'Outsider' farmer find success raising free-range ducks for top restaurants
In a picturesque valley on the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, maremma guardian dogs keep watch as thousands of white ducks waddle over grass and splash around in dams.
Destined for the food service industry, including some of the country's finest restaurants, these free-range ducks have helped Luke Winder earn a reputation as a serious farmer.
The former electrician from Sydney's south started thinking about farming while caring for his terminally ill father more than a decade ago.
"He asked me some questions on his way out that made me really think about what I was deeply passionate about," Mr Winder said.
With no family connections in farming, he turned to an unlikely source of inspiration.
Mr Winder's regenerative farming idols include Americans Will Harris and Joel Salatin.
"I think they're forging the path for future generations of farmers and how we really should be treating animals and the way we should be growing food," he said.
Mr Winder and his wife Pia bought the 48-hectare farm they now call Tathra Place 10 years ago.
The couple bought goats to clear the weeds, but when that failed, they turned to pigs, who happily ate the plants, roots and all.
"We went from about 65 acres of blackberry, believe it or not, and we let the pigs do what they do naturally and without any chemical or mechanical means we were able to eradicate [it] all."
Mr Winder is upfront about the circumstances that led to a change in career and lifestyle.
He bought and sold a Sydney property and bought the farm with the profits. He also didn't pay himself a wage for nearly five years.
"And that's only because I've got an incredible wife that just had a wonderful career and could support that financially and emotionally."
Mr Winder now leases nearby land as well, but this small-scale operation produces between 7.5 to 9 tonnes of protein each week.
As well as pork and duck, it includes beef, lamb and chicken.
Mr Winder said they must hit these figures to make his model work, not an easy task for a "chemical-free, pharmaceutical-free" regenerative operation.
The business is also a vertically integrated model, where they control nearly every stage of production, which Mr Winder says is also necessary to be profitable.
"We have our own butcher shops, we're doing our own wholesale production. We're breaking down birds and doing all the packaging."
Mr Winder and his staff also handle all live animal transport and cold-chain logistics after processing, including deliveries to Sydney and Canberra restaurants.
Direct sales to the food service industry are integral to the business model, especially for duck, an often difficult sell to home cooks.
Tathra Place is now one of the biggest free-range duck producers in the country and markets the fine dining birds as Maremma Duck, a nod to the 23 dogs who protect them day and night.
Mr Winder enjoys the support of well-known chefs who are enthusiastic about his ducks and his free-range farming methods.
Bennelong at the Sydney Opera House has served his ducks for almost as long as he has produced them.
"The flavour profile immediately jumped out and surpassed any other duck that we tried," head chef Rob Cockerill said.
Mr Cockerill believes their free-range environment enhances the flavours and said diners were interested in the back story of menu items like duck.
While Mr Winder would like to steadily expand the operation, the increasing price of agricultural land is a major hurdle that he and other young farmers face.
"Unfortunately where I am here, it's being essentially captured by hobby farmers and people that want their 100 acres or 200-acre blocks where it's only two hours from their house in Sydney," Mr Winder said.
He believes changes should be made to ensure land zoned by governments for primary production is used for that purpose.
Mr Winder is optimistic about the future of agriculture and plans to put together a training model of his practices for others to follow.
He said there was a simple goal.
"To be ecologically responsible, but still be able to earn a white-collar salary.
"We're never going to attract young people into agriculture if there's not a fair living to be had."
Watch ABC TV's Landline at 12:30pm AEST on Sunday or stream anytime on ABC iview.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
First-home buyers battle for $640k Glenroy townhouse
A Glenroy couple who brought their newborn son home to 6 Sunbeam St — and later built a backyard deck with help from Dad — have sold their first home under the hammer for $640,000. Matt and Shani Panopoulos had owned the two-bedroom townhouse for eight and a half years, having paid $580,000 in 2017 as first-home buyers. All five auction bidders on Saturday were also first-home buyer hopefuls. Why Sydney buyers are flocking to Melb Tragic side of Aus housing crisis exposed The young family were thrilled to see it go to another buyer starting their journey. 'We bought it in winter, brought our son home in winter, and now we're handing it over in winter, it feels like a full-circle moment,' Mrs Panopoulos said. Their favourite feature was a custom-built deck added with Shani's father, who had mates with spare materials. It became the family's second living area. 'We had coffee there in the mornings, summer dinners, and a little play area for our son,' she said. 'It's a space that really became the heart of our home.' During Covid lockdowns, the second bedroom doubled as a home office, and the parkland across the road became their daily retreat. 'It was perfect,' she said. 'We had nature just across the street and somewhere peaceful to clear our heads. I don't think we realised how lucky we were until we really needed it.' The couple have since upsized closer to extended family, but said they would miss the quiet, neighbourly street and the strong sense of community Glenroy offered. 'It was the perfect first home, easy to care for, beautifully designed, and in a great spot close to everything,' Mr Panopoulos said. 'We were very lucky to find it.' Ray White Glenroy agent Abdullah El Hosari handled the sale and said interest was strong from the start, with the final result soaring $90,000 above the top of the $500,000-$550,000 price guide. 'There's no body corporate, and it's been so well looked after,' Mr El Hosari said. 'You could feel the love and care the moment you walked in.' Mr El Hosari added that limited supply in the winter market had helped fuel strong demand. Ray White Victoria and Tasmania chief auctioneer Matt Condon sold the home under the hammer to a first-home buyer in front of a crowd of onlookers.
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Quiet crisis' playing out across Australian workplaces right now
A 'quiet crisis' is emerging across Australia as the world enters a new workforce era, with leaders warned that being unwilling to adapt could have serious consequences in the near future. The way we work has transformed dramatically in recent years, with the Covid-19 pandemic forcing people to adapt to new ways of working. Even though we are no longer in the thick of lockdowns and social distancing, the changes that occurred to workplaces during that period don't look like they are going away any time soon. For a lot of office-based employees, hybrid or remote work has become the norm and, despite a recent rise in company's issuing return to office mandates, Aussie workers won't give up their new-found flexibility easily. A new report from payroll and HR company, Deel, explores how workers are responding to shifting workplace conditions, including AI disruption, cost of living pressures, how they are being paid and the benefits they are receiving. More than 1000 full-time Australian office workers were surveyed as part of the 2025 Deel Australia Payday Expectations Report, revealing a widening gap between what employees want and what their employers are willing to give. Shannon Karaka, Deel's Country Leader for Australia, said one of the big things that was made clear in the report is that Aussie workers want more control, particularly when it comes to their pay. 'This report reveals a quiet crisis unfolding in workplaces, and the urgency for businesses to evolve – from modernising payroll to supporting financial resilience,' he said. 'Today's employees expect the same level of customisation and speed from their workplace benefits as they do from their favourite apps. 'We're seeing a growing demand for payroll to be a financial service, one that empowers employees with real-time access, flexibility, and greater control over their earnings.' Of those surveyed, 38 per cent said they want to be paid sooner than they currently are, this rises to 50 per cent among those struggling financially and 55 per cent for households earning under $50,000 a year. But it isn't just when they are being paid that they want more say on, it is also how they are being paid. Three in five said they would considered receiving part of their salary in non-traditional forms, such as stocks, shares or equity. Gen Z were most likely to consider alternative forms of payment, along with being the most likely age group to consider receiving cryptocurrency as part of their salary. The vast majority of those surveyed said they would want the option of customising their pay and benefits package, with 64 per cent saying they would trade paid leave benefits for a higher salary. Despite this, it is clear work-life balance is also a high priority, with two thirds of respondents ranking either flexible working hours or remote work options among their most important benefits in a job. One in four revealed they would also take lower pay in exchange for more flexibility. A whopping 78 per cent said they were willing to give up perks like gym access, free meals or company events for more flexible working conditions. Gen Z are also leading the charge in this area, with 90 per cent of respondents in this age group saying they would trade traditional benefits for more flexibility, compared to just 51 per cent of Baby Boomers. The results make it clear there is a growing disconnect between what is being offered and what workers actually want. Speaking to Mr Karaka that if this gap around compensation, benefits and flexibility continues to widen, we are going to see 'serious consequences across Australian workplaces'. He said companies that don't adapt to these changes will be 'left behind'. 'Retention will drop, engagement will suffer, and top talent – especially among younger generations – will walk away in favour of more progressive, flexible employers,' Mr Karaka said. 'The best thing employers can do right now is listen, and then act. The data is clear: employees want more flexibility, transparency, and control over how and when they're paid.' For those businesses that are willing to listen to employees and adapt accordingly, Mr Karaka suggested the first step is to modernise payroll systems. This could look like offering features such a s real-time pay, customisable benefits and financial wellness tools. However, he noted that none of these changes can happen without 'rebuilding trust', but ensuring there is always available to resolve issues and being transparent about how salaries and bonuses are calculated. 'This is about meeting employees where they are. Gen Z and Millennials, in particular, expect their workplace experience to match the speed and personalisation of the apps they use every day,' he said. 'Employers who embrace this shift won't just keep up, they'll lead.'
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
ATO data reveals the top 10 richest professions in Australia
Surgeons are the highest paid professionals in Australia, according to new data from the Australian Taxation Office. On Friday, the Australian Taxation Office released data from 2022-23 financial year breaking down what the wealthiest Australians do for a living. 'Since reporting started in 2010–11, surgeons have remained the highest paid occupation with the 4,247 individuals reporting an average taxable income of $472,475 in 2022–23,' the report read. Anaesthetist and financial dealer were in second and third place with $447,193 and $355,233 respectively. This was followed by internal medicine specialist in fourth with $342,457 and psychiatrist with $288,146. Here are the top 10 highest paid jobs in Australia: 1. Surgeon – $472,475 2. Anaesthetist – $447,193 3. Financial dealer – $355,233 4. Internal medicine specialist – $342,457 5. Psychiatrist – $288,146. 6. Other medical practitioners – $259,802 7. Mining engineer – $206,408 8. Judicial or other legal professionals – $206,408 9. CEO or managing director – $194,987 10. Financial investment adviser – $191,986 The ATO has also revealed Australia's richest postcodes. NSW dominates the list, with seven from the top ten located in the state. The postcode '2027' takes out the number one spot with the areas of Point Piper, Darling Point, Edgecliff and HMAS Rushcutters in Sydney's east. The postcode boasted an average taxable income of $279,712 among 5,841 inhabitants. This was followed by Double Bay (postcode 2028) and Woollahra (postcode 2025) in second and third place with $255,901 and $242,267 respectively, both in Sydney's eastern suburbs. The only two Victorian postcodes to make the list were the Hawksburn/ Toorak area in fourth with $241,511 and Portsea in seventh with $222,254. Top 10 wealthiest postcodes in Australia: 1. '2027' NSW: Darling Point, Edgecliff, HMAS Rushcutters, Point Piper – $279,712 2. '2028' NSW: Double Bay – $255,901 3. '2025' NSW: Woollahra – $242,267 4. '3142' Vic: Hawksburn, Toorak – $241,511 5. '2030' NSW: Dover Heights, Rose Bay North, Vaucluse, Watsons Bay – $236,750 6. '2108' NSW: Coasters Retreat, Palm Beach, Currawong Beach – $233,344 7. '3844' Vic: Portsea – $222,254 8. '2023' NSW: Bellevue Hill – $216,383 9. '6011' WA: Cottesloe, Peppermint Grove – $213,621 10. '2110' NSW: Hunters Hills, Woolwich – $208,902
