Olives in the Hunter Valley

The chances are pretty good that you didn't just find this page by accident ... so you are interested in olives ?

This web site is my personal opinion and I am happy to debate anything on the site with anybody who may have a different point of view. I have found that the conditions in the Hunter Valley with it's summer dominant rainfall and high humidity, its lack of winter rain and its hard, cold, dry winters is far from ideal for growing olives. However, that is merely an obstacle to be overcome, not a limitation.   

If any of these questions are the questions that you want answered, especially, but not exclusively if you live and grow in the Hunter, then let me know.

Hunter Olive Grove Services ... through its parent company Hunter Family Estates ... has established a consultancy and contracting business to help growers and provide maintenance for olive trees.

Exactly what do we do?

Pretty much anything you want done. 

• From an informal visit to a site to assess its potential for olives, to soil tests to accurately predict potential problems,                recommendations of olive species suitable to your plan.
• From planning the block, correcting any soil problems, laying out and ordering irrigation, pipes, pumps and filters.
• Hands-on running of the project, or training others to run things
• Education on sprays, both chemical and organic, or we can design of a spray program for you
• Troubleshooting. Identifying problems and either fixing them, or showing you what to do.
• Slashing, weeding, spraying .... any of those boring jobs you don't want to do yourself.

What are our resources?

Through strategic partners we are able to call on a variety of experts in machinery, chemical and technical fields, as well as trained staff to assist in planting and maintaining a grove.

What sort of problems could I expect?

Olive growing in the Hunter Valley is so new that we really don't know all the questions yet, let alone the answers. However we do know that much of the information we have is based on European or North American, non-irrigated farming in a Mediterranean climate. The Hunter usually uses supplementary irrigation, and is considerably more humid than the Mediterranean in summer. As a result we have different problems and have to find our own answers.

Our intention is to specialise in the Hunter Valley and its unique climate ... and unique problems.

 What do I do next?

Send me an e-mail or give me a ring.

E-mail is olives@hunterweb.com.au

Phone / fax is 02 6579 1004

Mobile is 0419 244785 

I'll be happy to have a chat and see if we can help you and your olives.

Mike & Chris Wilson.