Some 40 odd years ago marron were introduced to the creeks of Kangaroo Island from South West, Western Australia where they are indigineous. They have bred and multiplied on Kangaroo Island ever since. They were subsequently stocked into farm dams and most recently have been more intensively farmed by a few growers.
Andermel is one of these growers and has one of the largest best practice marron farms in Australia. It has constructed and installed the full range of facilities from water supply dams, to breeding ponds, to growout ponds and a final processing and holding facility largely based on the Western Australian Fisheries best practice.
There are 52 growout ponds, all netted against birds and aerated by paddle wheels. They are fed a manufactured pellet from a quad bike ridden around the pond edge. The ponds are harvested by draining down and picking up the marron all resulting in the production of tonnes per year of the freshest marron. The harvested marron are taken to the holding shed where they are washed and weighed and stocked into the appropriate weight fraction tank.
Visitors can see the marron up close in the holding shed with their life cycle and operational aspects of a modern marron farm also presented in an interesting and educational way. Year round marron from the tanks always provide the freshest produce for the kitchen and tables of the Marron Cafe.
In the normal course of events marron are also available for farm gate or private mainland sales, other Cafe’s on Kangaroo Island, to distribution outlets, and
Restaurants and Cafes on the mainland. Our Online Shop is able to deliver ONLY to ADELAIDE and some surrounding regions dependent on postcode.
However with very many regrets we must advise that the farm suffered the ravages of a freak mini tornado which destroyed a portion of bird protection netting over many ponds. Replacement nets had to be sourced from abroad taking several months for delivery and installation. Every attempt was made to deter cormorants ( shags ) and herons from plundering the exposed ponds over this period. Unfortunately not sufficiently successful and a large amount of marron stock was stripped from those exposed ponds. Once netted again the relevant ponds were restocked but with a 2.5 to 3 year growth cycle full commercial recovery is not anticipated until possibly early 2017. The good news is that marron stock for the Cafe is always available, the bad news is that all harvested stock are reserved for the Cafe with NO external sales possible. We are very unhappy that we cannot currently supply marron more widely and sincerely apologise for this.
When stocks are available we can supply LIVE marron only:
Online orders can be supplied to Adelaide and surrounding regions ONLY via Australia Post but dependent on post code. Marron can be supplied to Adelaide and some other regions by air but they must be ordered by
Phone: 08 8559 4128 or
Email: marron.wine@andermel.com
and a quote given against the numbers of a specific size fraction, packing and weight and the cost of the airfreight. Marron are sent LIVE via air or Australia Post in polystyrene boxes with an ice pack and foams.
* Online Marron sales - currently unavailable
Café Bookings and Enquiries Ph 08 8559 4114
Fax for all experiences Ph 08 8559 4137
All Cellar Door and Marron Enquiries 08 8559 4128
804 Harriet Road, Kangaroo Island 5223
PO Box 29 Pandana, Kangaroo Island 5220
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