WALK LIKE... An Alpaca!

The Australian Alpaca Barn is a family owned business that was originally established to sell and promote Australian Alpaca products made from alpaca fibre grown in Australia and manufactured by the strategic partners of the Australian Alpaca Fleece Limited. Since then, both the business and the industry as a whole have grown exponentially, with the store now also specialising in the quality alpaca products made from alpaca fibre grown and manufactured not only in Australia but also from New Zealand and Peru.

The owners of the Australian Alpaca Barn (Marion and Michael Jack) run their own herd of alpaca in the beautiful Lambs Valley area of the Hunter as well as sourcing wool from other farms in the Hunter region. Their farm, Jacamar Alpacas, started with a small herd of only ten alpacas in 1997, but since then the herd has grown to almost 100.

The couple has also aligned themselves with the top manufacturers of alpaca product in Peru, allowing them to offer discerning shoppers a comprehensive and international range of alpaca products made from the distinctive Peruvian Alpaca fibre.

The Australian Alpaca Barn has stores located in the Blue Mountains, the Southern Highlands and Sydney, but in the Hunter Valley, we are especially lucky to have scored three stores, with a shop at Hunter Valley Gardens, a second at Peppers Creek Village and a third at the historic township of Morpeth.

“Alpaca wool is luxuriously soft and lightweight, but is still very warm,” says Marion Jack, who owns the stores alongside husband Michael.

“When people come into the store they are amazed not only with the tactility of Alpaca product but also the range of items available. Alpaca wool is stronger and more durable than most other natural fibres, and it’s hypoallergenic too, so if traditional wool makes you itch, alpaca is the ideal alternative.”

Within the store, visitors can savour the quality of alpaca coats, sweaters, shawls, scarves, gloves, beanies, socks, throw rugs, quilts, bedding, pillows, blankets, knitting yarn, alpaca teddies, alpaca silver jewellery and more.

All three shops are open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm. For more information and to shop online visit www.australianalpaca.com