Elders has expanded its Northern Territory footprint with the opening of a new branch in Humpty Doo, bringing dedicated on-ground support to growers across the Top End. The new location strengthens Elders’ northern operations, adding to its agronomy service and improving access to products in the region.
The team sees the Humpty Doo branch as an important addition to Elders’ presence in the region.
“Opening a branch here is incredibly exciting,” said Humpty Doo and Katherine Branch Manager Judy McDermott.
“It allows us to reach more customers with better efficiency and gives us a stronger local presence. Humpty Doo adds another dimension to how we can support producers in the Territory.”
The site will work closely with the established Katherine branch, with both locations supporting each other’s operations.
“One of the advantages of having multiple branches is that if one site doesn’t have a product in stock, another can get it to the customer quickly,” said Judy.
Senior Agronomists Callum Hutchenson and Chris Pham are based at the Humpty Doo branch, a major benefit for local growers.
“Callum and Chris are invaluable to our branch,” Judy said.
“Their experience and constant presence in the field mean we can respond quickly and offer proactive, high-quality advice to our customers.”
Local growers have expressed enthusiasm about having dedicated agronomy support nearby.
“Having an Elders branch in Humpty Doo is a huge help,” said Niceforo Farms mango farm managers Kate Ford and Peter Godden.
“It’s great having resources nearby. Callum and Chris are reliable, experienced, and easy to work with. We’ve worked with them for a couple of years now, and they have made our lives easier; they give us a program, and we just do it.”
For Callum, opening the new branch marks a turning point in how he can support local growers.
“Having a base in Humpty Doo is a big step forward,” he said.
“I live in Humpty Doo and had been travelling to the Katherine branch and moving product up and down the highway. It took a lot of coordination. Now, having a local branch with access to supplies makes a massive difference. It means we can get product to growers quickly, and it makes my day far more efficient.”
Callum said the ability to respond immediately is crucial in the Top End’s horticulture industry.
“A lot of things in mango growing are reactive. Often growers will find a problem and want to spray that night, which means they need product right away. Without a base in Humpty Doo, that was hard to achieve. Now we can offer excellent agronomy support and back it up with quick product supply. That combination is what really matters.”
With the branch now fully operational, the team is encouraging people from across the region to visit.
“Come and see what we’ve got,” said Judy.
“You might be surprised by the range of the products we carry.”
The Humpty Doo team is also ready to welcome new clients.
“We’re absolutely open to new customers,” Callum said.
“We currently support horticulture, nurseries, pastoral contractors, and a large portion of the Vietnamese community farming Asian vegetables. But our focus isn’t limited to one industry, anyone looking for agricultural support is welcome. As we continue to grow, we’ll keep building a team with specialists in different fields.”
One of the greatest strengths behind the new branch is the backing of Elders’ national network. Callum says this support helps deliver quicker, more informed solutions to local challenges.
“The Elders network is a huge advantage,” he said.
“We have specialists all over the country who are working with similar crops and trialling new techniques. Our monthly northern horticulture catch-ups let us share ideas and learn what’s working in other regions. When a grower comes to us with a problem, there’s almost always someone in the wider network who has seen it before. It means we can get to the right answer faster.”
Callum sees immense opportunity in the region and is eager to help growers continue improving productivity and building long-term success.
“There’s so much potential here,” he said.
“Chris and I love trying new things, testing new ideas, and working alongside growers to help them increase yields and build more sustainable businesses.”