History of Yuulong Lavender Estate

In 1980, nursing colleagues Edythe Anderson and Rosemary Holmes bought twenty acres of land in the Mt Egerton area.

Initially the intention was to graze cattle, but a drought and a calendar photograph of a field of lavender provided the inspiration for an alternative use of the land.
Two years later Edythe and Rosemary formed a business partnership, and with the help of friends planted the first 1000 lavender plants.

In 1983 we acquired another 20 acres and now have established 120 varieties of lavender.

For the first time, on a weekend in 1985, the property was open to the public. Better than the expected 500, some 2000 visitors came.
About the same time a previously unidentified variety of lavender was found to be flourishing on the property. After considerable studies the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne gave instructions to name it "Yuulong". The state was subsequently recognised and asked by the O.P.C.A. to hold the National Registered Collection of Lavenders, which now includes eighty varieties.

The property, open October through to the end of April, Wed - Sun inclusive, features a retail nursery, craft and tea room complex, picturesque bushland setting, large garden, contoured hills of lavender, annual music and farming festival, and an extensive range of lavender culinary, craft, and skin care products.

Comprehensive day long seminars on the growing and production of lavender are conducted regularly on the property by Rosemary, who has also lectured, by invitation, in New Zealand on the topic.Featured in several episodes of Burke’s Backyard, and numerous high profile magazines, Yuulong has been represented in various promotional events including the Home Beautiful Kitchen and Cooking Show, Harvest Picnic, Country Living Show, International Garden Show, and Victoria on Show.

With its range of facilities, and diversification of features, the Estate is a well recognised tourist destination in the Goldfields area.

In addition it is a testament to the vision and hard work of two women, Rosemary and Edythe, who have proved that women in agriculture, can succeed.