If you’ve driven down the South Gippsland Highway before, it would have been hard not to notice the large Jersey cow statue, standing proudly at the gates to the Caldermeade Farm and Cafe. A long time favourite of locals and tourists alike, the family owned business is the perfect port of call for any hungry traveller, with plenty of fresh, farm grown produce to go around. Having recently expanded and refurbished their facilities, the team at the farm cafe have bounced back from lockdown and are thrilled to be welcoming people back to their little slice of heaven once again, as GABRIELLA PAYNE reports.
The soft and gentle sounds of mooing cows greet you as you arrive at the Caldermeade Farm and Cafe.
It’s a sunny Wednesday afternoon and despite being mid-week, the iconic farm cafe is a hive of activity as people sit outside with their coffees and ice creams, lapping up the fresh country air.
Just a half an hour drive from bustling Pakenham lies the sprawling green farm – a famous pit stop for travellers on the busy South Gippsland Highway and the perfect lunchtime spot.
Home made relishes, chutneys and jams line the cafe’s shelves and the fridges are brimming with the creme de la creme of dairy products – fresh Jersey milk, yoghurt, butter and cream, just to name a few.
Coming from a long line of dairy farmers, it’s safe to say that the Gommans family know a thing or two about farming and good quality produce.
John Gommans and his son Ben are clearly passionate about what they do and since taking over the farm in 2006, they’ve worked hard to make it into the success it is today.
“Our emphasis is on using what we’ve got and keeping it local,“ John says, as he and Ben take me on a tour of the cafe and farm-market.
“So as you can see, we’ve got our full cream milk, light milk, all our homemade butters, our yoghurts and goat milk as well,“ Ben says.
“We haven’t got our cheese manufacturing up and running yet, but that’s the next job on the list.“
Hoping to engage and immerse their visitors in the fresh produce experience, John and Ben have set up a range of interactive activities for people to get involved with – and there are more on the way.
“Once we have the cheese making up and running, that will be a major feature,“ Ben explains.
“People will be able to see it being made, and then literally taste it and buy it right here, while watching it being made.“
With plans to open up a beer garden and have events and functions on weekend nights, the Caldermeade Farm and Cafe will no doubt become the next must-see destination for local cheese lovers.
But although their award-winning dairy products are certainly a highlight – they aren’t the only produce the farm has to offer.
With more time on their hands during Covid, the Gommans poured plenty of love into their newest addition – a brand new local fruit and vegetable market.
All sorts of fresh produce can be found in here, making it a great alternative to the supermarket for those wanting to support local growers.
Keeping this farm to table concept in mind, the Caldermeade Farm and Cafe also ticks the third food group box – offering their own range of sustainable meats as well.
“This year we’ve definitely turned it up a notch,“ John tells me.
“We want to make a brand out of predominantly locally sourced products.
“So all the dairy and most of the meat is from our farm, and so is a lot of the stuff that’s cooked in our cafe kitchen,“ he says.
Having expanded the cafe, there’s now plenty of space for guests to relax – not to mention the huge drawing cards for kids.
Looking out on a peaceful pond, a gravel path winds its way past a range of young farm animals, who are all friendly and waiting to say hello (and be fed by) eager children.
Chickens, rabbits, goats and calves are just some of the adorable animals you can get up close and personal with right beside the cafe – but a farm tour will take you to meet the real VIPs of Caldermeade – the Jersey cows themselves.
A truly immersive experience, members of the public can hop on a tractor tour which takes you right to the paddock itself, where some very excited cows are just waiting to say hello.
With over 300 milk producing Jersey cows on the property, there’s plenty of furry faces to get to know and it’s an experience you certainly won’t forget.
For those that want to see the milking process in action, a viewing platform above the dairy provides the perfect birds eye view come milking time and the farm’s small “museum“ shares a snapshot of the land’s rich history.
It’s clear to see the passion and dedication that the Gommans family have poured into this gem of a farm, and they’ve created a special and educational place in the process.
Their grand plans have helped transform this property into a must-see destination and your one stop shop to support locals, so what are you waiting for?
