HOT: Collingwood Children’s Farm, Abbotsford

I count my family very fortunate to live so close to Collingwood Childrens’ Farm.

Collingwood Children's Farm, 18 St Heliers St, Abbotsford

Other than perhaps Melbourne Zoo, I can’t think of any other places in inner city Melbourne where you can see the sort of animals that feature so much in children’s picture books. When Lady AB was a toddler her introduction to farm animals in real life was her first visit to Collingwood Childrens’ Farm.

Collingwood Children's Farm, 18 St Heliers St, Abbotsford

The farm is not very big and there’s just enough animals there to keep kids interested. We spot cows, horses, ducks, chickens, pigs and goats in the pens, though it’s not clear whether you’re allowed to go inside the enclosures to touch or pet them.

Collingwood Children's Farm, 18 St Heliers St, Abbotsford

At 10pm and 4pm the cows are milked and on weekends and school holidays there are often extra activities, such as feeding hay to the animals.


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What’s even better about Collingwood Childrens’ Farm is that every month there’s a very popular farmers market with beautiful fresh local produce and gourmet products sold on the large grassy (and often muddy) meadow inside the farm.

Collingwood Children's Farm, 18 St Heliers St, Abbotsford

When the farmers markets are on the entry fee is a gold coin donation and kids enter for free, making the Saturday morning very busy with families who (like us) can combine shopping with a kid-friendly outing.

Collingwood Children's Farm, 18 St Heliers St, Abbotsford

The markets have catered for the family crowd by even hiring a Mexican musician to play fun songs especially for the kids in the middle of the meadow.

**Note: Starting 12 Feb 2022, the famous CCF and Abbotsford Convent Markets will be held every Saturday from 8am to 1pm. Additionally, the Collingwood Childrens Farm Farmers Market is now called the Abbotsford Precinct Market and will always be on St Heliers St and in the Abbotsford Convent, not on the Farm anymore.

Collingwood Children's Farm, 18 St Heliers St, Abbotsford

Finally, Collingwood Childrens’ Farm also has a popular kid-friendly cafe called The Farm Cafe.

HOT Tips:

  • Wear gumboots
  • 10am & 4pm cow milking, no extra charge.
  • Limited street parking
  • Paid car park next to the farm and across from Abbotsford Convent;
  • Kids birthday party packages available – they normally book out 12 months in advance!
  • Farmers Market day entry is $2 per adult. Children are free and you can stay all day.
  • After 1pm normal Farm entry fees apply.
  • Every year the farm holds Winter Solstice Bonfire at the Farm. Tickets sell out quickly.

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About Joyce Watts

Joyce Watts is a former intellectual property, IT and media lawyer turned serial entrepreneur.

As well as being the founder of TOT: HOT OR NOT she helps businesses with their SEO, email marketing & social media as BrightSmart.com.au; she owns an online bike store CycleStyle.com.au and develops and produces creative experiences for families via WheelieGoodFun.com. She used to publish another popular lifestyle and food blog called MEL: HOT OR NOT The decisive guide to Melbourne.

She lives in inner-city Melbourne with her husband, two children and seven bikes.

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