Travel
Slice of Sheepy Heaven
I’d like to invite you to visit a little slice of sheepy heaven, Tarndwarncoort, one of the oldest homesteads in Victoria, Australia, and the birthplace of the Polwarth sheep.
Tarndwarncoort means “up and down like a bandicoot running” in the language of the Gulidjan people, the traditional owners of the land.
Have you ever arrived somewhere and immediately felt at home? That’s how I felt at Tarndwarncoort.
I was lucky to visit Australia for a month in April and May 2024, teaching in four cities across the nation and finishing up at “Tarndie,” as it’s called.
The farm has been in the Dennis family since the 1840s and has evolved over the generations, meeting challenges and embracing change to make the homestead viable.
When merino sheep faltered in the damp conditions of the Otway region, the Dennis family developed a new breed better suited to the environment. I think it’s this ethos—adapting to make things work—that feels familiar to me.
PHoto Credit: CMcConville
Tarnwarndcoort Homestead is run by Tom, a seventh-generation Dennis, and his partner, Jason Arnall. Tom’s parents, Dave and Wendy, are still actively involved in the daily life of the farm. Next door, his brother Al grows Polwarth wool and raises “chooks” (chickens) at Moorpark Farm, and all the surrounding properties are farmed by Dennis cousins.
Tom and Jason have introduced farm and fiber tourism, offering lodging in a renovated 1940s worker’s cottage and elegantly converted stables. Both are beautifully appointed with many personal touches, a strong sheep-centric theme uniting the artwork, and gorgeous fresh bouquets. I was lucky to call The Stables Studio home during my stay.
The Farm Shop, once a ciderhouse, has an inviting veranda; the perfect spot to enjoy Tom’s stellar coffee and where I met his parents. When I admired Dave’s Woolbrokers cap, he gave me one! Wendy is a delight; once you meet her, you find her imagination, eye for beauty, good humor, and boundless energy everywhere about the place.
Winter is a perfect time to visit Tarndie. The Dennis family hospitality extends to all the visitors who make the trek. The shop is a knitter’s paradise, rustic, with a thoroughly charming ’70s vibe.
The class set-up was first-rate, with a combination of natural light and individual lamps at every table. Tea break, with Tom’s incredible baked goods, was in the adjacent former laundry (with slightly sloping floor), where you can cozy up to the woodstove and browse the incredible textile library.
Photo credit: JArnall
The fiber! Though Polwarths are naturally white, in the 1970s, Wendy and Dave began breeding for a range of natural colors particularly prized by hand spinners. This has expanded to nearly half the existing flock.
The yarn! I was gifted a bucket of various Tarndie mini skeins. It’s very pleasing to work with, sliding softly through the fingers providing nice stitch definition with enough oomph for stranded colorwork. The colors are rich and beautiful—even the natural shades seem to shimmer!
Do yourself a favor and read Wendy’s color descriptions on the website; my favorite is Night Garden, “owl eyes and possum fights colour the air after dark.”
I highly recommend a stay at Tarndie. My first morning I awoke to a huge rainbow. One night, I crept outside to an impossibly starry sky and saw the Southern Cross and a shooting star. These good omens portend a future visit.
Tarndie is open for day-visits during business hours and by appointment. They offer interesting workshops and host Crafty Sunday each month. Tarnwardcoort is located in the Otway region of South West Victoria, an area well worth exploring. Pick up a copy of the Otway Harvest Trail for more ideas.
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I love these virtual visits to places I’ll probably never get to see in real life. I can feel the peace emanating from your photos. What a great way to start my day at 5 am.
Same here. I love reading about all these amazing places and dreaming of going someday. Maybe I’ll win the lottery.
I shared this with a friend, and said the same thing– Let’s win the lottery!!!
Thank you, Mary Jane, for sharing such wonderful places and knowledge through the years.
We love Tarndie too, thanks for sharing, such a delightful place and gorgeous wool.
Sounds and looks like a little piece of knitter’s paradise. I feel soothed just reading about it.
Wow, Mary Jane!!! What a special place with such a special mission. Beautiful photos! Someday…
Oh my gosh this made my day! All those beautiful photos…l am filing these images away in my library of dreams! Thank you for the wonderful post.
What a delightful article, about a wonderful craft, set in a beautiful and historical setting.
Knitting is a soothing creative hobby where I can create gifts of toys, scarves, cardigans, shawls, teapot cozies and more. Your imagination is the only barrier.
Thank you for sharing and encouraging this wonderful craft.
I love articles like this that take you to another place in this beautiful world. This is how I get to travel. Thank you Mary Jane, you’ve brought the world to me this morning. You should do another book. God Bless!
What a wonderful “job”
What a wonderful trip! It sounds like a dream come true. Thank you for sharing this story.
Oh wow – another addition to the Bucket List. This place sounds magical despite all the work involved in keeping it running.
Sounds amazing
Tom Dennis gave a virtual talk to the Minnesota Knitters’ Guild last year. So good! I ordered some Polwarth that I have yet to knit up. Know that even if you can’t visit Tarndie you can get their yarn shipped to you!
I am so sorry I didn’t get to any of your workshops and Tarndie is definitely one of those. I made a jumper from their wonderful fibre and it is a dearly loved wardrobe staple. I first heard about Tarndie from Fruity Knitting and now it has come full circle from Knit Stars via MDK and MJ. Such an amazingly talented group of artists.
I have a comfortable and on going adaption to all things related to ‘Tarndie’ mostly derived from the gorgeous polwarth wool that is produced there.
However, because I have moved away from the close proximity of living in Geelong (where I could more easily obtain fleeces for the spinning and knitting that I enjoy doing)
my home life is now based in Alice Springs.
Despite this, (and some would question) my enthusiasm to continue spinning and knitting has over the years, intensified to a point whereby my spinning wheel and knitting needles only ‘take a break’ when I need to eat, sleep or spend time pursuing other ‘escapes’ such as shopping or gardening or wood work.
I have so much delight within whenever I am able to visit ‘Tarndie’ for a resupply of their wonderful wool.
I love Tarndie’s yarn! I have just returned from Bendigo Sheep and Wool show where I bought some Polwarth from their stall. I can confirm it is lovely to knit with!
Beautiful words and such peaceful photographs. I’ll definitely get there sooner than later, and bet I won’t want to leave!
Visited Tarndie with CraftCruises in March & loved every minute! Wendy, Dave, Jason & Tom were generous hosts. Yarn is fabulous. Can’t wait to return for longer stay!
Looks like Heaven
Oh (sigh) someday!
Loved this. Individual lamps -genius.
Thank you for allowing us a glimpse into a faraway knitting paradise that most of us will never get to. Still it’s a great experience to armchair travel with you. Do they have a website link for their products?
I want the big room with the benches with the sheeps wools,and the baskets, and all the lovelyness you could muster. I want that room. Oh, snd all the yarn too.
I was lucky enough to stay upstairs in the main house several years ago – before Tom took it over to live in – when I went on a fibre tour of the area. I had a wonderful time. I’d met Tom and Wendy many times in the past at the Bendigo Sheep And Wool Show, but sitting in their courtyard in the sun eating cake was perfect
Polwarth is a perfect spinning fibre, particularly for shawls – soft but crisp, with a gentle sheen and long staple. Do yourself a favour!
Rainbows and shooting stars aside, I think Tarndwarncoort was named for our dear Mary Jane, “up and down like a bandicoot running…” (LOL)!
What a dreamy spot of Earth to visit, I shall add this to the travel bucket list. Thanks for the share.
What a wonderful job you have! I would love it too. I.ve knitted since I was probably about 6 years old. I.m 71 now and still knitting. Love your blogs.