For author and chef Jo Barrett, the concept behind her new initiative – Wildpie – came to her while she was taking part in the groundbreaking Future Food System project in 2020.

She was living in Melbourne’s Federation Square in the restaurant-turned-greenhouse, which saw Jo live and work alongside her partner and fellow Oakridge co-head chef Matt Stone in the building for a number of months. In this time the duo could only consume what they grew onsite. It was then that Jo met Billy Staughton from Discovered Wildfoods and the pair decided meat pies were the perfect way to introduce people to the potential of wild game.

Jo told Broadsheet that for many people, their first experience with wild game was usually an undercooked seared loin or an overcooked, dry piece of meat.

“…but we’re trying to show how delicious it is in the pie,” she said.

” It’s quite approachable and so Australian. And anything wrapped in pastry is pretty good.”

Jo and Billy came up with Wildpies, a range of ready-to-bake pies filled with a range of game meat from wallaby to venison and goat. A wild boar sausage roll has also made the list and wild rabbit is on the cards.

Jo said most of the meat used was sourced from invasive species, which are normally culled without their meat being used.

“The idea is to create a revenue stream from an under-utilised product and show their is a demand for it, and we’re not wasting any food,” Jo said to Broadsheet.

“[The meat comes from] where population management is in place due to an influx in numbers, because [invasive species] impact the natural environment, the flora and fauna, take away resources from our native animals, and destroy habitats or culturally significant sites.”

Jo and her long-time collaborator Louise Daily set up shop in Beechworth, where they took over the kitchen at Mayday Hills – the decomissioned psychiatric hospital. Jo said the move had put them closer to where the deer are being culled and processed.

“And I just don’t want to live in the city anymore. After my time at Oakridge in the Yarra Valley, then living right in the centre of the city for Future Food System, I’ve realised regional is where it’s at,” Jo said.

Wildpies is now a joint wholesale venture between Jo and Louise, as well as Mark LaBrooy from the Boathouse Group; and Tara Merdina, Jimmy Westley and Billy from Discovered Wildfoods.