Our journey
Our passion for truffles began after trying them at a degustation in Western Australia. Soon after, we took the opportunity to join a truffle tour on the Mornington Peninsula which inspired our path forward.
Starting a truffle farm ticked a lot of boxes. We were looking for something that would allow us to stay in Beechworth, revitalize and enrich our land, enjoy delicious food and work outside with dogs.
We embarked on three years of research, planning and site preparation. We needed for modify the soil significantly before planting. In 2019, we established our orchard with 350 French Oaks, leading to a proud debut harvest season in 2025.
In 2025 we added Stone pines inoculated with the Bianchetto white truffle to the farm.
The Farm's Development
2016
planning and Soil Preparation
2025
Expectations meet reality with our first harvest. This milestone marked the culmination of family grit and sustainable practice as we welcome the future of truffle production.
We learned everything we could about a truffle farming and site selection. Focusing on regenerative farming, we dedicated three years to modifying the soil at Baarmutha, enriching the land to provide the perfect nursery for our future truffiere.
First Harvest
2019
The First Planting
With the help of three generations, we planted 350 French Oaks, establishing the foundation of Baarmutha Truffles amidst the beautiful landscape of Beechworth.
The Nose of the Farm
Dante is a Lagotto Romagnolo - an Italian breed originally assisting their humans with retrieving fowl from lakes. Lagottos have more recently been gainfully employed in truffle hunting.
Because truffles grow underground, their harvest relies on the help of an animal. While pigs have been used in the past, dogs are preferred these days because they would rather eat their reward treat than eat the truffle. Detecting truffles by scent is not a natural behaviour for dogs, they have to be trained.
Dante has been learning truffle hunting since he was two years old, but had to wait a long time until truffles were ready on his own farm. Dante lives his best life in truffle season! Dante will insist on getting pats from anyone who visits.
Dante's neighbour, Bunty, a brown labrador, has recently joined us as a trainee truffle dog.
Baarmutha
Baarmutha is the traditional place name for the land on which we now live, love and farm. It means place of many small creeks. The train used to stop at Baarmutha station just near the Truffiere. Thesedays however you can arrive by car or bike. We are 4km out of Beechworth town centre.