Ballantyne’s Strawberry farm cancels pickings for 2025 season

The new owners of a well-loved Queensland strawberry farm have suddenly cancelled picking events, leaving people disappointed for the upcoming holidays.

Alan Ballantyne, original co-owner, from Ballantynes Strawberry farm. The Ballantynes sold the farm last year.

A well-loved strawberry farm north of Mackay will not be holding picking sessions this season, after the new owners posted a cryptic message to Facebook.

“Unforeseen circumstances” are behind the cancellation, according to the owners of Ballantyne’s Strawberries, which are hoping to bring back picking in 2026.

Located at 33 Brodies Rd in Mount Charlton, better known as Cameron’s Pocket, the farm of more than 30 years has a reputation across the Mackay region for its annual season of pick-it-yourself strawberries and blueberries.

Members of the community were concerned by the sudden news of the picking season being cancelled, wishing the owners the best on Facebook.

In April, Ballantyne’s noted it had started planting for the 2025 season.

“Mother Nature turned on the irrigation system for us but thanks to our awesome planting crew plants are in,” the business posted to Facebook.

“Now planting has nearly been completed we are in full prep mode for our first event for the year, Wintermoon Festival.”

Along with its 60,000-plus strawberry plants, the business boasted a photo-session worthy sunflower field and sweet treats like ice cream and fresh scones.

There is hope from residents the sunflower fields will still be open this year.

The original owners, Margaret Ballantyne and her husband Allan moved to the property from Middlemount so they could raise their children on a farm.

There were fears their farm would shut for good in 2016 after three major rain events within a year turned profits upside down but the Ballantynes pulled through.

Ray White Rural Sarina brokered the sale of the farm to Adex in January 2024.

Adex was registered in October, 2022 with its director Timothy Molloy, of Hyd-Elec Equipment Services, living in the Mackay region.

The Ballantynes posted to Facebook that they were thrilled to transfer their farm to Tim and Rose in 2024.
“We have every confidence that under their stewardship, the farm will continue to flourish and remain a cherished community gathering place for generations to come,” they wrote.

“We would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to the public for their unwavering support over the years.”

The Daily Mercury contacted the farm for comment — though were unable to confirm if Tim and Rose were still the owners.

Originally published as Ballantyne’s Strawberry farm cancels pickings for 2025 season