In Australia, olive cultivation began to develop in the late 19th century, with the arrival of European immigrants, particularly from Italy and Greece. This led to the creation of a nascent olive industry, which benefited from the country’s varied climate, suitable for growing different varieties. The Australian history of the olive tree is one of adaptation, innovation, and growth, with an increasing emphasis on sustainable and high-quality production.
Source IOC
STATISTICS
- Production olive oil: The average production of the last 10 years is 19,000 tons
- Consumption olive oil: The average consumption of the last 10 years is 46,000 tons
- Production table oil: The average production of the last 10 years is 3,300 tons
- Consumption table oil: The average consumption of the last 10 years is 21,200 tons
- New plantations: large-scale investment plans (over 80,000 trees), medium-sized orchards (10,000-80,000 trees), small boutique & lifestyle plantations (500-10,000 trees).
- Number of olive trees: About 10 million olive trees on more than 30,000 hectares of land with a total of about 800 olive groves.
- Production areas: central northern state of Victoria and the area north of Perth in Western Australia, with over 70% of current Australian production.
- Varieties used: Italian – Frantoio, Leccino, and Coratina – Spanish – Picual, Hojiblanca, Arbequina and Manzanilla – and the Greek Koroneiki and Kalamata. Also, a significant investment fund company planted a large number of olives of the autochthonous Israeli’s variety Barnea, which has posed some adaptation challenges.
- The plantation: Intensive to semi-intensive, although the most recent ones also include the super-intensive.
- Olive oil situation: Local production averaging over the past 10 years 19,000 tons, (41 per cent of local demand), averaging over the past 10 years consumption 46,000 tons.
- Table olives situation: Local production averaging over the past 10 years 3,300 tons, averaging over the past 10 years consumption 21,200 tons (84% being imported).
- The majority of the olive oil produced is of extra virgin quality, with refined oil playing a minimal role. In Australia, extra virgin olive oil represents 80% of the production.
CONCLUSIONS
The annual consumption of olive oil in Australia ranges from 35,000 to 50,000 tons. Until 1995, the country heavily relied on imports from Spain, Italy, and Greece, which, in turn, stimulated the establishment of new olive plantations. These new plantations come in various sizes, from large-scale investments to boutique and lifestyle plantations, featuring a diverse range of olive varieties.
As the olive trees matured, the harvesting process evolved, and the introduction of machinery for oil milling and processing marked a new era. Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oils entered the market alongside imported products, initially commanding a higher price that gradually decreased with improved local cultivation practices and processing expertise.
Presently, locally produced olive oil in Australia caters to approximately 40% of the local demand, amounting to 15,000 metric tons out of an average annual consumption of 46,000 tons over the last decade.
As the olive trees matured, the harvesting process developed, and machinery for oil milling and processing was imported. Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oils started to share space on store shelves and in restaurants alongside imported products. The novelty came with an initially high price, which has decreased as local cultivation conditions were better understood, and experience in processing improved to enhance yields and reduce production costs.
In the realm of table olives, the past decade witnessed an average annual production of 3,300 tons, with the largest olive orchard for this purpose boasting 125,000 trees. Annual consumption of table olives hovers around 21,200 tons, with a significant 75% being imported.
Notably, the predominant quality of the olive oil produced in Australia is extra virgin, constituting 80% of the total production. This underscores a shift towards high-quality olive oil production in the country.
