Gavin and Mel Booth with the rare find from their huge backyard. Source: Instagram/@australiantruffle

An Aussie man’s backyard dig uncovered something no one else on this side of the continent has – with an insane price tag.

Gavin Booth was digging under stone pine trees he’d during the pandemic when he made the rare find – white truffles worth $3,000 a kilogram.

“First ones ever dug up in Western Australia. It’s a good day,” was how he described the feeling.

Gavin Booth with the truffles that were the size of both palms. Source: Instagram/@australiantruffle

Gavin Booth with the rare truffles that have a garlicky aroma. Source: Instagram/@australiantruffle

All up, Mr Booth, co-owner of Australian Truffle Traders in Manjimup, unearthed 1.5 kilograms of bianchetto white truffles – a rare variety prized for its pungent garlicky aroma.

The discovery was made on Tuesday, 300km south of Perth in the heart of WA’s Southern Forests region.

“First white truffle found in Western Australia? Definitely the first one found by us! Tuber borchii has a distinctive garlicky, bulb aroma … Pasta tonight!,” he said

Mr Booth and wife Mel said they and “right hand gal Loz” were “sooooo happy”.

“20 years in truffles and being one of the very first to do white borchii truffle is a special feeling,” the couple said on Instagram.

Chefs from as far away as Spain and Denmark expressed interest publicly within hours, with congratulations pouring in from all corners of the globe.

Mr Booth told Perth Now that “within hours of posting our find on social media, I had interest from chefs from Sydney to San Francisco. I expect there’ll be some demand for these white beauties.”

The truffles are worth $3,000 a kilo. Source: Instagram/@australiantruffle

While Australia – and Manjimup in particular – is widely known as the southern hemisphere’s epicentre of the black Périgord truffle, producing around 80 per cent of all black truffles grown south of the equator, the bianchetto white variety had until now only been grown in a handful of places on the eastern seaboard.

“Truffles are fickle to grow. You cannot rush them and you cannot force them, so to have some white ones finally appear feels like the land is letting us in on a secret,” Mr Booth said.

Fellow Australian growers were quick to celebrate the find, with Adelaide Hills Truffle Company – which has been harvesting bianchetto on its own South Australian farm since 2021 – among the first to congratulate the pair.

Australia has a quietly growing bianchetto community, with growers including Red Hill Truffles, Tartufo White, The Truffle Barn, Red Ground Australia and Quercus Truffles all named as established producers.

“There are quite a few established growers in Australia now which is exciting,” Adelaide Hills Truffle Company wrote. “Bianchetto for the win.”

Australian Truffle Traders ‘right-hand gal Loz with Mel Booth and their rare find. Source: Instagram/@australiantruffle