Welcome to
Welcome to Red Gum BBQ, the home of the largest American-style BBQ and craft beer joint in Australia, best known for its authentic Southern-style smoked BBQ and passionate commitment to ethical practices (in fact, we are the first, and only, B Corp Certified restaurant in Australia).
Learn How
Red Gum BBQ was born from a fusion of traditional family recipes and a passion for bringing people together who shared a love of low and slow BBQ. It’s also a love story…how else could you explain a girl born in Florida and a boy born in Norfolk England owning an authentic southern-style barbecue restaurant in Australia.
For Melissa, all things southern-style barbecue were a way of life; for Martin, the fire in his belly for low and slow was sparked after tasting it at Melissa’s grandparent’s hometown of Nashville during a trip to the US in 2002.
What started as a flickering flame quickly became an obsession to master the perfect barbecue with Martin resigning from his government job in 2012 and channelling all his energies and passion into becoming a Pitmaster. Martin was on paternity leave and did some catering on the side, towing a Texan import smoker ‘Big Red’ to Mornington Peninsula markets, events and weekend pop-ups.
What followed was years of “have pit will travel” as Martin finessed his craft, fine-tuned his skills, and tweaked his deliciously good recipes. Most of us go through life never really enjoying our work, but the lucky ones find something that never feels like a ‘job’…it’s an extension of who you are. For Martin, what had started as a dream had become a smokey reality (and he could not be happier). He was born to barbecue.
In order to get ready to open a ‘proper’ restaurant, Martin returned to the States again to do a stint of training at Southern Soul BBQ in St Simons Island, South Georgia, often voted as the South’s best BBQ restaurant. It takes dedication to earn those Pitmaster-seared stripes.
Fast forward to 2016 and it was time to create a permanent home for Red Gum BBQ where friends and family could pull up a bench and enjoy sharing plates of perfectly cooked meats, sides and slaws. The hunt was on to find the perfect address, and find it they did – a truck mechanic’s workshed classically tucked away behind a servo (just like any good Southern-USA barbeque joint).
Fast forward to today and Red Gum BBQ is everything they imagined it would be – a place for family and friends to come together to enjoy good food and conversation;somewhere to enjoy authentic southern-style barbecue and hospitality; a family business you know cares about its people, its community, and the land it sits upon.
our mission/values
We believe in kindness and authenticity for our food, and for ourselves. We are passionate about what we do and how we do it and believe that where our food comes from matters; that when we connect with our farmers and put care into our community and our planet, everyone wins. BBQ has a long history of bringing people together and we cherish these moments we get to connect to each other.
Great food comes from Farmers who Care
BBQ Tastes Better when Shared with Family & Friends.
Be Kind. Be True. Be Awesome.
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Discover Our Impact at Red Gum BBQ, where caring for people and the planet drives everything we do. Through Our Meaty Impact initiative, we commit 5% of profits to positive change. Partnering with like-minded businesses and local charities, we bring meaningful projects to life. From sourcing ethically to composting food waste, we embed sustainability in our operations. As Australia’s first B Corp-certified restaurant, our holistic commitments prioritise stakeholders and community. Join us in nurturing ethical food systems and supporting women, families and community.
history of red gum bbq
They say every journey begins with the first step…so let’s retrace how Red Gum BBQ came to be.
first taste
In 2002, Owner Martin had his first taste of Southern BBQ while visiting Melissa at her home in Florida.
the road to happiness
Martin decided his road to happiness was lined with BBQ and he wanted to leave his job in local government to become a Pitmaster. Over the next few years Martin travelled to markets & festivals, catered events and smoked at pop ups around Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula.
The birth
Red Gum BBQ was born in 2013 out of this passion for Southern-style BBQ and desire to share it far and wide.
A Home of our own
In 2016, Martin and Melissa decided it was time to give Red Gum BBQ its own home. Committed to its regional roots, Martin scoured the Mornington Peninsula until he came across the old truck mechanic’s workshed in Red Hill. Martin cut trenches, Melissa painted, friends and neighbours showed up for working bees to help build the restaurant. Melissa left her job as a high school teacher to work in the business and the couple were all in. In January of 2017, the giant roller doors went up and their people came for BBQ.
ethical accreditation
In early 2018, Red Gum BBQ became Australia’s first B Corp Certified restaurant. The ethical accreditation is one Red Gum BBQ is very proud of and is the driving force behind every decision made across the business.
Re-certification
B Corp Re-certification.
following
the smoke
Red, White & ‘Cue — 4th of July Bash
Red, White & ‘Cue – The Whole Hog Hoedown. Join us this 4th of July for a Southern-style celebration like no other—featuring a whole hog feast carved live, live music, line dancing, cocktails, and all the smoky goodness you can handle.
Pitmaster Masterclass
Classes are held on a Thursday evening at 6pm, once per month. Classes are scheduled monthly - New dates added here, on our socials and e-news. Learn the art of low and slow cooking with the Red Gum BBQ Pitmaster. This BBQ Pitmaster Class is for a small group of...
Pro Masterclass is Here!
So, you’ve got the basics down! You get fire, smoke, and temp control, your family and friends love what you do, but you know there’s still more to learn. Is your brisket the best on the block? Ready to get in on the secret sauce? Now’s your chance. Now’s your chance. Red Gum BBQ has officially launched their long-awaited...
check us out
in the media
The Age - True-blue meets Texas BBQ at Red Gum in Red Hill
I used to have an adorable theory about American-style barbecue that went: regional barbecue is specific to its location – and that’s fine. It’s okay if you have to travel to Texas to get proper Texas-style brisket, or North Carolina to get the best pulled pork. Isn’t that part of the joy of travel?
Herald Sun - Southern US-style barbecue delights on offer at Red Gum BBQ, Red Hill
AFTER 12 years of experimenting and another three years of product testing via pop-ups and markets, Red Gum BBQ is now at home in Red Hill. Mt Eliza couple Melissa and Martin Goffin claim their venture is the largest barbecue venue in Australia.
SBS - Red Gum BBQ's recipe to get a business firing up
Red Gum BBQ is a destination restaurant, in the popular suburb of Red Hill on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.Started almost two years ago by couple Martin and Melissa Goffin, it brings a taste of the American South to this thriving community.
NAB - Determination transforms struggling start-up into smoking success
Aus. Traveller - Top Towns for 2022: The town of Sorrento is a foodie paradise
Postcards - Red Hill - Red Gum BBQ
Herald Sun - Hats Off To Red Gum BBQ
Virgin Australia - Top of the Mornington
St Kilda natives, by way of Florida and England, Melissa Goffin and her husband Martin Goffin conceived the idea for Red Gum BBQ in 2013 after nearly a decade of dreaming about meat — dreams that began in 2001 after Martin was introduced to US Southern-style barbecue in Melissa’s home town of Miami.
Thanks to our
Partners & Associations
