Our story
The farm was established in 1996, by original owners, Chris and Mark who meticulously created the farm from the original overgrown paddocks that they started with. They are responsible for bringing the iconic Red Rattler carriage onsite and building connections with local independent farmers.
When Chris and Mark moved on to 100 acres, the farm changed hands to a Sharpley family. They took over in 2013 and over five years, they built on the farm infrastructure by introducing a mushroom business and aquaponic production. The mushroom business helped to cement the farm’s reputation with the likes of George Colambaris sourcing from Benton Rise Farm! They also set up the Red Rattler as the farmgate store that you know and love today.
The next owners took over in 2018, added the tram and built a delivery service that still runs today.
In January 2022, the keys were handed to Ian and Issy, who brought their love of animals, community, banter and laughs! Their dream for the farm is to go beyond being a farmgate store, to become a community hub where people can come to learn about farming, hang out, enjoy a cuppa and sweet treat, as well as host community events.
One thing that is consistent among all the owners of Benton Rise Farm, is absolutely falling in love with the place and it’s people, and the desire to continue and grow the legacy of Benton Rise Farm.
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Our Philosophy & Values
Real People. Real Food. Real Fun.
Our mission at Benton Rise Farm is to connect our customers with the best quality local produce from around the Peninsula.
Our philosophy is to foster a sense of community in everything we do - whether through people, food or fun.
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Our Community
Real People.
Community is at the heart of what we do at Benton Rise. Our dream is to create a place where everyone feels welcome and included, and no one is turned away. A space that is full of warmth, joy, care and compassion. We are passionate about providing a lasting memory and experience, where someone has been welcomed into your home and never wants to leave… And what better way than to do that over the universal shared language of food!
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Our Partners & Producers
Real Food.
‘Community’ also means connecting with local producers from the Peninsula. We have taken the time to find and build relationships with the right partners. We support their businesses to grow through ours, by running events and promoting them through our network.
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Our Team
Real Fun.
We wanted to bring curious people together to all thrive as a collective, to learn, and celebrate achievements. The vision is only achieved through a love of people, hard work, inspiring ideas and resilience. When we asked our team what they love about working here, they shared that they love having fun, feeling inspired, and the sense of community with customers and producers.