OVER 100 YEARS OF MERiMBULA TRADITION

The history of Wheeler's Oyster Farm

OUR family OYSTER farm has been operating on Merimbula Lake for generations. WE’vE BEEN quietly refining OUR craft ON OYSTER LEASES THAT DATE BACK TO the 1920s. These waters in merimbula are part of who we are. They shape the way we work, the way we eat, and the way we welcome guests.

❋ Pitt Warn & The 1920s

Pitt Warn Pty Ltd, the company behind Wheelers Oysters, was originally founded by Mr and Mrs Pitt Warn in Merimbula in the early 1900s. As early pioneers of aquaculture on the Sapphire Coast, they built a successful oyster farming operation that they ran until their retirement in the 1960s. 

❋ Hugh & Debbie Wheeler Purchase the Farm

After the retirement of the Warn’s, the oyster farming changed hands several times over the following two decades before being purchased by Merimbula locals Hugh and Debbie Wheeler in 1982.

❋ Focus Shifts Back To Oyster Farming

Hugh and Debbie shifted their focus back to full-time oyster farming as demand for Wheelers Oysters increased. The restaurant, previously operated by Jacqui Smith, moved into new ownership in 2025, continuing to serve the same quality seafood and hospitality that shaped its reputation.

❋ Wheeler's Oyster Farm Grows

Hugh and Debbie Wheeler grew the business significantly, expanding from farming into tourism and hospitality. They opened a fresh seafood shop, launched oyster tours, and later created “The Kiosk,” serving oysters prepared a variety of ways alongside local seafood. The Kiosk quickly became a favourite with both locals and visitors.

❋ Enter The Next Generation

In 2022, the next generation stepped forward. The oyster farming business under Pitt Warn Pty Ltd was divided between their children, James Wheeler and Lauren Wheeler, each operating independently as Wheelers Oyster Farm and Merimbula Rock Oysters. Together, they continue the family tradition while expanding production, investing in modern aquaculture systems, and strengthening direct relationships with top restaurants across Australia.

❋ Wheeler's Seafood Restaurant Opens

As the business continued to grow, the Wheelers began plans for a purpose-built venue. In 2003, the iconic Wheelers Restaurant & Oyster Bar opened its doors. Constructed with recycled bridge timbers and local stone, the restaurant features indoor and outdoor dining on expansive decking, as well as a dedicated takeaway shop. It remains one of the Sapphire Coast’s most recognisable dining destinations.

A LEGACY OF OYSTER CRAFTSMANSHIP

Decades of early mornings, quiet rituals, and careful hands — each generation adding to the rhythm of the lake in their own way.