Down’s Community Farm

Members of Downs Community Farm can enjoy numerous benefits, including access to community gardening activities, opportunities to participate in eco-regeneration projects, and the ability to hire private plots for personal cultivation. Membership also offers the chance to be part of a supportive community focused on sustainability and environmental education and getting to know and spend time with other likeminded people.

We operate with a voluntary Committee of Management, and our members and volunteers are part of our team structure, contributing to the direction and activities of DCF. All community members are welcome to become members for a low cost, and participate in decision making processes.

Joining is simple: visit the farm during our open hours on Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm, participate in our events, or contact us through our website to become a member. 

Downs Community Farm hosts a variety of activities aimed at community engagement and environmental sustainability. Our regular events include community gardening sessions every Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm, a monthly Eco-Bee, communal lunches, and special workshops focused on sustainable food growing and wellbeing. We also offer opportunities for individuals to hire private plots for personal cultivation and facilitate and participate in eco-regeneration efforts.

We are extensively involved in local networks covering environment, community gardens, community food initiatives and Frankston business and Social Enterprises.

Since obtaining a license from Frankston City Council in 2017 for approximately 4 hectares of the original Harry Down’s farm site, Down’s Community Farm has transformed the area into an evolving community hub. We’ve successfully implemented community food-growing initiatives, eco-regeneration projects, and educational and recreational programs and events. 

Our efforts have been recognised and supported by the Frankston City Council, which has provided significant funding to assist with the establishment and development of the site. We have also received Federal and State grants which have been used to buy equipment and improve infrastructure and the natural environment in the Farm area. 

In 2023 world famous Street artist Jimmy Dvate created a large mural on the Farm shed wall facing the Shared User path, showcasing four species of birds that are seen in the adjacent Ramsar listed Seaford Wetlands. This was the outcome of a significant collaboration between DCF, FESWI, Frankston Council and the artist Dvate.

The formation of Downs Community Farm was inspired by a collective desire by a number of passionate locals to create a resilient community connected to the environment and each other at this iconic place. Recognising the need for sustainable food practices and community engagement in the face of climate change, local residents and stakeholders came together to transform a portion of the historic Down’s Estate into a space for communal growth and learning. 

Connect with nature, grow food, meet locals – join us in cultivating a greener, stronger community at Downs Community Farm!

Downs Community Farm stands out due to its holistic approach to community engagement, combining sustainable agriculture, environmental education, and inclusive events. Our location on the traditional lands of the Bunurong and Boon Wurrung people adds cultural significance, and we aim to honour this heritage through our practices. The farm’s transformation from a historic farming property into a community-driven sustainable project exemplifies our commitment to resilience, inclusivity, and environmental stewardship. 

Downs Community Farm is situated on the traditional and unceded lands of the Bunurong and Boon Wurrung people in Seaford, Victoria. The area historically formed part of the Carrum Carrum Swamp where the Traditional Land Custodians gathered together and collected food. Over time it became a farm with dairy cattle and its last private owner Harry Down, also had horses and ran a famous saddlery shop in Frankston. After Council acquired the site as a buffer to the Seaford Wetlands, community were invited to put forward their visions for activating the eastern part of the Farm site, the rest being designated an eco-sensitive zone. Since 2014, the Down’s Estate Community Project group has evolved into Down’s Community Farm, creating a welcoming and inclusive space community space, reflecting the region’s rich cultural and agricultural history.

Yes, Downs Community Farm is committed to inclusivity and accessibility. The site features accessible parking close to the main farm shed and an accessible, single-cubicle composting toilet suitable for all genders. The recently built modular house also has a ramp. Some of the garden pathways, being heavily mulched may present a challenge to wheelchair users.

Our events and activities are designed to be family-friendly and open to individuals of all ages, abilities, and experience levels, ensuring everyone can participate and feel welcome. 

Visitors and participants often express appreciation for the welcoming atmosphere and the positive impact of our programs. One visitor shared a review of the farm, “Such a lovely place; generous, sincere, friendly people. It was a joy to find you whilst riding around wetlands with my grandson, gorgeous veggies too. Keep up the great work!”

In 2022, DCF was the recipient of a Vic Government $200,000 Living Local Surburban Grant, which enabled the establishment of an all weather community building, upgrade of the existing solar system as well as connection to the nearby electricity grid, and landscaping around the new community space.