ON THE RISE
The Snowy Valleys region of NSW.
IT’S BEEN A TREND over the past few years – new people are moving to the region, which is putting it on the map,” says the owner of Braymont Gardens, Chris Brayne. “Attitudes are changing because the demographics are changing.” Established in August 2013 at Maragle (near Tumbarumba), Braymont Gardens is home to a unique tree church, formed almost entirely from living trees. It’s one of only four in the world. The 2.4ha property was originally a bare stock paddock until Chris, blessed with seemingly unlimited energy, drive and enthusiasm, transformed it into a vibrant open garden. One hundred Manchurian pear trees line its driveway, and, at an elevation of 850m, the views are magnificent: Round Mountain, Mt Jagungal and Mt Black Jack are prominent alpine features on the horizon.
“The lifestyle is attracting younger generations and people are retiring here,” Chris says. “The change is going to open a lot of doors. More visitors are looking to travel here because they are finding out about the region and how beautiful it is. We now get busloads of sightseers from all over Australia.”
A wind of change is sweeping across the Snowy Valleys region of New South Wales, a transformation that is no longer a secret. Swapping the big smoke for clean alpine air is a dream for many and the pandemic has provided an opportunity for Australians to refocus on where they want to live. The ability to work from home has prompted many people to consider the move to regional areas, although the Snowy Valleys region was on the rise even before COVID.
The region is wedged between the Snowy Mountains and the fertile plains of the Riverina. Roughly situated between Tumut and the hydro town of Khancoban, the Snowy Valleys have an allure thanks to a pleasing composition of rolling hills, verdant meadows, meandering rivers, deep forests and picturesque townships. Combined with a four-season climate and especially cold winters, high rainfall and rich soils, this region is ideal for fruit-growing.
It is early morning and the sun is just peeking over the crowns of mighty river red gums. Mickey ‘Finn’ Shanahan, a local guide with Aussie Fly Fisher, is out to snag a trout. The low light catches the fishing line when he casts his handmade flies across a patch of river where hungry trout might be lurking. Birds and the mumbling of the swiftly flowing Tumut River supply the soundscape. Mickey has fished all over the world
and acquired all the necessary eco-accreditations to act as a guide in the national parks of NSW. He practises sustainable ‘catch and release’ techniques.
“We don’t just focus on catching and releasing fish, it’s also a nature experience,” Mickey says. With the river meandering through verdant paddocks, framed by river gums and with blue, wooded mountains as a backdrop, he operates on a stage of staggering beauty and some of the best trout destinations, just outside Tumut.
While Mickey is keen to present the river as an ideal fly-fishing asset, Tim Martin has a desire to showcase Tumut itself. A strong pride and passion about the Snowy Valleys gave Tim, born and bred in Tumut, the inspiration to create Tumut River Brewing Co in 2013. It quickly became a focal point in town and is frequented by visitors and locals.
“The original concept of the brewery started because I was trying to build a tourist attraction to help support the town,” says Tim. “However, the passion and love I developed for brewing beer quickly overtook that intention. The benefit to the town and the idea of attracting visitors is now a wonderful side effect.”
The brewery was established in an old tyre shed, but the business has since outgrown its current location. Tim has identified a new site and is awaiting approval for his expansion plans. The new brewery will cater for up to 400 people and include a grassy beer garden, an extended function area and a large car park, plus new brewing tanks and canning lines. Tim expects the expansion will generate significant casual and part-time employment, the equivalent of 15 full-time jobs.
JUST A 20-MINUTE DRIVE SOUTH of Tumut is the quiet Gilmore Valley. Framed by rows of rounded hills, agriculture has a strong foothold here. In the seclusion of this picturesque valley, Paul and Chrissy Massie are chasing the family farming dream. They established Gilmore Valley Grove, a small olive and garlic farm, planting the olive grove at the end of 2015 in a former sheep grazing paddock, and releasing their first olive oil range in January.
The duo represent a new breed of farmers in a valley still dominated by traditional methods. Their garlic garden is sown, mulched, weeded, harvested and cleaned all by hand, then cured naturally to deliver a quality, nutritious product.
“We only use organic, natural and sustainable practices and are mindful of biodiversity on our farm,” says Chrissy. “At no stage do we use chemicals in the process, which enables us to deliver a product full of taste and health benefits to our customers. We want our clients to enjoy an Aussie-grown product that
“The benefit to the town and the idea of attracting visitors is…a wonderful side effect.”