From forgotten fruit to liquid gold: South West Olive Harvest returns

Fruit Rescue is calling on south west residents to turn overlooked olives into “liquid gold,” as the much-loved community olive collection returns on the last weekend of May.

Following a hugely successful 2025 session that saw more than 900kg of olives rescued and transformed into over 140 litres of fresh oil, the initiative is back for a second year with an updated community-led approach.

Residents are invited to host their own picking parties and drop off olives to be part of the region-wide effort.

“This is about unlocking the abundance that’s already around us,” said Courtney Mathew, Director of Fruit Rescue.

“Our neighbourhoods are full of olive trees that often go unpicked, dropping on the ground and creating a hazard.

“This year, we’re aiming to crack the tonne which will hopefully mean more than 150L of fresh olive oil returning for our community to enjoy.

“With a little effort, we can turn that waste into something valuable and delicious.”

Residents can take part in the harvest in several ways. Those with olive trees are encouraged to pick their fruit and drop it off on Sunday 31 May between 2 to 4pm at Warrnambool Community Garden, Koroit Community Garden or Port Fairy Community House.

Community members can also register trees that are going unharvested, with Fruit Rescue helping to match pickers. For those without access to a tree, volunteers are invited to sign up and will be allocated local harvesting opportunities.

All olives collected through the initiative will be processed by Grampians Olive Co, with contributors receiving a share of the blended, locally pressed oil.

Participants who contribute olives can opt to receive a portion of the oil in return for a donation to cover project costs, while those happy to donate their fruit outright will help fund Fruit Rescue’s ongoing food security work.

Olives should be picked no more than two days before drop-off to ensure quality, with a mix of green and black fruit ideal.

The final oil will be a unique regional blend, shaped by the season and the community’s collective harvest.

Registrations are now open, and Fruit Rescue is urging residents to get involved, whether by picking, sharing, or volunteering.

To register olives, share a tree, or volunteer, visit fruitrescue.org.au