Australia’s olive oil industry is a little poorer today with the news that Tasmania’s Cradle Coast Olives has been sold.
Tony and Carol O’Neill’s Cradle Coast olive oils were consistent Australian oil show winners over decades of production. The O’Neills showed that quality olive oil could be produced from even a small grove, winning awards time and again.
I personally visited their grove in 2003, and in my time as Editor of The Olive Press magazine, I photographed them regularly collecting awards from the Australian National Oil Show from 2005. In most cases it was impossible to buy any of the oil, as it was all sold to savvy olive oil lovers who knew when they were on a good thing. You can see their impressive list of awards here. The Australian Olive industry is poorer with their decision to move on.
Award winners
Here is a list of the awards that Cradle Coast Olives notched up over the years:
Best Oil of Class (Boutique)
2005, 2007, 2008, 2009,
2011, 2014
Australian Olive Oil Association Awards
Best Oil of Show
2007, 2011
Australian Olive Oil Association Awards
Best Tasmanian Olive Oil and Best Oil of Show
2005, 2007, 2008, 2009,
2010, 2012, 2014
Royal Hobart Fine Food Awards
Tony & Carol will remain in Tasmania’s Central Coast to enjoy time with friends and family and continue to dedicate themselves to the community.
We wish them all the best and will remember their contribution to quality Australian olive oils for a long time to come.
