

"I think if you combine the people, place and produce of the Liverpool Plains, you've got some really fascinating stories," said Rose Wright from Regionality, an organisation specialising in farm-to-plate value-chain development.

For the past two years, Ms Wright has worked with the group around development applications, issues of biosecurity, marketing and planning.

She said the key to success was giving tourists a reason to care about a product or experience.

"Agritourism is all about connecting with the consumer, educating the consumer; it's about creating an emotional connection with the consumer," she said.

According to Tourism Research Australia, 1.7 million people stayed an average of four nights in the New England north-west in the year to March.

Sixty-nine per cent of those visitors were from within New South Wales, with the biggest percentage (35 per cent) staying at friend's or relative's property.

The agritourism group wants to offer these people more things to do.

Chain reaction of mutual support

Just 20 kilometres from Windy Station is Little Kickerbell.

Chef and caterer Cathy Armstrong and artist husband Rowen Matthews have been working to bring in tourists for three years.

The historic farmhouse function centre is the centrepiece of an escape that includes workshops on everything from cooking, weaving and floristry to yoga.

"As relative newcomers to the area, we're excited by the opportunities this initiative inspires," Ms Armstrong said.

She already collaborates with other members of the group offering catering services. She hopes the agritourism trail will create a chain reaction between businesses helping to promote each other.

"It's all about giving visitors lots of reasons to come here to the Liverpool Plains and see the variety of products and experiences we can offer."

Ms Wright said it was also about creating value around the products being purchased.

"Putting them together in a cohesive way so it makes sense to the visitor coming in and makes them want to take that next step to the next property, and then the next property."

From arts to eats

Another 50km along the planned trail is an artist retreat evolving to cater to a wider market.

Tania and Rodney Hartigan have been welcoming artists from around the world for 13 years, creating a purpose-built gallery on their sheep and cattle property, Wilgabah, near Wallabadah.

Recently Ms Hartigan, a Gomeroi woman, embarked on a plan to share some of her culture with visitors.

She had five Indigenous sites on the property listed by the NSW Heritage Council, including scar trees and grinding stones.

She also cultivated native bush tucker to offer as a culinary experience.

Ms Hartigan said she was excited to be part of the agritourism project.

"It will enable us to share our local knowledge of cultural sites, bush tucker and regenerative farming practices."