Image credit: Jonathan van der Knaap | @jvdkphoto
There’s a charming new wedding venue quietly coming to life in the rolling hills of the Fleurieu, where love, history, and natural beauty meet beneath pines. ‘The Dairy Farm’ is a new wedding and event venue that owners, husband and wife duo Sally and Chris Wotton say feels less “built” than “discovered”. Once a long-neglected property, it’s now a picturesque countryside estate that transforms a former dairy farm into a space primed for the most special of days.
Sally and Chris have poured decades of creative experience into the venue. Chris, a chef with a background spanning from Maggie Beer’s kitchen to running an impressive portfolio of pub kitchens, and Sally, a florist known for her artistry through Floristry by Sally Wotton, have long dreamt of combining their worlds.
Sally says, “I guess we always knew we wanted to do something with both of our creative styles. But bringing our three children up, we had to make sure we were in the right spot for schools.”
Now those days are done, Sally said, “Okay, this is our time now.” There was always a dream of opening something, but the pair just didn’t know what form it would take. In a way, Sally tells us, it’s a dream that’s been over 30 years in the making.
Sally and Chris first met at 17, a waitress and a chef, and since then they’ve shared countless adventures and creative pursuits together. The Dairy Farm is, in many ways, the culmination of their shared journey.
After plenty of searching, they stumbled upon a forgotten dairy farm, a corrugated iron shed surrounded by towering pines, sweeping paddocks, a dam, and a creek that winds through the property. What followed was a year-long restoration project driven by grit, vision, and of course, love.
“When we arrived, it had been neglected for about 25 years,” Sally recalls. “We’ve spent the last 12 months almost nonstop, working on it. Every day we’re up early and into bed late, but we love it. Even though it’s been intense and hard work, it’s been incredibly rewarding. You can definitely feel how much we love what we’re doing.”
The result is a space that feels authentic and timeless. Inside, the old dairy walls have been lined with reclaimed Oregon timber and softened with flowing linen curtains. Outside, festoon lights hang beneath the pines, the space opens onto the lawn, and a beautiful Tasmanian timber rowboat waits by the dam pier as an extra cinematic touch.
The property is vast, and every wedding is different. Sally and Chris have tailored the space to reflect that individuality. “We just want people to relax and make the day their own,” Sally says. “To create it how they visualise it, not how we imagine it. It’s all about collaborating with each couple and finding out how they want their day to unfold.”
Their first wedding, set for mid-December, will be particularly special. The bride grew up on the neighbouring farm and rediscovered the property through photos on social media. “It’s a lovely full-circle moment,” says Sally.
The venue is now taking wedding and event bookings for as early as January 2026.
For Chris and Sally, The Dairy Farm is a reflection of everything they’ve learned and loved. From food to flowers, and the beauty of celebration, brought together in one deeply personal place, where a quiet sense of calm instantly slows the pulse.
The Dairy Farm
Where: Back Valley, Fleurieu Peninsula
When: Now taking bookings from January 2026
For more information, click here.
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