Oak Tasmania Chosen As New Lessee Of Grove Research Station

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The Tasmanian Government has chosen Oak Tasmania as the new lessee of the Grove Research Station in Tasmania’s Huon Valley.

Oak Tasmania CEO John Paton, said the lease will provide substantial benefits to the organisation’s horticultural division Tahune Fields Nursery, which is also located in the State’s Huon Valley.

“Our Business Plan and case for support produced by KPMG identified the need for us to access additional land and facilities in order to expand our operations and investigate broader market opportunities that aren’t currently available at the Tahune Fields site.

“The lease of the 28ha Grove Research Station will extend our capacity to play a lead role in the pome fruit industry while providing meaningful employment and training opportunities for Tasmanians with disability.”

Mr Paton said his organisation was looking forward to working closely with industry stakeholders such as Fruit Growers Tasmania (FGT); Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research (TIAR), and Apple and Pear Australia Ltd (APAL) to maintain and preserve the research station as a centre of excellence.

“Oak Tasmania has identified a number of exciting research, preservation and potential tourism opportunities as a result of being named the successful lessee of the Grove Research Station. We will work collaboratively with representatives of industry, government and the community to provide sustainable and mutually beneficial outcomes for the benefit of all Tasmanians,” he said.

Mr Paton said there is also enormous community interest in relation to the social and heritage values of the site, including what is believed to be Australia’s largest collection of heritage apple trees spanning some 500 varieties – many of which are no longer grown commercially.

Tahune Fields Nursery grows in excess of 200,000 apple trees and stone fruit trees per year, servicing mainly Australian commercial orchadists. They are members of the Australian Nurserymen’s Fruit Improvement Company (ANFIC) and are authorised propagators of Australian Pome Fruit Improvement Program (APFIP) certified trees and rootstocks.

Tahune Fields is licensed to grow ANFIC and Nevis Fruit Company varieties and specialise in new variety management. The nursery has a history in the Huon Valley dating back to the late 1960’s and is an Australian Disability Enterprise employing 24 Tasmanians with disability.