From Hollywood to the Land: Rachel Ward's Regenerative Farming Journey

Rachel Ward, known for her iconic roles in film and television including The Thorn Birds, has traded the glitz of Hollywood for a very different kind of spotlight: managing a regenerative beef cattle farm in the Nambucca Valley, New South Wales. She owns the property with her husband, actor Bryan Brown.

Background

Ward began her career as a model in New York in the 1970s before moving into acting. She went to Hollywood in 1982, where she met Bryan Brown on the set of The Thorn Birds. They married shortly after, and Ward relocated to Australia.

Farm Transition

The property covers 350 hectares. Ward converted its management to regenerative farming practices following the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020. The devastating fires and the preceding drought contributed to a depressive episode. She reports that she felt powerless about climate change and sought to take personal responsibility.

Regenerative farming methods adopted include rotational grazing, reduced chemical use, and the use of bio-fertiliser. Ward states that these practices have improved soil health and biodiversity, and she believes they help combat climate change by storing carbon. She currently manages 80 breeders.

"All I want to hear is, 'Actually, Rachel's cows are looking pretty good.'"
— Rachel Ward

Viral Incident

In late 2023, Ward posted an Instagram reel promoting her paddock-to-plate meat venture, FarmThru. The video showed her without makeup and with grey hair. Some comments criticized her aging appearance.

Her daughter, Matilda Brown, created a response reel defending her mother and natural aging. The post went viral, drawing thousands of comments—the vast majority in support.

"It was about Mum, but it was also about women coming to other women's defence and just saying, 'We should be allowed to look 68 if we want to.'"
— Matilda Brown

Ward herself remains unfazed by the criticism. She stated: "I so past caring about what people think about one's appearance or age."

Career and Personal Life

Ward has experienced depression at various points in her life, including early in her motherhood. She has since channeled her experiences into creative projects:

• Directed a documentary, Rachel's Farm (2023), about her farming journey
• Hosted Voices of Australian Farmers: A Love Story at the 2024 Adelaide Fringe
• Runs FarmThru, which sells meat from regenerative or organic farms directly to consumers

Her son Joe lives on a nearby property and assists with the business.

"She's bloody loving it and fully involved. I can't get over how much she does, but she loves it."
— Bryan Brown

On Aging and Society

Ward has also spoken candidly about societal pressures on women as they age:

"That whole harping ... that we still have to be sexual beings is terrifying... It just becomes grotesque."
— Rachel Ward