The iconic Port Willunga Jetty - By the 1860's Port Willunga was
the second largest port in South Australia and was used primarily to
transport large amounts of grain and slate. Known by some as the
coast of sorrows, the site of Port Willunga has become famous for
its notorious shipwrecks, the most legendary and well known being of
the Star of Greece, the Ida (which can sometimes be seen at low tide
in winter) and the Tempest, which in 1914 tore a hole in the middle
of the jetty.
Port Willunga and the Kaurna people - Port Willunga has always
been a significant site for the Kaurna Aboriginal people as the land
and waterways not only provided them with nourishment but carried
spiritual beliefs and dreaming stories. The aboriginal dreaming
specific to Port Willunga described the ancestral warrior and law-
giver Tjilbruke, who had stopped to mourn the death of his beloved
nephew, as he carried his body along the coast to Cape Jervis. It
tells that Tjilbruke wept tears along the shore, creating freshwater
springs. The remains of these freshwater springs can still be found
today along the Port Willunga shoreline.
Today Port Willunga beach is a popular walking, swimming, fishing,
diving and surfing site, and a place of many happy family holidays.
The shell of the old jetty remains, looking like giant burnt matchsticks,
has formed the inspiration for the Port Willunga Fine Foods logo.
Founder Trish White - Port Willunga Fine Food's master gardener,
cook and founder, grew up in New Zealand in a family dedicated to
growing their own foods and hunter gathering with the season.
My childhood was spent fishing off the local swing bridge crossing
the river with its huge mudflats, which at low tide exposed crabs for
us to chase. Or fishing for flounders at high tide with a flashlight
providing fresh sweet fish to the table, we collected pipis for bait and
tuatua, periwinkles and muscles for eating, all shellfish and all the
yummier for the searching. Ducks, quails and rabbits were a natural
part of our diet, hunting trips providing that special time in the bush.
Seasonally we picked wild blackberries, plums, crab apples, walnuts,
tamarillos, gooseberries and mushrooms, roaming over vast
distances and proudly coming home with buckets full. Feijoa was a
particular favourite and is one of Port Willunga Fine Food products
that we love to share with other family tables. We pickled and
bottled, made wine and other beverages, stored walnuts and caught
whitebait. Our orchard was a constant source of fruit, plums,
nectarines, apricots and peaches and artichokes grown in the chook
run. Baking was common place with many tins filled with biscuits,
slices and loaves.
The love story - I was first introduced to Port Willunga in the late
1970's by my future husband Andrew. We met at University, where
Andrew wasted no time introducing me to his beloved Port Willunga
where we eventually settled in. Late 1999/early 2000 I established
Regional Basket with my friend Lizzie Strachan, sharing wonderful
ideas and sending South Australian produce from small producers to
all corners of the world. Over time the love of sourcing and cooking
beautiful food won me over, and I realised it was time to start my
own food label. Andrew suggested the name and Port Willugna Fine
Foods and a name was born.
Family - As well as my team of fantastic local staff and family
helpers, discovering and sharing delicious treats is very much a
family affair. Andrew is hands on helping with the apron washing and
makes up the boxes. He's become quite the expert and although he
loves to offer advice, he is gently persuaded from not doing so xo
Hannah has been the chief art designer with her talented hand, all
the fruits and nuts have been drawn by her, we love her talent and
positive cheery input. Her husband Bryce - Port Willunga Fine Foods
poster boy he likes to wear PWFF t-shirts when he can't find
anything else clean to wear. Eve and Della "grand children" - taste
testers Little Eve and Della are our smallest taste-testers, loving the
sun-dried apple and pear for now. Just wait until they find the
toffee... Patrick is a pistachio packaging ninja. But like so many of
you, Patrick loves pistachios, so its best to keep a box aside. Sam
reckons he did his fair share in his student days, taping hundreds of
boxes together, he says the screech of the box tape machine outside
his bedroom door scarred him for life! And he won't stop telling it...I
love ya Sam x
