Bauple – the Nut and the Mountain

Bauple is recognised by indigenous Australians as the traditional home of the macadamia nut. Thousands of years ago the Aboriginal people, later to be called the Kabi, reached the area, made it their home and discovered the nut. The mountain became an important cultural and sacred place and the Baphal tree, part of their traditions.

The area is surrounded by dream time legends, which tell the story of Baphal, a boy sent to guard the mountain. Baphal was injured during his mission but survived at the hand of a lizard, which got the wallabies to bring him water, and the cockatoos to gather nuts. At the safe return of Baphal, the tribe named the lizard, mountain and the nuts after him. 

Such stories play an important role in today’s management of the area's flora and fauna. Through preservation efforts, there are still a few remaining trees on the mountain and surrounding hills; the size of which suggest they are likely hundreds if not thousands of years old. 

While the locals refer to the nut as the Bopple Nut, internationally it is known as the Macadamia Nut. It has also been called the Queensland Nut, Bush Nut and Aussie Nut.

The macadamia nut’s superior health properties and taste are unique; hence it is also known as the King of Nuts or Golden Nut, and commands a premium price.

The commercial growing of macadamias in Australia started as a small hobby on farms in northern NSW. Large plantings can now be found all along the east coast of Australia, as well as overseas in Hawaii, Brazil and South Africa.