Don Clifton
April 2026
Jill (on the right), the mum, and her daughter, Clover. Jill was handed in by someone who had so many donkeys that he wanted to reduce the number he kept. She was pregnant when she arrived at the Farm and, one morning, delivered Clover to everyone’s joy.
About an hour’s drive east of Adelaide, and along an unsealed and dusty road off the South Eastern Freeway, lies Furever Farm, a place quite different from what we might normally think of when we talk of ‘farm’. It currently houses over 200 animals including sheep, goats, cows, pigs, horses, chickens, ducks, and llamas, but they are not there to be farmed and used for money making purposes. They wander freely, have no fear of human presence, and live out their full lives without being exploited or harmed.
The entrance gate to the Farm, a place “where the voiceless come to speak“.
Beginnings
Furever Farm was opened 10 years ago by Darren and Hayley Appleby, after what Darren described as an “awakening".
"We were awoken to what animals are treated like by humans, and just felt that we needed to stop contributing to that”.
Darren and Hayley Appleby, the founders of Furever Farm.
Of the many things the Applebys thought of doing – from advocacy to animal activism work - they decided that what mattered to them was to physically help animals. This raised another question – which animals to help? The decision was farmed animals on a property where both the animals and the land were respected and cared for.
Chester came to the Farm with his mum, Ambrose (who has passed away). They had been working as guards on a station, but when they were retired from that role, the lady who took them couldn’t continue to keep and care for them, so they were handed in to the Farm.
Rosie was saved from a petting zoo. The zoo was giving her away as she was past the stage of being a cute piglet and wasn’t of use to them any longer.
They saw how farmed animals were just being killed if they were sick or injured – they were seen as just a production input and, if the dollars didn’t add up, the animals were nothing more than a waste product.
The Farm has many features a commercial farm might have – sheds, tractors, hay and other food supplies, but for a different purpose.
Values
The Applebys both follow a vegan diet and lifestyle. This is, for them, a way of keeping their life choices and values aligned. They don’t see a difference in worth between the animals they care for or that of a domestic pet such as the family cat or dog, or the animals that get public attention and calls for saving, like koalas, orangutans, or elephants.
Hayley Appleby with Sweet Pea. Sweet Pea was handed into the Farm about 12 months ago with problems with her front legs. She needed her tendons cut on one leg to straighter her hock. She was in splints for 6 months but wanders around freely now.
“[Farmed] animals are like us as humans, they've got souls, they've got personality, individuality, emotions and feelings, and we don't need to eat them, and we don't need to farm them and kill them”.
The differentiation in an animal’s worth the Applebys see playing out in society is, to them, mere conditioning – how we are socialised to tag some animals as worth caring for, and others that are there merely as production inputs, with no logical reason to underpin this view.
Darren put it this way “[farmed] animals are like us as humans, they've got souls, they've got personality, individuality, emotions and feelings, and we don't need to eat them, and we don't need to farm them and kill them”.
One way this respect for all animals plays out is that all animals on the Farm have names. Show Darren and Hayley a photo of one of their animals and they can tell you its name and its story – they see these animals as unique and inherently valuable living beings.
Piper was being given away by the owner. She was skin and bone when she arrived at the Farm but, as this image shows, is now living a good life.
Wally came to the Farm with another sheep, Dolly. They were surrendered by a lady who wasn’t able to keep them any longer.
Community support
The Applebys are very open about how the Farm is operating, both the day-to-day activities at the Farm, the wellbeing of the animals - especially those needing special care, plus how the farm is coping financially. This was reinforced by one of the volunteers at the Farm, Beth, who commented that one of the reasons she is so comfortable supporting the Farm is that things are very transparent – “it’s very clear where and why money is being spent”.
One of a number of murals and other art pieces on the Farm, provided by talented volunteer artists.
The Applebys see the broader societal values of farmed animals as being there for food having a consequence for the Farm in creating a narrow audience for financial support. Government grants, other than a slim chance of access to some small local government community grants, have proven to be unavailable. Donors come mostly from those who share the same values the Applebys adhere to – the vegan community - although there are pockets of support from others who still see farm animals as food, but also see value in what the Farm is doing.
The most recent open day at the Farm, where about 1,000 people passed through the gates to see the animal, enjoy the food and entertainment, and support the Farm.
The Farm has experienced a few noted times of severe financial stress in recent years, one in 2022 during COVID times, then again in mid-2024 when animal food prices soured with the drought in South Australia at the time, and in the first quarter of 2026 as cost-of-living concerns became prominent in Australia. Each time though, with the support of a community of donors, businesses and individuals providing both cash and in-kind services, and people undertaking their own private fundraising for the Farm, they have made it through these crisis points and continued on with their work.
Hay is the lifeblood of the farm when it comes to feeding the animals.
Pride in achievements
The pride in what’s been achieved at the Farm is very evident in how the Applebys speak of the Farm, where it’s come over the last 10 years, the support from the community, and the generosity of those who contribute in some of the many ways people give support.
They are also very proud of the knowledge they’ve built up over the years, not just in terms of animal care but in running the Farm and achieving the reputation and respect they have from those who interact with them. Hayley spoke of how other people looking at starting a sanctuary have come to them and asked for advice from everything from how to register as a charity, to the basics of how to get started and the challenges to be faced. This was seen by both Darren and Hayley as a great compliment.
Most of all, the pride has to do with the animals. Darren commented that “we go out in the paddocks and see animals living how they're supposed to live and how they want to live. That makes you proud, and it makes you happy. I always say my happiness is their happiness”.
“We go out in the paddocks and see animals living how they're supposed to live and how they want to live: that makes you proud"
Tommy, king of the castle. He was found in the bush by a fox shooter as part of a trio of young goats. The person who found them tried to locate the mother but without success, so they ended up at the Farm.
Looking forward
Over the next 5 to 10 years, the Applebys hope for a few things, other than the obvious of remaining financially viable. First is more land. The property is currently 40 acres in size, and this is seen as very restrictive. There’s a limit to how many animals can be accommodated without over-stressing the land and the current 40 acres creates a barrier as to how many animals can be saved and cared for.
They also hope to have met a lot more people, built rapport with a lot more businesses, and have a lot more volunteers. Darren commented on how they “see our volunteers as family, we want to build on that and just stay humble with and to who we are”.
Darren Appleby (right) with Nathan, one of the volunteers who regularly help out on the Farm.
The message to others
The main message the Applebys have to us all is:
“Be kind, big kind, compassionate, treat the animals as you would want to be treated yourself and how you want to treat other people”.
The poultry enclosure: a mix of birds of all shapes, sizes and breeds, free to wander around without fear of harm.
Experiencing the Farm
Walking around the Farm, it’s easy to see how the Appleby’s dream and values play out. During the interview with them, a few sheep and goats wandered into the communal shed we were in, enjoyed a tickle behind the ear, jumped up on a couch to survey the room, then wandered out without a care in the world.
Edmund Blackadder was thrown out of a car window on East Terrace in Adelaide, along with 4 others, and found themselves in the local parklands. A ranger came across them, contacted the Farm, and they now live happy lives there.
"These animals aren't just objects, they're not just commodities, they're worth saving, and they're worth fighting for"
The animals would follow us around without fear. They would walk up and poke their noses into my camera lens and give me a nudge which was satisfied with a petting.
I came across some graves of animals that had passed away at the Farm. Each grave had a small plaque with a brief about the lost animal. I reflected on the comments both Darren and Hayley made about how the lives of all animals matter, and it shows in the felt loss these graves display.
The animals on the Farm are all valued as equals, and the death of any is a heartfelt loss. This is one of a number of graves to be found on the property.
During our interview, Darren commented “come and meet these animals, look into their eyes and tell me what you see, because these animals aren't just objects, they're not just commodities, they're worth saving, and they're worth fighting for”. Nothing could be truer of how this Farm treats the animals in its care, and how the values the Farm operates on are reflected in the lifestyles of the Applebys and those who go there to support and further its work.
Supporting the Farm
You can support the Farm by making a donation, buying some merchandise, volunteering, and spreading the word of the work the Farm does in animal care. See their web site for information on how to get involved: fureverfarm.org.au