Learmonth Cider’s plans to put the town on the map as hub for beverage

A Learmonth apple growing family are spearheading a project to bring visitors to the area as they educate about the process of producing cider.

Philip and Marilyn Cormie (back left) and their family, daughters Ava Cormie (back centre) and Lana Howkins and her children Sophie and George are working with locals to make the town of Learmonth the hub of cider in Victoria. Picture: Zoe Phillips

DECADES of apple growing by a Learmonth family has culminated in the development of a dedicated cider hub in the town.

Learmonth Cider owners Philip and Marilyn Cormie first planted trees at Spring Vale Farm about 25 years ago after being inspired by cider production in Ireland.

They have since expanded their operations to 1000 trees with 24 different varieties of traditional cider apples and producing cider under two different brands while also running community education sessions.

Mr Cormie said he hoped the cider hall, which was built within the town’s old school building, would have multiple benefits for the area.

“It’ll both be an education and training area and a tourism thing,” he said.

“We hope it will eventually employ a number of local people.”

The cider hall has been fitted out with cider processing equipment from Italy, and is looking to expand into serving food and holding events.

Mr Cormie is also founder of a “for purpose” organisation that governs projects, such as Learmonth Cider and a regenerative farming project, called Learmonth Foundations.

“The purpose of it is to undertake projects in Learmonth and surrounding areas to economically and socially enhance the area,” he said.

As for their cider brand, Mr Cormie said the plan would be to continue planting trees and developing products for their local area, which are currently sold in around eight restaurants in and around Ballarat.

“We never want to become a really big company, we want to remain a niche player,” he said.