Gooramadda · Northern Victoria · Murray River Country

Rankin's
Little Farm

Roses, orchard, open skies, and good work done together

Come and help

Our story

A working farm,
a family home

Beth and Tim with helpers

Seven years ago we moved to our little farm at Gooramadda and we haven't stopped since. We've been growing a garden, planting trees, learning to care for the land, and building something we're genuinely proud of.

Tim is a retired engineer with a gift for designing and building. Beth teaches creative arts and public health at an Australian university. Our head gardener Mick leads all outdoor work and training.

We joined Landcare to better understand the local trees and wildlife. The bird life here is extraordinary - flame robins, splendid fairy-wrens, grass parrots, eagles, and a family of quail who live in the herb garden.

Close to the wine region, the Murray River, Rutherglen, and Corowa - and under some of the most spectacular skies you'll find anywhere.

What's here

The farm in detail

A small working property with more than 70 named areas, each with its own character and purpose.

The Rose Garden

450 fragrant rose bushes in a maze of circular paths, with a central pergola and two entrance paths. One of Beth's great passions.

Orchard and Chook Run

Apple, pear, peach, lemon, lime, fig, pomegranate, finger lime, and a range of nut trees and berries. Free-range chickens roam throughout.

Vegetable and Herb Gardens

Raised beds producing seasonal vegetables and herbs year-round, following the North East planting calendar. A glasshouse for propagation.

The Italian Garden

A formal garden space with its own distinct character, requiring regular care and attention through the seasons.

Workshops and Studios

Shed 1 (engineering and woodwork), Shed 2 (machinery and tools), Beth's Shed (music and sewing), and the Arts Studio with its sunset deck.

Conservation Areas

Northern and southern conservation lanes, a north-eastern plantation, dam, swamp, and native plantings throughout the property.

Find us

Gooramadda,
Northern Victoria

884 Gooramadda Road, Gooramadda - 500 metres east from the UpRiver Road intersection. Look for the magpie on the letterbox.

10 minutes from Rutherglen · 35 minutes from Albury-Wodonga · Close to Corowa, Beechworth, and the Murray River

HelpX volunteers

Come and help

We welcome volunteers for stays of one week to several months. In exchange for four hours of genuine work per day, five days a week, you'll have a comfortable room, shared meals, and a place that most people leave reluctantly.

The work

Garden and orchard maintenance, planting and harvesting, house upkeep, meal preparation. Training on farm machinery including ride-on mowers, a stand-on loader, and a tractor.

What you'll get

A comfortable bed, shared bathroom, all meals at the table together, pool access, a music room full of instruments, bicycles, WiFi, and the company of people who'll genuinely welcome you.

The right helper

Self-motivated, tidy, happy to pitch in without being asked, open to learning, a good listener. This is a home, not a hostel. The helpers who thrive here embrace that fully.

Early starts

In summer we start around 7am to beat the Northern Victorian heat. The farm at dawn - roses at their most fragrant, birds at their most active, the horizon turning gold - is worth waking up for.

A few non-negotiables

  • No smoking or vaping anywhere on the property
  • No alcohol before or during work
  • Shoes off at every entrance to the house
  • Brown snakes are present in summer - we brief you fully on arrival
  • Honesty about your skills, experience, and anything that goes wrong

What helpers say

Stories from
the farm

"It felt like we'd gained a new family in Australia. It's definitely a place we want to return to."

Taka and Sora - Japan, January 2026

"This is a beautiful place. You immediately become part of the family."

Elisabeth - France, April 2022

"The work isn't difficult - it's more like fun. The organisation remains very flexible."

Chloé - France, February 2024

"Every new skill gave me a sense of accomplishment - including learning to drive a tractor."

Eva - Singapore, March 2025

Get in touch

Thinking of coming?

Tell us a little about yourself and what draws you to this kind of life. The more we know, the better we can work out whether we're a good match. We read every message and we'll be honest with you in return.

We usually reply within a few days. Please read the welcome booklet before you write - it'll help you decide if we're the right fit for each other.