Dean is a passionate mushroom grower in the foothills of Mt Rumney, just outside Hobart, Tasmania who has been described by some as “the Russell Coight of mushrooms”! And the best part is… he grows his mushrooms in an old decommissioned railway tunnel that was built back in 1891 and is 12 metres underground!
Tunnel Hill Mushrooms is one of only two farms in Australia growing delicious and nutritious mushrooms in a disused railway tunnel. The unique tunnel grow room provides a wonderful environment for these bundles of fungus to thrive.
Dean is so passionate about what he does, living and breathing mushrooms. His vision is to have a large-scale farm producing Oyster and Shitake mushrooms. Currently he hosts long table dinners, tours and events inside the tunnel. Dean also produces medicinal mushroom tinctures, dried mushrooms, mushroom seasoning dust AND even a Shitake vodka!
The railway tunnel is 160 metres long and was built as part of the Bellerive to Sorell railway line taking the fine folk of old Hobart town to enjoy a day at the races. The popular train ran from 1892 to 1926. The life of the tunnel then continued until the end of WWII with the Australian defence force taking control of the old tunnel to store weapons, ammunition and gold bullion.
West Tamar Fungi was established by mycologist Tim Murch. Armed with an honour’s degree in Biology, a background in chemistry, and a love of mycology he created his urban farm in 2018.
This expertise enables him to provide the community with the freshest and highest quality local mushrooms.
Starting with a small, specialised grow shed in 2018 he provided the community and restaurants with the freshest local mushrooms, at markets across Tasmania and he is a permanent fixture at Launceston’s weekly Harvest market.
Tim makes and supplies his own cultures, spawn and grow bags. Depending on the season he produces a variety of grow bags including Oyster, Lion’s Mane, King Oyster Shiitake, Nameko, Pioppino, Flamecaps, Black Oyster, Shiitake and more.
All Grainspawn and grow kits are 100% guaranteed. Tim also produces dried mushrooms, Lion’s Mane powder, Umami powder and mushroom salt.
The business has now expanded beyond the confines of the urbane farm and can now be found at 5/118 Invermay Rd, Invermay.
YD Bar-Ness grew up between the coastal redwoods and the giant sequoia groves of California, studied forest ecology in the coastal rainforests near Seattle.
He originally came to Tasmania to conduct the first on-ropes biodiversity surveys of the giant Eucalyptus treetops. He spends as much time as possible on hands and knees looking at the forest soils and fungi as he does looking up at the treetops.
As part of Giant Tree Expeditions, he has developed seasonal forest biodiversity tours with a special focus on fungi appreciation in service of engaging with the natural world.
Daniel will be conducting tours on Kunanyi/Mount Wellington throughout the first half of June. He will be a special guest on the panel at the Mushroom Field Day on Sunday, 8 June.
Hillwood Fresh Food Co. brings to you, gourmet mushrooms and mushroom products, pasture raised chicken eggs, grass fed beef, worms and worm powered bio stimulants. All produced with no chemical inputs, using off grid solar power, minimal waste and clean air on our property in Hillwood.
Alana Mann is Professor of Media and Communication at University of Tasmania and co-founder of FoodLab Sydney, a thriving kitchen business incubator and social enterprise supporting food entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds.
In 2023 she featured in the Powerhouse Museum’s 100 Climate Conversations on the topic ‘Changing Food Systems’. Her latest book is Food in a Changing Climate (2021). She is an avid gardener, cook, and eater who is yet to grow her own mushrooms.
ALISON POULIOT is an ecologist and professional environmental photographer with a focus on fungi. Her work spans both northern and southern hemispheres where she is actively involved in teaching, research and conservation.
Alison is author of The Allure of Fungi, Wild Mushrooming, Underground Lovers, Funga Obscura and Mushroom Day (in press) www.alisonpouliot.com
Kim Ogden is a Tasmanian nature photographer best known for capturing the intricate, otherworldly beauty of fungi. Her award-winning photography invites viewers into a world that’s often overlooked—highlighting the textures, colours, artistic beauty and ecological significance of fungi in their natural environments.
Kim’s work has been widely exhibited, with solo exhibitions across Tasmania, including New Beginnings (2014), Another World (2017), Secrets Unveiled (2023), and her 2024 feature exhibition The Enchanting World of Fungi at Cradle Mountain Wilderness Gallery.
Her photography has been featured in numerous publications including 40 South, Stellar Exposure and the 2024 released coffee table book takayna | TARKINE an Australian Geographic publication in conjunction with the Bob Brown Foundation. Kim is also the founder of Elysian Gallery & Gifts in Burnie, a dedicated space for fungi-inspired art and local creativity. More than just a home for The Enchanting World of Fungi, this space is an immersive gathering place—where curiosity takes root, and the wonder of fungi blossoms amongst other Tasmanian artists and visitors alike.
Committed to education and community engagement, Kim also teaches children’s photography classes that connect young people with nature, and organises events like the inaugural Family Fungi Fun Day, which encourages hands-on discovery and artistic exploration of fungi for children and their families.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Elysian.Gallery.Gifts
Email: elysiangalleryandgifts@gmail.com
Ben Alldridge is the Tasmanain Mushroom Festival official photographer.
As the 2024 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year for Landscape photography we are excited to see what photo's Ben will capture.
Ben occupies a stalemate between artisan and mad scientist, and it only becomes clear in any given moment which is winning.
When he’s not exploring the minutiae of the natural world’s unseen and undocumented processes in Tasmania’s beautiful wildernesses, he’s dabbling in any number of other sidelines, including: yelling about dark skies and their protection; recreational scientific research; being one of Australia’s leading astrophotographers and Landscape Photographer of the Year; and being “pretty okay” at gardening.
He’s a perpetually curious raconteur, and not immune to describing himself in the third person.
Brett Guy’s passion for nature photography was ignited during a transformative holiday to Antarctica a decade ago. Having photographed mesmerising landscapes and unique wildlife in some of the world’s most remote locations, Brett is just as captivated by the natural wonders that can be found closer to home.
A skilled practitioner of macro photography, Brett expertly captures the finest details of the miniature world that exists within Tasmania’s temperate rainforests. With such diversity of fungi inhabiting our island home, there is always another image to capture!
Brett is just as passionate about helping others to reach their photography goals, mentoring aspiring and hobbyist photographers through rainforest, wildlife and astro-photography workshops.
In another side to his photographic adventures, Brett applies his many years of experience (and infinite patience) as a wildlife photographer to capture stunning portraits of much-loved pets across southern Tasmania.
My artistic focus is more than just creating art, my practice is about building connections and giving back to the place that shaped me. I am deeply committed to collaborating with fellow Tasmanian artists, pooling our diverse talents to create projects that resonate with our shared heritage and push the boundaries of our collective creativity
I also actively seek partnerships, believing that supporting our homegrown local businesses strengthen the fabric of our state. Beyond the studio, I strive to make a tangible difference in the lives of Tasmanians. I regularly donate my artwork and art products to charities and medical treatment centers, hoping that the vibrant colours it offers can bring comfort and solace to those in need.
Through my unique and colourful artistic lens, I hope to not only create visually compelling pieces but also to act as an ambassador for Tasmania. My art is an invitation to see this incredible island with fresh eyes, to appreciate its intricacies, and to understand the deep connection I feel to this place I call home.
