Farmer Thomas Mahar is inspecting purple lavender fields at his farm just outside the historic South Australian town of Hahndorf.
Mahar’s 50,000 lavender plants are growing about half an hour’s drive south-east of Adelaide, and will be harvested later this month for essential oil.
However, this summer Mahar, 37, made a life-changing decision, opening the farm gates to the public for the first time.
“Once word of mouth took off, then it just went crazy,” he says.
Visitors are able to pick their own lavender. Source: SBS / Lloyd Thornton
“We went quickly from an initial 20 people a day to over 200 people a day. It reached a point where we even had to close the gate some days because we could not fit another person or car in.
“It has been a great success from local to interstate to even international tourists. And a very big eyeopener for us.”
Fritzi De Leon, 42, in the lavender fields. Source: SBS / Lloyd Thornton
"It is very beautiful here and the colours and the smell, it's amazing," says De Leon, 42.
"It's great to visit the fields and learn more about how they convert lavender into oils, as well."
Lavender essential oil is distilled on-site and sold wholesale.
Thomas Mahar with extracted lavender oil. Source: SBS / Lloyd Thornton
Mahar has worked tirelessly over the last seven years with his dad Peter, planting the 17-hectare former grazing property which was originally bought by his grandfather.
A contract construction worker and a boilermaker by trade, Mahar is understandably proud of their achievement.
“We have very rich soils up here in the Adelaide Hills, so the land that we've built this farm on is perfect for growing lavender. And we have had great success with the four varieties that we grow here.”
Lavender fields in bloom. Source: SBS / Lloyd Thornton
Australia has 2.3 million small businesses. Of more than 300 surveyed nationwide last November, 65 per cent were concerned about their future and 40 per cent reported declining profits over the previous 6-12 months.
Almost half cited profitability and cashflow as their top concerns, according to Precedent Productions managing director Steve Loe, founder of the Australian Small Business Champion Awards.
“From high inflation and steep increases in operating costs, to challenges associated with staff hire, productivity and the overall ongoing high cost of living, there’s no disputing that Australian small businesses are currently doing it very tough – potentially, tougher than ever before.”
Resilience is key to survival as Mahar well knows. Cultivating thousands of plants is hard work, and challenges include changeable weather conditions.
“It was definitely a labour of love building this business.
“Lavender can be quite tricky to grow. You need to have the right pH levels in your soil. It is a quite hardy plant, but it does need to be watered.
“We had a lot of challenging times where many small business owners would have wanted to give up."
Mahar says in the early years they focused on soil preparation and installing irrigation systems.
“The weather has been very challenging for us over the years because we do raised beds with our lavender plants, and need the right soil moisture in the ground.
“If it's too wet, the machine won't work. If it's too dry, the machine won't work.”
Hahndorf Lavender Estate currently grows four varieties of oil-producing lavender plants. The oil is sold wholesale and used to make a range of cosmetics that are sold online.
“The lavender smell is soothing and relaxing and it helps to calm people,” Mahar’s wife Nicole Jordan says.
“And for visitors going out in the fields to pick lavender, who also buy our products, to know we use farm-grown oils makes it really exciting.”
Cosmetics are not their only new business concept. The lavender fields are a stunning visual backdrop for photography, and Ms Mahar says over summer bookings have taken off.
Photographer Ben Olivera, visiting from Brazil. Source: SBS / Lloyd Thornton
Ben Olivera is a photographer from Brazil who is among those keen to capture the fields in bloom.
"As a photographer, the colours and the vibrance makes me excited to take shots," he says.
"And I hope I can some back soon because I have a lot of ideas and I want to express with photos and videos"
Thomas Mahar and Nicole Jordan in their lavender fields. Source: SBS / Lloyd Thornton
“Our plan was always to become a major tourist attraction for South Australia and also the biggest lavender farm in South Australia, which we've achieved.
“Once we plant the next 70,000 lavender bushes, there will be nothing else like it!”
Entries to the 2024 Small Business Champion Awards close on 15 February. For more information visit
