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OUR STORYA family dream to move to the country and a passion for quality, healthy food provided incentive for our family to transition from the city of Wollongong to an established tea plantation on the Atherton Tablelands, 90 minutes from Cairns in Tropical North Queensland, Australia. Bryn Hill is the result, situated in the beautiful hills of Topaz. The farm was cleared in 1953 for dairy, an industry still present in the area today, then planted with 30 acres of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) in 1985. For over 30 years the tea plants at Bryn Hill were used to produce local black tea, but eventually the decision was made to allow the tea plants to grow naturally.
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Since 2014, Bryn Hill has been the only farm in Australia producing unique products from the tea plant, Camellia sinensis:.
Topaz is an ideal place to grow and farm tea. A tropical climate, high rainfall and rich, volcanic, basalt soils provide a perfect environment for our tea farm. Bryn Hill is located 700m above sea level, with Mount Bartle Frere (Queensland's highest mountain) providing an impressive backdrop to the North-East. Adjacent to Wooronooran National Park, part of the pristine Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest, Bryn Hill is home to native insects and reptiles as well as wildlife such as tree kangaroos, platypus, echidnas, bandicoots, cassowaries and many native birds.
Topaz is also infamous for receiving Australia's highest rainfall, ideal for Bryn Hill's water loving tea plants. In Topaz, the annual rainfall is measured in metres rather than centimetres, with anything less than four metres of rain a year considered a drought. As a result, the surrounding rainforest is home to abundant waterfalls, lakes and streams.
The word 'Bryn' (pronounced 'Brin') is Welsh for 'Hill' which, as well as being appropriate for the farm's contours, also reflects our family's Welsh heritage.