On 30 April, Rosie Bright from Barwon Oil Barons was interviewed by Shaun Mcleod on the garden show Diggin’ It on 94.7 The Pulse
What began as a simple backyard problem has quietly grown into one of the Bellarine and Geelong region’s most inspiring community initiatives.
“We had over 100 kilos of olives from one tree,” says Rosie Bright, one of the driving forces behind the Barwon Oil Barons. “There was no way we could eat them all or give them away. So I thought – surely someone can turn this into olive oil?”
The answer, at the time, was no.
Local processors weren’t interested in small batches. Rosie recalls being laughed at when she asked. The turning point came when a processor agreed – reluctantly – to take on the challenge, provided the group could gather close to a tonne of olives.
So they did.
That first year, 13 people joined in. Together they collected 648 kilos of olives – enough to make it happen.
From there, the idea took root.
A simple idea, growing strong
Today, the Barwon Oil Barons facilitate something beautifully straightforward: they help locals turn their homegrown olives into olive oil.
It’s not a business. It’s not about profit.
“We don’t sell the oil,” Rosie explains as she visits Shaun Mcleod at 94.7 The Pulse, where he airs the garden show Diggin’ It every Thursday afternoon.
“If you bring your olives, you get your oil. What you do with it is up to you,” Rosie tells Shaun and his listeners.
The entire operation is volunteer-run. From a garage-based start, the initiative has expanded to multiple drop-off points across the region – including Barwon Heads, Belmont, Lovely Banks and Moriac. What began as a handful of participants is now a well-organised seasonal operation.
Building something self-sustaining
In its early years, the project received support from local council funding. That support helped it grow – but it also created dependence.
Now, the group is transitioning to a more resilient model.
“We’ve had to increase the price to $12 per litre for processing,” Rosie says. “That way we can be self-sustaining and not rely on funding.”
It’s a practical step – one that reflects the broader ethos of the project: community-led, but grounded in real-world economics.
How it works
The process is simple, but it relies on care and quality.
Participants register, pick their olives, and deliver them within a tight timeframe – ideally within 24 hours of harvesting to avoid fermentation.
Freshness matters.
“If olives start to ferment, it can affect the entire batch,” Rosie explains. “So sometimes we have to reject them – for the greater good.”
Olives are collected, weighed, and sent for processing. Later, participants return to collect their share of the oil, based on the weight they contributed.
There’s a strong practical culture around it too – bring aerated crates, use large containers for collection, and be mindful of others waiting in line.
It’s a system built not just on logistics, but on cooperation.
A community experience
Beyond the oil, something else has emerged.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for people to bring the kids, have a picnic, pick olives together,” Rosie says. “You end up with your own local olive oil – Bellarine, Geelong olive oil.”
In a world where food is increasingly industrialised, this project reconnects people with something tangible – trees, seasons, harvest, and shared effort.
It also connects neighbours.
What began with Rosie knocking on doors has evolved into a network driven largely by word of mouth.
Part of a growing movement
The Barwon Oil Barons are not alone.
Similar community pressing initiatives are emerging across Australia – from Melbourne to the Mornington Peninsula, Warrnambool, Horsham, Tasmania and even Perth.
Each operates differently, but they share a common spirit: local people working together to make use of what already grows around them.
“It’s really interesting! Every single one is different – but they’re all community-based,” Rosie says with excitement.
More than oil
At its heart, this is not just about olives. It is about rethinking waste, rediscovering local abundance, and creating systems that work at a human scale. A tree in a backyard becomes something more when shared. A surplus becomes an opportunity.
The simple idea – “what if we turned this into oil?” – has become a small but powerful example of what community can do when it organises itself.
Read more about Barwon Oil Barons on www.barwonoilbarons.com
If you would like to take part in the project with olives of your own, sign up on Humanitix