Raintree bringing new taste of agritourism to Denmark with farm-fresh food, beverages, stays and experiences

Denmark restaurant The Dam is known for its quality food and beverages but a closer look reveals a family-led farming enterprise forging a new path in agritourism. The popular eatery is situated on Raintree Estate, an almost 900-acre farm sitting on a hill above William Bay. The farm, owned and run by various members of the Birkbeck family, delivers produce directly to The Dam’s kitchen and the Cannabis Botanical Distillery, which also has its home on the property. One of Raintree’s owners Stephen Birkbeck said there are big plans in the works for the future of both the restaurant and the property at large. A new special, which Mr Birkbeck said he hopes can become one of The Dam’s signature dishes, has recently been added to the menu on a trial basis, featuring Raintree produce and adding a local twist to a crowd favourite dish. Marron linguine will be added to The Dam’s winter menu as a weekly special at $55 with a glass of house chardonnay, but Mr Birkbeck said he was confident the dish would soon become a cult classic among visitors to The Dam. “I’m hoping this dish becomes a signature on our menu, something special that will eventually bring visitors to the restaurant and to the area,” Mr Birkbeck said. The farm is also currently home to three tiny cabins run by Heyscape, a WA brand known for their off-grid accommodation, and visitors staying in the cabins can sign up for a behind-the-scenes catch and cook experience to see firsthand how Raintree marron is harvested. Traps are set in the morning in a dam close to the restaurant, and guests accompany a member of The Dam’s staff team to pull the traps out of the water and see their bounty, ready to be taken back to their cabin to cook on the outdoor barbecues, or back to the restaurant where they are cooked into the delicious marron linguine. Raintree was rezoned for tourism in 2023 after extensive community consultation, and plans continue to grow the farm’s unique brand of agritourism. The current three cabins on the property sit on a hill overlooking the wild and pristine vista of William Bay National Park, a quiet corner of the estate that feels cut off from the quietly bustling atmosphere of The Dam and the rest of the Denmark township. Plans to expand the Heyscape and Raintree partnership have recently been opened for public comment, with an additional 12 cabins proposed to be added to the estate in different areas, some with the iconic ocean views visitors have been wowed by since the three cabins were added to the property in November of 2024, and some nestled among patches of karri forest. Head of Heyscape Tim Brady said the brand’s aim was to connect people to nature in a way that was accessible to all kinds of travels. “We want to open regions like Denmark up to travellers who maybe aren’t so adventurous, they don’t want to camp in a tent, and they still like a beautiful stay experience,” he said. “With the Heyscape cabins, we’re drawing in people who might not otherwise come out and get into nature, and Raintree is in a unique position to be able to do that, and offer guests so many other great experiences at that location as well.” Jacki Elezovich was a guest of Raintree Estate and Heyscape.

Raintree bringing new taste of agritourism to Denmark with farm-fresh food, beverages, stays and experiences

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