Provenance

In a pristine land, we are the sum of our parts

Highcroft Hills is alive. Only 3000 kms from Antarctica, acres of old-growth forests support pollinators, organic matter feeds microbes in the soil, and life is replenished by oceanic rainfall and clear, consistent light. The terroir exists as a living organism.

Preserving the purity of place

We practice minimal-intervention cultivation. Working hand-in-hand with the land’s seasonal rhythms, we employ a purposely small production of 10,000 rose plants across 7 acres to protect the balance of our ecosystem.

We seek to support the natural resilience of our plants and encourage their full potential. Natural treatments such as sulfur, copper and plant extracts are rotated to maintain plant health while preserving soil and ecosystem integrity.

Land

Highcroft Hills sits on a geological mosaic

Dark, crystal-speckled Jurassic dolerite weathers into well-structured, clay-loam soil. Ancient eucalyptus forests slowly break down into organic matter; releasing nutrients into the earth.

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Our unique location provides the free-draining earth that gifts Highcroft Hills roses with dense petal structures and exceptional bioactive compound availability.

We augment the natural soil pH with crushed oyster shells. Farmed locally for the restaurant industry, we return the discarded shells to the land. Providing calcium to the soil and supporting the perfect pH range needed for exceptional roses.

Essential Elements

A budding rose is the visual culmination of a journey that began in the soil, many months ago.

Our soil is alive with billions of organisms that cycle nutrients back into the earth and into the root system. These roots breathe and drink from the soil. They anchor themselves to it. They weather the seasons in it. The soil’s nourishment gives every rose plant strength and energy to blossom. If we take care of our soil, it will help us take care of the rest.

The soil

Everything begins with the soil. Ours is rich in organic matter that mineralises natural compounds, making them bioavailable for root uptake, providing essential nutrients that are the foundation of healthy plants.

The minerals

Discarded by the restaurant industry, upcycled by us. Rich in calcium and naturally alkaline, we add oyster shells to our soil to neutralise the pH and boost plant cell development for stronger stems and more vibrant blooms.

The root system

Hidden below ground, the roots breathe in oxygen. Absorb water and nutrients. Store energy. And anchor the plant in place to help it weather the elements. They act as the plant’s essential organs. Unseen but never underestimated.

The seasons

From winter dormancy to spring harvest, we follow nature’s pace and rhythms. As the November moon waxes to full strength, when the winds slow and the air and soil warm, a year of patient work blooms and blossoms.

The roses

Our five varieties of Rosa Damascena and Rosa Centifolia were each selected for their unique bioactive profiles. They’re hand-picked in the cool, dawn light when the bioactive compounds are at their apex, preserving their purity and potency.

“In a place like nowhere else,  preserving what we have becomes even more important.”

Air

Atmosphere of Purity

The Roaring Forties winds travel for thousands of kilometres across the open Southern Ocean. Uncontaminated by dust, industrial pollutants or smoke, they deliver the cleanest air in the world to our door.

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Extremely low Particulate Matter counts (<5 µg/m³) mean the air quality at Highcroft Hills is significantly cleaner than large agricultural zones. Cleaner air means cleaner rain and soil, promoting healthier plant growth and benefiting bioactive compound purity. A pure expression of the terroir.

Water

Pristine air means
pristine rain

Over 900mm of rain falls across Highcroft Hills each year. Falling evenly across the growing season, consistent rainfall creates a stable foundation for the soil, making it easier to irrigate precisely and efficiently. Together, this promotes even growth and heavier bioactive compound saturation using fewer resources.

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Seasonal rainfall is supported by water drawn from local natural aquifers. Replenished by rainwater filtered through the dolerite stone around us, these aquifers provide year-round sustenance for our roses and ensure our product is the purest representation of the land from which it is grown.

Rainfall

Every drop counted. Every millimetre accounted for.

900mm of rain per year may sound like a lot, but roses are thirsty plants. So every raindrop is precious. We leave nothing to chance.

Once the air temperature rises above 20ºC, each rose plant needs the nourishment of 10 litres of water per week. We track total rainfall with precision. We meticulously measure soil moisture levels. And, when necessary, we support each rose’s root system with water from our aquifer. We work in partnership with nature to help our rose plants reach their fullest expression.

  • July 25 105mm
  • Aug 25 31.5mm
  • Sep 25 65mm
  • Oct 25 97.5mm
  • Nov 25 94mm
  • Dec 25 41mm
  • Jan 26 37mm
  • Feb 26 47.5mm
  • Mar 26 75.5mm
  • Apr 26 67.5mm
  • May 26 22mm
  • Jun 26 121mm
  • Jul 26 82mm
Biodiversity

Our rare and remarkable wildlife – some found only in Tasmania

We share our home with unique and extraordinary flora and fauna. But on an island that has seen extinctions of its native species, we see our role as one of stewardship. We are an active part of our ecosystem, ensuring that we do no harm, regenerate resources and support the archipelago’s rich biodiversity to maintain nature’s precious balance.

Tasmanian Tiger
Thylacinus cynocephalus
Type: Carnivorous marsupial
Status: Extinct

Native to: Tasmania
(also historically mainland Australia and New Guinea)
The Tasmanian Tiger, or Thylacine, was a carnivorous marsupial once native to Tasmania, recognised by its striped back and dog-like form. A nocturnal hunter, it preyed on small animals and birds. Driven to extinction in the early 20th century by hunting and habitat loss, the last known individual died in captivity in 1936.
GOLD-TIPPED LEAFCUTTER BEE
Megachile maculariformis
Type: Native solitary bee
Family: Megachilidae
Named for the golden hairs at the tip of its abdomen, this is a solitary native bee that does not live in hives. Females cut neat circular pieces from leaves to build nests in hollow stems or wood cavities. All bees play an important role pollinating native plants and crops.
SWIFT PARROT
Lathamus discolor
Type: Migratory parrot
Status: Critically Endangered
Breeds only in Tasmania and migrates across Bass Strait to mainland Australia each winter. It is one of the few migratory parrots in the world, feeding mainly on eucalyptus nectar. With fewer than 1,000 birds remaining, it is critically endangered, threatened by habitat loss and predation from introduced sugar gliders.
SOUTHERN LADYBIRD
Cleobora mellyi
Type: Native Australian ladybird beetle
Native to: Tasmania, southern Australia
A bright yellow-orange beetle with distinctive black zigzag markings. Found in eucalypt forests and gardens, it feeds on aphids, psyllids, and beetle larvae. As a specialised predator it helps naturally control pest populations in gardens and farms.
TASMANIAN TREE FERN
Dicksonia antarctica
Type: Tree fern
Native to: Tasmania, southeastern Australia
The Tasmanian Tree Fern can live for over a century, growing slowly at 3–5 cm per year. Preferring cool, wet forest gullies, its trunk is a dense mass of roots rather than wood, supporting fronds that reach 2–4 metres.
TASMANIAN MASKED OWL
Tyto novaehollandiae castanops
Type: Subspecies of Masked Owl
Status: Endangered in Tasmania
A nocturnal hunter with a distinctive heart-shaped white face. Feeding on possums, rodents, and small birds, they nests in the tree hollows of old-growth forests, making them highly vulnerable to logging.
ANGASI OYSTER
Ostrea angasi
Type: Marine bivalve mollusc
Native to: Southern Australia
A native flat oyster found in the coastal waters of Tasmania. Slower growing than Pacific oysters, it develops a deeper, more complex flavour with mineral and earthy notes. Its flat, irregular shell is rich in calcium carbonate, and when crushed, can help neutralise acidic soils and improve garden health.
The natural year

Each season has a purpose. We let nature set the pace

From growth to harvest, blooms to dormancy, as our rose plants journey through the natural year, each season presents its own challenges and opportunities.

  • Spring

    Spring is about growth. When the soil warms and longer, sunnier days return, the rose plants take this as their cue to bud and bloom. By mid November, the petals reach their peak bioactive compound concentration and we spend 3-5 weeks harvesting millions of potent petals.

  • Summer

    Summer is for recovery. As the temperature rises, water management becomes key so we closely track soil moisture content and augment rainfall using water from our natural aquifer. We enhance the soil with organic matter and prune lightly to remove weak or damaged canes.

  • Autumn

    Autumn is for preparation. As the temperature cools, the plants redirect energy to their root systems to build strength before winter. We enrich the soil with locally-farmed oyster shells that neutralise the pH and slowly release key minerals over the winter season to help maintain optimal plant health.

  • Winter

    Winter is about rest. As the roses enter a state of dormancy, we prune hard so only the strongest stems and canes remain to withstand all that winter weather may bring. We maintain and sustain water availability, soil nutrients and overall plant health, and wait for the first blush of spring.

Harvest

A year of work blossoms and blooms

Our roses are hand-picked under a rising spring sun, when bioactive compound availability is at its peak.

For 3-5 weeks during late spring, a year of patient nurturing comes to fruition. Highcroft Hills is alive with the colour and fragrance of 10,000 rose plants. We harvest early in the morning, before the sun’s rays heat up the day and dry out the oil-rich petals. Each of our mature, 5-year-old plants yields 5 kg of flowers. But it can take 3000 kg of petals to make just 1 litre of rose oil. Pure. Potent. Precious. 

Unlocking the complete expression of our terroir

We produce Essential Rose Oil, Rose Hydrosol, and Full-Spectrum Rose Extract. By providing these three expressions, we can ensure that the full potential of our roses is realised in a format that best suits our partners needs. We utilise advanced extraction methodologies to fully capture and preserve the complete bioactive spectrum, from the light, aromatic molecules that sink deep into the skin, to the rich, protective oils that strengthen the surface barrier.

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A place like no other

Our Roses
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Welcome to our garden

From fully customisable product solutions to collaborations and partnerships, we extend a welcoming hand from our terroir to yours. And we strive to share our home with curious seekers of knowledge and adventure, so our garden gate is open to discover what makes our home unique.

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