Welcome to Woodlands Estate Lavender Woodlands Estate Lavender is nestled amongst rich farm land at the foot of the historic Dookie Hills in north east Victoria, a 20 minute drive from Shepparton and 25 minutes from Benalla. Boasting views of Mt Major, Gentle Annie and Mt Saddleback, the lavender farm is a unique patch in the agricultural surrounds usually dominated by crops such as wheat and canola. The two acres of lavender is part of a larger dry cropping farm run by owners Cheryl Hammer and Rhys Sutherland. The parents of three young boys, Jack, 9 years, Angus, 8 years and Oliver, 6 years, the couple were interested in trying their hand at an alternative crop and after about 12 months of research decided on lavender. In 2001 a trial plot was planted and three varieties chosen from that plot to grow over the current four acres. Today the Cosgrove lavender farm has more than 8000 plants and is a mass of color during the summer months. Work is in progress now to prepare another acre for planting in the Spring. The three varieties grown are Egerton Blue and Hidcote – both Angustifolia's or True Lavenders. Both were chosen for their brilliant color, sweet scent and are culinary lavenders. The third variety is an Intermedia called Grosso. It has been our best performer – not needing much attention at all, even during the recent drought. All varieties are grown for their oil as well as for use in the dried flower market and craft. Our lavender is grown in loamy soil and clay using organic weed matting and a gravel mulch to help combat the ever present weed problem. The three boys have literally grown up with the lavender spending many hours in the dust during the drought and the mud when it has rained while Cheryl and Rhys watered, weeded and pruned. Rhys comes from a traditional farming family and has lived in the Dookie – Cosgrove region most of his life. Cheryl has a career in journalism spanning 22 years and draws on much of that knowledge to help educate people about her venture into lavender. Groups visiting the farm are welcomed by the couple and are able to see and hear first hand how the farm works. The farm is open to the public during the summer months and visitors enjoy trying the lavender scones offered in the tea shed and a chance to relax and wander through the gift shop and lavender patch. Most of the plants are harvested in December and January by Cheryl and Rhys and Rhys spends many hours in the distillery extracting the oil which can be a real social event with neighbors and others dropping in to witness the steam distillation process. Some lavender is still cut by hand for bunches and used as dried and stripped flower for use in the farm's own gift lines. Special weekends are held in the summer for the public to see these processes and a weekend festival in November celebrates the flower season. The farm boasts an extensive gift shop with Woodlands Estate Lavender exclusive skin care and body range, homewares, plants, garden accessories and hand crafted gifts for all occasions.