Frequently Asked Questions

Here you’ll find answers to many of our most commonly asked questions. We’ve arranged them into the following sections:

Getting here

Where are you located?

We are located down a short pedestrian path at the Eastern end of St. Helier’s street in Abbotsford, see Google Maps.

  • From the eastern end of St Helier’s street, head througth the gate and continue about 60 meters down the pedestrian path.

  • Proceed into the corrugated iron building to purchase tickets and enter Collingwood Children’s Farm.

The pedestrian gate at the eastern end of St Heliers Street.

Where can I park?

Parking is available in the Abbotsford Convent car park just 100 meters from the Farm. Half a day’s parking runs between about $12 and $14, card payment only. For further info and support contact the Convent at (03) 9415 3600.

Why wasn’t I issued a ticket in the Convent parking lot?

Your license plate is scanned when you drive into the parking lot. You pay by tapping your credit or debit card at the boom gate as you leave.

What are my public transport options?

The nearest train stop is Victoria Park Station, about a kilometer walk.

  • Exit the station and head 700m East on Johnston street before making a right turn onto Clarke street - you may wish to use the pedestrian overpass at the corner of Clarke street, as Johnston street traffic can be busy!

  • Take your first left on Clarke street and proceed 230m to the end of St. Helier’s, and another 50m down the pedestrian path.

The nearest pair of bus stops is Clarke St. /Johnson St and Trenerry Cres/Johnston St

  • Walk 40m East on Johnston street before making a right turn onto Clarke street - you may wish to use the pedestrian overpass at the corner of Clarke street, as Johnston street traffic can be busy!

  • Take your first left on Clarke street and proceed 230m to the end of St. Helier’s, and another 50m down the pedestrian path.

Farm entry & ticketing

Can I buy tickets at the door?

Yes, Daily Farm Entry tickets are available for purchase upon arrival.

Can I buy tickets in advance?

Yes, Daily Farm Entry tickets are available for purchase at farm.org.au/tickets-pricing.

My ticket says 9:30 am - do I have to turn up on time?

We open to the public at 9:30am, but you’re welcome to arrive any time from then on.

  • If you want to take part in our public activities, we recommend arriving on the earlier side. These begin at 10:00am and tend to be clustered toward the first half of the day, especially on school days.

Can I postpone my tickets?

If you purchased Daily Farm Entry tickets online but aren’t able to attend due to sickness, we’ll still honor them another day. Please note, we cannot offer refunds or new tickets after you have entered the Farm.

Can I buy an Annual Pass at the door?

We’re not currently able to sell Annual Passes or Voting Memberships over the counter, but reception staff can talk you through the purchase process on your phone. Accounts are active immediately after purchase. 

Are dogs allowed?

Dogs are welcome but must stay on leash at all times. For the safetey and welbeing of our animals, dogs aren’t allowed into paddocks and enclosures themselves.

Are you open today/tomorow on the upcoming public holiday?

Collingwood Children's Farm remains open for the majority of, but not all, public holidays. We post closure notifications on our website, Instagram, Facebook and physical signage.

What should I wear?

When visiting the Farm, we recommend closed toed shoes, weather appropriate clothing and if necessary, sunscreen.

Is there an age limit?

Young or old, Collingwood Children’s Farm is for everybody!

What if it rains? What if it’s hot out?

Being a working farm, we usually push ahead regardless of cold temperatures and rain. If temperatures top 30°C however, animal welfare concerns necessitate that we cancel Meet the Guinea Pigs sessions. Above 35°C all animal activities will be cancelled, Farm-wide.

Daily Activities

What activities are taking place today/tomorrow/this weekend?

We review and set our roster of public activities at the start of each day, in line with the needs of our flock, staffing levels, anticipated attendance and weather conditions. As a result we’re not able to guarantee in advance whether a particular activity will or won’t run on a given day. That said, 

  • Each day’s activities are written up on a chalkboard onsite and posted to Instagram as a story at the start of each day - check here for today’s activities.

  • We generally run more activities in the morning than in the afternoon, especially on weekdays during the school term; during weekends and school holidays the board will be busier overall, including afternoons.

What animals do you have?

We have around 200 animals onsite, including sheep, goats, cows, horses & ponies, geese, ducks, chickens, guinea pigs, regular pigs, peafowl, wild possums, two very hard-working cats and about twenty farmers.

Do you have rabbits?

Sadly not, as the European Rabbit is an Established Pest Animal in the State of Victoria. We do have a muddle of adorable Guinea Pigs though!

An adorable guinea pig sitting on a wooden bench.

Do you offer pony rides?

For the wellbeing of our beloved ponies Brandy and Finnegan, we no longer offer rides. We run semi-regular Brush a Pony and Pony Promenade sessions - see our instagram story for today’s activities.

Can I milk the cow?

None of our cows are lactating at the moment, but our Brush the Cow activity runs most days, usually at 11:15 am - see our instagram story for today’s activities.

Do you offer tractor rides?

For safety reasons we don’t offer rides, but we do have opportunities to take photos on a tractor most days - see our instagram story for today’s activities.

Why can’t I find a particular animal? Why are there empty paddocks?

Collingwood Children's Farm uses regenerative agriculture practices to maintain our pastures, which involves a process called rotational grazing.

Rotational grazing involves moving animals frequently through paddocks to allow the grass to regenerate, producing more, higher quality pasture for our animals to eat.

This is why when you visit the farm the animals will often be in a different paddock to where you last saw them, and why sometimes, there are paddocks with no animals in them.

Can I feed the animals? Do you sell animal feed?

We kindly ask that our guests do not feed any of our animals, for two reasons:

  • As a working farm, we carefully manage the diet of each of our animals. Improper feeding can make them sick and unhappy.

  • When animals think that people equal food, they begin to pick up unsafe habits like lunging - which can be particularly terrifying if you’re 4 years old and one meter tall!

Amenities

Do you have a cafe?

There is a cafe onsite, run as a separate business.  The Farm Cafe offers kiosk service within the Children’s Farm, as well as seated dining with a more extensive menu, accessible from outside the Farm, via the Yarra Trail.

  • Please note: Guests temporarily leaving the Farm to eat at the seated section should obtain a passout stamp from reception in order to ensure re-entry.

Can I have a picnic at the Farm?

Yes! You’re welcome to bring your own food or order from the Farm Cafe and sit at one of our picnic tables. You can also bring a blanket if you wish but be advised that pasture access may be limited to maintain turf and soil health, especially in the colder months.

Do you have baby changing facilities?

Yes, two of our toilet stalls are equipped with change tables and nappy bins.

Special Events

Can I hold a birthday party at the Farm?

Yes! We have a dedicated party marquee available for hire, with add-ons like Meet a Pony and Meet the Guinea Pigs available. You can learn more, check availability and make your booking here.

You’re also welcome to hold an informal party at one of our picnic tables. As with the party marquee you can bring your own food or organise catering through The Farm Cafe—but you can’t book add-ons like animal encounters or face painting for an informal party.

Can I get married at the Farm?

Yes! Weddings are handled by our friends at The Farm Cafe. Check their website for more information.

Volunteering, donations and employment

Can I volunteer at Collingwood Children’s Farm?

Yes! Our public volunteering programme Busy Bees runs from 2:00 to 4:00 pm Monday to Wednesday. You can find out more and secure your place here.

Can I work at the farm?

Collingwood Children’s Farm is not currently hiring, but when positions do open up we post them on ethicalJobs.com.au.

Do you offer internships?

Unfortunately Collingwood Children’s Farm isn’t accepting internships at the moment.

Do you accept work experience placements?

Unfortunately Collingwood Children’s Farm isn’t accepting work experience applications at the moment.

Where does my donation go?

Your donations help us care for our animals, conserve the heritage farmland and fund inclusive programs to support people experiencing adversity. You can learn more and make your donation here.

Why is corporate volunteering so expensive?

As well as an important source of labour, Corporate Volunteering is a critical source of revenue for Collingwood Children’s Farm. Paid volunteers cover not only the operational cost of our Corporate Volunteering programme, but multiple others besides.

Can I donate an animal?

As a working farm, biosecurity concerns limit our ability to accept donations of live animals. We recommend contacting one of the following organisations:

If veterinary attention is required contact Lort Smith or the RSPCA:

I still haven’t found an answer to my question!

If you’ve had a look around the site and can’t find it here either, shoot us an email reception@farm.org.au.