Apples have been grown in Orange since George Hawke began planting apple trees east of Orange in 1843.
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Mr Hawke’s first crop wasn’t overly successful, mind you – it only yielded two apples.
The idea is to follow through and continue the journey and head out to the farm
- Paula Sharnook
However, it was the crop sparked a long tradition of cultivating fruit in the region, and by the 1950s the Orange region was known for its apples, with over 420 orchards.
This Saturday, residents of Orange will have the chance to explore that history as the Orange Regional Museum’s Paddock to Plate exhibition is partnering with Thronbrook Orchard to show people what daily life on an apple orchard has looked like since the 1940s until today.
Paula Charnock is a third generation farmer at Thornbrook Orchard, following the steps of her parents and grandfather Joseph, who brought land near Nashdale in 1947.
She said Thornbrook had donated several items to the Paddock to Plate exhibition, and she was looking forward to bring people out to the orchard to show how it all works
“The idea is because we have items in the exhibition, the idea is to follow through and continue the journey and head out to the farm,” she said.
She said her family had a huge collection of farming equipment from the 1940s all the way up to the present day, including an old original, hand-pumped spray cart, which was initially designed for a horse before being modified for tractors.
“We also have an old grader and hope to have it ready to demonstrate how they did it through previous generations,” Mrs Charnock said.
The ‘Orange Apples’ tour will commence at 2pm at Thornbrook Orchard, Nashdale with an apple-based afternoon tea being served after the tour.
Tickets are $5 and places can be booked via orangeapples.eventbrite.com.au or by contacting 02 6393 8444.