Welcome to Tarndwarncoort!
The Dennis family extend a warm welcome to this historic sheep farming property in south-west Victoria in Australia .
ACCOMMODATION, WOOLSHOP, GROUP TOURS, EVENTS
The word “Tarndwarncoort” is based on the ancient Gulidjan language, used by indigenous people to describe the landscape the property sits upon.
How do you say it? Click to listen.
As Australia has evolved over the years, so too has our language. Words are shortened, and it seems preferable to end with a vowel. Once modified, you could say Australian words sound friendlier. In the Australian spirit, Tarndwarncoort has been affectionately called “Tarndie” for many years.
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Develop your woolcraft skills at a Workshop in 2019
Watch a short film introducing Tarndie and our new “Origins” yarn range.
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Tarndwarncoort is one of Victoria’s oldest surviving homesteads, and is the continuation of one of Australia’s oldest family farms. Today, the Dennis family still grow wool and invite you to share farm’s bucolic setting.
Tarndwarncoort Homestead – from 1848. (photo Jonathon Hawley 2013)
The Dennis family settled Tarndwarncoort in 1840, already with a flock of Merino sheep from Van Diemens Land. Over the next 40 years they bred an improved type of sheep – one that would suit the Otways environment better. By 1880, the sheep was perfected, and named Polwarth, after the County it came from.
Visitors can see this special flock of sheep – developed at Tarndwarncoort in the 1880s as Australia’ first breed of sheep, and follow the ebb and flow of Australia’s pastoral heritage in the homestead complex,
The wool grown on the farm is turned into beautiful craft wools including tops for felting and yarn for knitting. It is truly “single origin” yarn, from Australia’s first breed of sheep.
5th generation Dave Dennis feeding members of the black Polwarth flock.
Visitors to Tarndie can meet a Polwarth on the Farm Walk, find bespoke yarns in the Woolshop, and enjoy a great cup of locally roasted coffee in the Homestead Gardens.
Guests are welcome to make an overnight experience and stay in the Farmer’s Cottage amidst the working sheep farm.
The Farmers Cottage
Special events are also welcome at the Homestead – having hosted many lunches, weddings, concerts, workshops, meetings and retreats over the past 179 years.
Come visit Tarndie! Open every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10am – 4pm.