Where wisdom grows: the story of Benworth Orchard

This award-winning macadamia farm blends experience, nature, and innovation in Queensland’s hinterland.

Nestled in the rolling hills of Anderleigh, northeast of Gympie, Queensland, Benworth Orchard is more than just a productive macadamia farm, it’s a living example of how nature, knowledge and a passionate team can create something truly special.

Spanning 40 hectares and home to over 9,600 macadamia trees, some of which have been producing for 46 years, Benworth Orchard is a place where heritage and forward thinking meet. 

Managed by CL Macs and recently named the 2025 Large Farm Grower of the Year at the Australian Macadamia Society’s Awards of Excellence, this macadamia orchard is a shining star in Australia’s macadamia heartland.

Meet the team behind the nuts

While the orchard has corporate backing, its soul is shaped by people. Farm Manager Shane Jackson leads a tight-knit team including Leah Heilbronn and Ivan Erickson, bringing over 35 years of combined hands-on experience to the farm.

“There’s a genuine depth of knowledge here,” says Graham Wessling, General Farming Manager at CL Macs. “But what makes Benworth really different is how open the team is to trying new approaches.”

The orchard may be decades old, but it’s not stuck in the past. Long-time manager Tim Salmon helped lay the foundation for a science-backed, evidence-based system that continues today. The team works closely with agronomists and pest scouts to make informed, timely decisions, always learning and adapting as they go.

Letting nature lead

At Benworth, natural processes guide everything. Fertility comes from rich compost, worm castings, and a clever “compost concentrate” called Johnson-Su. It’s sprayed beneath trees to boost microbial diversity and soil structure, a true tonic for healthy soils.

The orchard even hosts seven worm farms, producing tea and castings that are applied gently to nourish the trees. Comfrey planted between rows adds nutrients naturally, while synthetic nitrogen is kept low.

“I’m a big believer in ‘little and often’,” says Graham. “It keeps nutrients in sync with the tree’s needs, and our soils stay biologically active.” 

Irrigation that knows the rhythm

Irrigation at Benworth is refreshingly simple yet effective. Drawing on around 1,200 mm of annual rainfall, the system supplements water when needed, delivering about 4.5 mm per night via finely tuned sprinklers. There are no digital dashboards here, just experience, observation and a feel for the land.

“Every time it doesn’t rain, we irrigate,” says Shane. “We’ve just learnt what works. It’s about consistency, not complexity.”

When the orchard goes quiet

Come flowering season, the machinery stops completely. No spraying. No spreading. No interruptions. It’s a “religious rule,” Shane says with a grin, to protect pollination and give the bees a dust-free, peaceful place to work. The reward? A strong, consistent nut set and a healthier orchard overall.

The same respect applies to the ground. Instead of spraying out weeds, the grass is left to grow naturally, helping keep the soil cool, protected and alive.

Canopy management is gentle too, instead of harsh hedging, strategic checkerboard-style tree removal opens space gradually. It’s a slower process, but one that gives light, air and life back to the orchard.

The Benworth philosophy

In every corner of this macadamia nut orchard, you’ll find four key principles at work:

• People with deep experience
• Biological and natural soil care
• Targeted investments that deliver real value
• A management style that’s more about observation than interference

And perhaps most importantly an ongoing commitment to improvement. Even with award-winning results and 46-year-old trees, the team at Benworth never stops learning.

“Treat the orchard as naturally as possible,” Graham says. It’s a simple idea. But at Benworth Orchard, it’s one that’s delivering extraordinary results — for the trees, the soil, the people, and of course, for every nut that ends up in your hands.