From marbled meat to mango bots: the bold ideas reshaping regional Australia

Marina Gainulina
09:45am November 21 2025

Christie Schultz of Turkey Flat (left) and Richard Bootle and Ian Perkins of Lawlab and Bogan Red (right).

Australia’s farmers have faced floods, droughts and global shocks.

 

And yet, still they rise. Today, on National Agriculture Day, we celebrate that grit and this year’s theme, Stand with the Land, shines a light on the innovators turning challenges into opportunities, proving that the future of farming is as bold as the land itself.

 

Take the Barossa Valley, where Christie Schulz at Turkey Flat Vineyards decided to do something radical: put premium wine in a can. 

 

The result? A hit not only with picnickers and caravanners but in nursing homes, where retirees were tired of “cheap plonk” and wanted the good stuff. 

 

For Schulz, it’s proof that innovation is about listening, adapting and finding markets you never imagined.

 

“Turkey Flat is a great example of the innovation and commitment to sustainability that I witness all the time when visiting our agribusiness customers around Australia,” says Peta Ward, Westpac’s Managing Director, Regional Commercial & Agribusiness. 

 

“Regional Australian businesses really are leading the way, and it’s a privilege to support them on their journeys - whether that’s by lending businesses funds so they can capture the next opportunity, or providing cashflow support to help manage seasonal challenges.”

 

Further west in Nyngan, NSW, former city-slickers Richard Bootle and Ian Perkins moved their law firm headquarters to regional Australia and built a Wagyu beef enterprise on the side called Bogan Red.

 

Their pioneering approach combines traditional Hereford cattle with Japanese Akaushi genetics to produce ethical, free-range Wagyu beef. 

 

The name? A nod to the local Bogan Shire and Bogan River. 

 

Today, the farm employs three full-time staff and up to 20 seasonal workers, with plans for an on-farm abattoir and paddock-to-plate offering.

 

Bootle – a country-boy at heart who grew up on a farm and recently returned to Nyngan - says the move reflects a broader trend. 

 

“Having the technology and flexibility with work post-Covid, you’re seeing a lot of younger people coming back in a way that hasn’t happened in a generation.”

 

Meanwhile, he and Perkins continue to run Lawlab, Australia’s only national digital conveyancing firm, employing 70 lawyers and utilising AI for contract reviews that take minutes instead of days.

 

And then there’s the Top End, where brothers Daniel and Ryan Niceforo are reimagining mango farming. 

 

Their family business, Niceforo Farms, are proud to have, “always embraced technology” and are now trialling a robotic harvester that uses 12 arms to pick ripe fruit - a collaboration with Central Queensland University and Freelance Robotics. 

 

It’s a glimpse into the exciting future of farming, where technology boosts productivity and tackles labour shortages. 

 

Success stories such as these prove that Australia is on fertile ground of a regional reinvention, blending agri tradition with the latest in efficient technology.

 

Ward sees these shifts as part of a bigger picture. 

 

“There is nothing more important to this country than a thriving regional Australia. Our regions are the heart of this country - putting food on our plates and fibre in our clothes. 

 

“What excites me most is the generational change underway. Young people are returning with fresh perspectives and new technologies, and they’re combining that with the wisdom of those who came before. 

 

“That’s how we build a sustainable future,” she says.

 

In a world rife with uncertainty, one thing holds true. Standing with the land means standing with the people whose ideas and determination make this nation extraordinary.

Marina Gainulina

Marina Gainulina is a Content Producer for Westpac Wire, with ten years of experience in marketing communications. She holds a Bachelor of Communications & Media (Journalism) degree and a drive to connect with discerning audiences via authentic storytelling across mediums. She has managed editorial and brand comms for the likes of Tiffany & Co., Hugo Boss, NIVEA and GRAZIA.

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