'The Refinery' at Hartley Vale, New South Wales

Built on the site of the old Hartley Vale oil shale works that closed in 1916, 'The Refinery" was re-established in 2018 as an organic garlic farm now owned by James and Michelle and their two children. The farm features a hempcrete building named 'The Stinking Rose' used for drying and curing garlic that also acts as a big room for garlic feasts during planting (March, April and May each year). The building also houses toilet and shower facilities for guests when camping on site. On some evenings, the sky puts on a real show of golden sun rays with pink, purple and blue clouds while swallows flit across the garden beds catching moths. Our guests like to sit around their campfires watching the spectacular show while kids and dogs run around without the burden of leashes or noise of city traffic.