Bridestowe Estate: Over 100 Years of Tasmanian Legacy
London perfumer CK Denny migrated to Tasmania with his family in 1921, holding a packet of lavender seeds sourced from the southern French Alps. Today, we continue on the legacy he created, still steadfast in our commitment to producing the finest lavender oil.
Today, Bridestowe Estate not only creates the highest quality lavender products but also welcomes visitors from across the world. A legacy begun by CK Denny, and carried on by the Ravens family.
The History of Bridestowe Estate
CK Denny chose Tasmania to realise his dream of producing the world’s finest lavender, recognising its similarity in climate and conditions to the famous lavender regions of Provence. The determined family began Bridestowe Estate with their first planting of pure lavender at North Lilydale, just a short distance from Bridestowe’s current farm, before moving to the current site 25 years later.
Right from the beginning CK Denny was a visionary. The iconic curved rows of lavender at Bridestowe were designed to better capture and manage rainfall – a revolutionary approach at that time. The Dennys also transformed their production by moving away from hand-harvesting flowers to automated harvesting. Automation meant that they could quickly respond when flowers across the farm reached their peak, improving oil quality and yield.
A new, streamlined distillation process multiplied these benefits – fine oil quality and yield reached new heights. The world took notice, and many of these practices became the international standard for fine lavender production.
Bringing Bridestowe Estate Back to Life
Bridestowe passed from the Denny family into corporate ownership in 1989. Over many years, the farm began to change without the specialist care and attention of family ownership.
In 2006 the current owners, the Ravens family, learnt that the historic farm with its unique product was for sale. They took on the challenge of restoring the farm to agricultural excellence and reinvigorating the visitor experience. Alongside the farm team, they painstakingly brought the diminishing lavender crops back to life.
Robert and Jennifer Ravens take great pride in finding the perfect balance of creating the finest Tasmanian lavender oil and opening the estate to visitors. Bridestowe Estate is better when it’s shared with others.
