Agriculture
13 August, 2026
Linking producers with tourists
TRAVELLING across Loddon Shire continues to surprise me. Every business owner I meet opens another window into the region, revealing opportunities I had never considered before.
By LUZ RESTREPO
TRAVELLING across Loddon Shire continues to surprise me. Every business owner I meet opens another window into the region, revealing opportunities I had never considered before.
What I had never considered was how farms, food producers and local businesses could work together to create tourism experiences that benefit an entire region.
When I met Ann-Maree Davis, I realised that this idea has a name: agritourism. Her vision is not simply to welcome visitors onto her own farm, but to inspire farmers, food producers, wineries, brewers, accommodation providers and local businesses to work together to encourage visitors to stay longer, spend more and discover more of Loddon.
That curiosity led me to her story. Born in Bendigo and raised through her teenage years in Castlemaine, Ann-Maree began her professional life as a nurse before building a long career in health and community services. Those careers taught her the importance of supporting people to find their own voice and empowering communities to thrive.
The next chapter of her career surprised even those who knew her well.
Years later, Ann-Maree and her husband Gary embarked on a very different journey, opening Sangria Spanish Tapas Bar in Bendigo.
Over the next eight years, they built a loyal following of customers who fell in love with authentic Spanish flavours, warm hospitality and the welcoming atmosphere they created.Ann-Maree believes the restaurant’s success came down to three ingredients: great food, a great location and, above all, genuine connections with people.
Why Spanish? The answer goes back to Ann-Maree’s childhood. As a little girl, she remembers people asking her grandmother why she had such dark hair and eyes. Her grandmother would smile and explain that somewhere back in the family there had been a Spanish ancestor.
The story captured Ann-Maree’s Imagination. “I always said I was going to own a Spanish restaurant one day,” she recalls. Then, during COVID, something happened that changed everything. Ann-Maree’s mother
became seriously ill and later died, while her father needed greater support.
The couple realised they wanted a business that offered more flexibility while allowing them to continue doing what they loved. They sold the restaurant lease but kept the brand, transforming it into Little Sangria, a mobile catering business that could travel anywhere.
The decision opened an unexpected new chapter. Today, their food truck serves events throughout northern and central Victoria.
Their signature giant paellas feed hundreds of guests, but what people remember most is not only the food. They remember gathering around the pan, asking questions, sharing stories and becoming part of the experience. “We bring the fiesta to you,” Ann-Maree says.
That philosophy took on a new dimension after the couple bought a 22-acre property in Campbell’s Forest in 2015.
The farm, originally part of a much larger property established in 1908 by the Rothacker family, inspired them to think differently about their future. Rather than simply taking food to people, they began asking how they could invite people to experience farm life.
Now they are developing Hillcrest Farm Loddon Valley, an agritourism destination in Campbells Forest designed to celebrate every season of the Loddon landscape.
From September, visitors will be able to wander through flowering canola, experience fruit blossom and harvest, enjoy long table lunches under country skies, listen to live music and share local food.
Future plans also include sunflower and pumpkin fields, seasonal festivals and opportunities to experience the rhythms of farm life that many city residents have never known.
For Ann-Maree, however, the vision extends well beyond her own property.
She believes agritourism will only reach its full potential if farmers, food producers, wineries, brewers, accommodation providers, artists and local businesses work together. “No single business can showcase everything our region has to offer,” she says.
“But together we can create experiences that encourage people to stay longer, spend more time here and discover everything Loddon has to offer.”
Rather than competing, Ann-Maree sees enormous opportunities for businesses to complement one another, creating itineraries that allow visitors to explore multiple farms, producers and towns over several days.
That is why Ann-Maree sees the inaugural Loddon Shire Business Expo next month as an important opportunity. It brings together businesses from every town, sector and size to discover
how they can work together, learn from one another and create new commercial opportunities.
Driving back to my home, I realised Ann-Maree had given me another way of looking at Loddon. Agritourism is not simply about opening farm gates to visitors.
If we work together, visitors won’t come for one business. They’ll come for Loddon.
Perhaps that is the greatest opportunity of all. If we become more curious about the businesses in our own backyard and choose to collaborate rather than work in isolation, we can attract more visitors, strengthen our local economy and help put Loddon on the map.
Read More: Loddon Shire