Western Australia

Nut production in Western Australia is currently low. Locally produced nuts are sold primarily through local outlets including farmer's markets.

The Department of Agriculture and Food provides advice on the potential for growing nut crops in various areas. Almonds Select Harvests has secured 4,300 acres on the Dandaragan Plateau in Western Australia. Stage one of this project is the development of 2,000 acres of greenfield orchards. Planting these 2000 acres was completed in August 2010. The first crop is expected in 2013, with full maturity expected in 2017.. For more information on almonds see the Almond pages. Chestnuts There is a small production in the south west, mainly in the Manjimup area. For more information on chestnuts see the Chestnut pages. Macadamias The industry in Western Australia is small. It comprises nearly 50000 trees, with the largest orchard comprising 4000 trees. Most of the trees are in the South West between Albany (34.5°S) and Gingin (31.0°S), but there are a few trees in Carnarvon (25.0°S) and the Geraldton area. Advantages of growing macadamias in Western Australia are as follows: Good land is comparatively inexpensive and easy to obtain Trees must be irrigated in Western Australia. This means fertigation is an easy option and trees receive adequate soil moisture in spring. While there are less pests and diseases in Western Australia, there may be more damage from parrots and cockatoos. Conditions are more windy in Western Australia, but the area is less prone to cyclones and less humid. Temperatures are also higher in summer and cooler in winter in Western Australia. For more information on macadamias see the Macadamia pages.	Searching for truffles in a hazelnut truffière - Courtesy Department of Agriculture and Food (WA)

The Department of Agriculture and Food provides advice on the potential for growing nut crops in various areas.

Almonds
Select Harvests has secured 4,300 acres on the Dandaragan Plateau in Western Australia. Stage one of this project is the development of 2,000 acres of greenfield orchards. Planting these 2000 acres was completed in August 2010. The first crop is expected in 2013, with full maturity expected in 2017.. For more information on almonds see the Almond pages.
Chestnuts
There is a small production in the south west, mainly in the Manjimup area. For more information on chestnuts see the Chestnut pages.
Macadamias
The industry in Western Australia is small. It comprises nearly 50000 trees, with the largest orchard comprising 4000 trees. Most of the trees are in the South West between Albany (34.5°S) and Gingin (31.0°S), but there are a few trees in Carnarvon (25.0°S) and the Geraldton area. Advantages of growing macadamias in Western Australia are as follows:

Good land is comparatively inexpensive and easy to obtain
Trees must be irrigated in Western Australia. This means fertigation is an easy option and trees receive adequate soil moisture in spring.
While there are less pests and diseases in Western Australia, there may be more damage from parrots and cockatoos.
Conditions are more windy in Western Australia, but the area is less prone to cyclones and less humid. Temperatures are also higher in summer and cooler in winter in Western Australia.

For more information on macadamias see the Macadamia pages.

Photo: Truffel seeking

Searching for truffles in a hazelnut truffière - Courtesy Department of Agriculture and Food (WA)

Other nuts
Production of coconuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts are low in Western Australia. Chilling hours are too low for commercial production of hazelnuts, but this is a successful host crop for truffle production in the Manjimup area. See the Pecan, Pistachio, Walnut and Hazelnut pages for more information.

West Australian Nut & Tree Crop Association - Although not active any longer, this site contains a wealth of nut related information, much of it still relevant.

Western Australian Nut Nurseries

Western Australian Nut Growers

Almonds