Nestled in the fertile red soils of Bundaberg, Alloway Macadamias isn’t just a farm, it’s a living, growing legacy shaped by vision, innovation, and a deep respect for the macadamia tree. 

At the helm is industry pioneer Lorin Young (right), with on-the-ground leadership from dedicated farm manager Johan Oosthuizen (left). Together, they’ve created something truly special: a vertically integrated macadamia business that spans nursery to nut, with a little sunshine bottled in between.

Macadamia farmer Lorin Young

Lorin’s macadamia story began in 1987, but his personal journey spans continents. Born in Hawaii, raised in Taiwan, and educated in the United States, Lorin brought a global perspective to Australian soil. His early venture, Macadamia King, saw over 1,000 hectares developed around the Glass House Mountains. But it was the lack of reliable water that led him to a rethink his methods and location.

“We wanted to trial something bold; high density planting at 1,000 trees per hectare,” Lorin recalls.That idea sparked a bold new chapter in Bundaberg. With inspiration from mentor Kim Wilson and guidance from experienced growers Ray Norris and Lesleigh Kerr, Lorin planted the seeds of what would become Alloway Macadamia. Though density was eventually reduced to 500 trees per hectare, the project proved that early yields could be commercially viable, an insight now adopted by others in the industry.

And when no nursery could meet the scale of their ambition? Lorin started one. “That’s how MacQ nursery was born. We’ve now supplied over 1 million macadamia trees to the industry and it’s the only accredited nursery of its kind in Australia.”

Macadamia farmer Johan Oosthuizen

Johan’s macadamia journey began after moving from Zimbabwe to Bundaberg.”I started working on local orchards and that hands-on experience led me to a management role with Alloway Macadamia, and that’s where our macadamia journey really began.”

At Alloway Macadamias, Johan’s supportive leadership now oversees a vibrant, productive farm of 260 hectares with approximately 110,000 macadamia trees.

What makes Alloway special, Johan says, is the full-circle nature of the business.

“We grow our own seedlings at MacQ, nurture them into mature trees, and export our macadamia nuts directly. It’s a paddock-to-plate model we’re really proud of.”

Farming with sunshine, sun-dried macadamia oil

One of Alloway’s most unique offerings is its sun-dried macadamia oil, a product that came to life thanks to a discerning client in Taiwan. The request? That the oil is made using nuts from trees over 50 years old and the nuts are sun dried before cracking and pressing. The result is a smooth, high-quality macadamia oil used in medicinal, beauty and culinary applications.

“It’s time-consuming, but the flavour is exceptional,” says Lorin. “It’s not just oil, it’s a story of patience and quality.”

Enjoying macadamias every day

For Lorin, the connection to macadamias is personal. He still prefers nut-in-shell, lightly roasted and touched with vanilla. And he uses macadamia oil as the family’s cooking oil and as a moisturiser.

“It’s 100% natural and gentle on my skin – macadamia oil is also rich in squalene, a natural moisturiser we lose as we age.”

Back at Johan’s house, macadamias are part of everyday life. His go-to is lightly salted and dry roasted, but his family – “My wife and daughters are all about the honey-roasted and chocolate-coated kinds,” he laughs.

The partnership is a snapshot of how macadamias can enrich both work and family life; they are luxurious, nourishing, and uniquely Australian.