July 1st, 2023
Garryowen Olives History
Garryowen Olive estate was Established in late 1998 by then Fourth generation pioneering farmer James Vincent McInerney.
James at the time was utilising the family farm “Garryowen” for the production of a vast array of broad acre crops and livestock. He believed Olives would be a great fit to their farm as it would take advantage of the property’s favourable geographical location in the heart of South Australia’s agricultural rich Gilbert Valley.
James’s father Vincent Joseph McInerney grew up on the neighbouring property “Olive Farm” named after the free growing ancient olive trees that surrounded the homestead.
These trees continue to grow freely today and is part of the reason that James chose to plant his own grove. He carefully selected a parcel of land from the farm which contained rich, deep, dark self mulching soils that he knew would allow the trees to flourish freely and healthily producing large fresh Olives that in turn make the most delicious extra virgin olive oil.
The olive grove can be found nestled in the foot hills of the ever changing farming landscape of green and golden wheat and canola fields. The now large mature trees grow healthily on the watershed flats of the property flanked on one side by the banks of Harvey Creek and on the other by the original Garryowen stone homestead built by Vincent in 1945.
Today the 2000 plus tree Olive grove is managed by James’s son fifth generation farmer Mark Vincent McInerney. He continues in his father’s footsteps with the same passion ensuring that the Olives trees continue to grow as healthy as possible with the aim producing top quality fresh extra virgin olive oil with minimal carbon footprint.
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