Oyster season has started in Western Australia. Albany Rock Oysters, grown off the Great Southern coast by Leeuwin Coast, return to Perth restaurant menus and seafood retailers today as the weather warms.
The season is expected to run until around the end of April 2027. In Perth, you’ll find them at Pearla & Co, Gage Roads Freo, Good Company, Si Paradiso, Found, and Indigo Oscar. Seafresh and select The Good Grocer stores will stock them too. The oysters also go to venues and retailers in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
What they taste like
The nutrient-rich waters around Albany give the oysters a gentle sea-spray brine and grassy undertones, with fresh notes that recall cucumber and watermelon rind. Margaret River chef Evan Hayter, executive chef and co-owner of de’sendent, says the oysters’ subtle flavour and consistent creaminess suit the way his kitchen serves them. He plans to keep them on the menu all season.
Leeuwin Coast, Harvest Road’s aquaculture brand, earned recognition this year. It won two Gold medals and one Silver medal at the 2026 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show Aquaculture Competition. It was also a national finalist in the “From the Sea” category of the 2026 Delicious Harvey Norman Produce Awards.
Months of work before the first harvest
The farm team doesn’t stop over winter. Through the cooler months, crews grade the oysters and give them more room to grow. They also maintain the lines, monitor condition and carry out training and safety work. Richard Kohne, Harvest Road’s Chief Operating Officer, Seafood, says the team used the winter to prepare so it could harvest as the oysters reach peak quality. He says they are looking good ahead of the season.
A new processing facility in Albany
Harvest Road is also building a processing facility at its Emu Point shore base. It will house processing and packing areas, a land-based nursery, maintenance facilities and administrative offices. Several local Albany businesses are working on the construction, and the company expects to finish the facility in the first half of 2027. Kohne says the project is part of a long-term plan to put Albany on the map for oysters while supporting local jobs and industry.
To find a stockist, check the Leeuwin Coast stockist page or follow @leeuwincoast on Instagram.
Meanwhile, if you’re an oyster enthusiast in Perth, here’s what you can look forward to this season at restaurants:
- Canteen Pizza: Every Wednesday from 21 October, with Jerry Fraser shucking from 4 pm.
- Tradewinds: Thursday evenings, 5–8 pm with That Oyster Lounge.
- Fallow: Friday afternoons, 4–7 pm with That Oyster Lounge, beginning 30 October.
- Boston Brewing, Victoria Park: Selected Thursdays in November, 5–8 pm with Shucks & Nibs.
- The Rechabite: Selected Fridays in November, 5–8 pm with Shucks & Nibs.
- Servo Leederville: Oyster afternoon with Tom and Jerry on Sunday, 22 November, from 3 pm.
- Good Company: Sunday, 29 November, 1–4 pm with Shucks & Nibs.
