Young macadamia growers off to a cracking start

By providing low interest loans for farm businesses, the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) is helping Queenslanders like Aimee and James Thomas of Lower Wonga’s Falkirk Farm enter this boom industry and build sustainable, profitable businesses.  

With experience across a range of agricultural industries between them, for Aimee and James, macadamia production was an obvious choice – the industry provided an exciting combination of potential growth with a great lifestyle balance for the parents of four young boys.  

“We were originally in cotton, but for the pay-off, it was just too intensive – although at that stage we didn’t realise how full-on macadamias could be,” said James.

“We looked into a few other industries, like beef, and just couldn’t make the numbers stack-up – but with macadamias it all just lined up.”

The couple purchased their 148 hectare orchard with the help of a QRIDA First Start Loan in 2013. 

Three years later they obtained a Sustainability Loan to carry out a significant upgrade to their irrigation system, with the potential to dramatically increase their yield and provide security for their farm in dry conditions.  

“When we first took over the orchard, we’d underestimated just how rundown it was - and then the weather set us back,” James said.  

“It was tough going, but those hurdles at the start gave us a solid foundation to make good decisions moving forward. If it wasn’t for QRIDA, getting to where we are would have been really difficult – and I’m sure there are a lot of people in the same boat,” Aimee said. 

“We loved that QRIDA is not a bank pushing money out the door – they’ve invested in sustainable, productive farming, and in growing regional Queensland.”

First Start and Sustainability Loans currently feature lending limits of up to $2 million, low interest rates, no fees or charges and repayment terms of up to 20 years.

To find out more about these loans visit our Loans page.