Macadamia nuts in husk

In the early 1900’s an enterprising group of horticulturists from America took young Macadamia Trees back to Hawaii. The Macadamia Nut Industry fast became established because of the ideal volcanic soils of the Hawaiian countryside. That is why the Macadamia Nut is often given the title -- Hawaiian Nut.

Australia has since recognised the potential of its own native crop & now the Australian Macadamia Industry is finally catching up.

Macadamias are part of the Proteaceae family. They are named after John Macadam, who at the time was a well-respected chemist & member of the Legislative Assembly for Castlemaine in Victoria.

There are five species of Macadamia, two of which are edible and cultivated in Australia. Macadamia Integrifolia is a smooth shelled nut and Macadamia Tetraphylla produces nuts with a rough shell.

Walter Hill cultivated the first Macadamia Integrifolia in the Brisbane Botanical Gardens, in the year 1858. It is still alive and bearing fruit today.