Family of 12 standing in a line on a grassy field with trees in the background. The family of Skybury farms. Colorful landscape with kangaroos, Skybury Cafe, and a sunset.

Our Story

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Our successful domestic and international reputation has blossomed through the hard work, innovative and hands-on approach of our founders, Ian and Marion MacLaughlin.

The couple share a passion for their adopted homeland and a deep connection to the land itself. South-African born Ian was raised in Zimbabwe but decided to leave the country and his post as army captain in 1981 after Robert Mugabe came to power.

Ian and Marion and their young family moved to Oman, and then to the United Kingdom, where the former soldier gained wider experience in the insurance and retirement industries.

However, Australia’s culture and climate called and the family immigrated to Perth in 1987. After considering various business opportunities in WA, they set off on their trusty BMW R80GS motorbike to explore their new country.  They established Skybury Coffee the same year.

Today the farm is home to three generations of the MacLaughlin family.  Ian and Marion work alongside two of their three children.  Seven of their grandchildren also call the farm home.
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The Skybury Crop

Coffee and red papaya is grown at Skybury Tropical Plantation. The sandy soils and subtropical climate provide the perfect growing conditions for coffee and papaya. Skybury produces about 40 tonnes of green coffee per year and over two million kilos of red papaya. At peak times, the packing shed will process over 60 pallets of papaya per day - that's about 60 tonnes.

The farm sources its irrigation water from the Mareeba-Dimbulah Irrigation Scheme, which is supplied from Lake Tinaroo on the southern Tablelands. The irrigation scheme supports over 1000 farms and underpins the supply of a huge variety of produce, including avocados, mangoes, limes, table grapes, sugarcane and cotton.

Skybury employs about 90 people in its papaya, coffee and tourism operations.
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Sustainable Farming

Ian and Marion have always strived to be leaders and innovators when it comes to sustainable agricultural management principles.

The MacLaughlin’s commitment to research and development, as well as their longer term view for sustainable farming, has led to fundamental changes to how they farm. For them, it is not just about farming for today, it’s about farming for tomorrow, practising agriculture that is both environmentally sound and economically dynamic. Skybury practices include water conservation, renewable power, erosion control, integrated pest management and dual cropping.

Sustainability is not just about the environment though, and supporting the local community has become equally as important to Skybury. By employing locals, purchasing goods and services from local suppliers and sponsoring community events, Skybury has become involved in the social fabric of the Atherton Tablelands.
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Illustrations of the Farm

Our farm has always inspired creativity. These illustrations by local artist Atlantis Wade Lewis capture the spirit, rhythm, and beauty of the land we love.