Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, April 1, to Sunday, April 7.
🥔 Spudfest will be bigger than ever this year. Trentham’s festival of all things potato has been expanded to two days (May 4-5). The program features food, wine, music, children’s games and activities, and local history. And it extends into the evening with a ceilidh, a Celtic version of an Aussie bush dance. Check out the Spudfest schedule online or download the 2024 guide (PDF).
🍻 We’re visiting Trentham for this week’s local history tale. Sue Worthington sheds some light on the history of one of the most prominent buildings as you enter the town, and why it may have been built on a bend. See the story below the event guide.
🐨 The school holidays are here! Among the children’s activities this week are zookeeper workshops at Chris Humfrey’s Wild Action Zoo in Macedon. There’s lots for kids to do in the next two weeks. Check out the school holiday guide.
Here are the events and activities happening in the Macedon Ranges this week:
Click the links for more info 👇
Monday, April 1
Garden Duneira Open Garden: Enjoy the visual splendour of the historic hill-station garden. Duneira, Officer Ln, Mount Macedon. 10am-4pm. Adult $12, Senior $10, Child (under 16) free.
Garden Viewfield Open Garden: Majestic trees with brilliant autumn colour, stunning views, a fruit forest, a children’s fairy garden, perennial gardens and a sparkling stream through shady fern glades. Viewfield, 651 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. 11am-4pm. Adult $10, Child free.
Tuesday, April 2
Garden Duneira Open Garden: Enjoy the visual splendour of the historic hill-station garden. Duneira, Officer Ln, Mount Macedon. 10am-4pm. Adult $12, Senior $10, Child (under 16) free.
Photography Macedon Ranges Photographic Society Club Night: New member Q&A. Competition judging with Alex Syndikas. Dromkeen, 1012 Kilmore Rd, Riddells Creek. 6.30pm.
Thursday, April 4
Gardens Autumn Garden Tour: Enjoy two beautiful gardens in Mount Macedon: Glen Rannoch and Shepherd’s Bush. Mount Macedon Tours, 690 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. 10am-12pm. $89.
Quiz Trivia Night: General knowledge quiz. Gisborne Golf Club, Daly St. 7pm. Free.
Friday, April 5
Music Jarrod Shaw & The Whisky Rogues: Part of the Live and Local in Community Halls series of music events for the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival. Lancefield Mechanics Institute, The Crescent, Lancefield. 6.30pm-10.30pm. $15.
Quiz Friday Night Pub Trivia: Topical and fun questions plus some games. The Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. 7pm. Free.
Saturday, April 6
Exercise Parkruns: 5km fun runs/walks in Gisborne (Dixon Field), Lancefield (Lancefield Park) and Woodend (Campaspe Dr). All abilities welcome. 8am. Free.
Market Woodend Farmers’ Market: Cnr High St & Forest St. 9am-1pm.
Community Woodend Repair Cafe: Enjoy a cuppa while your broken household items are being mended. The Undercroft, Woodend Neighbourhood House, Forest St (enter via the community garden near the skate park). 9am-1pm. Free.
Gardening Tuberous Begonia and Fuchsia Show: Hundreds of nursery-grown tuberous begonias. White House Nursery, 691 Ashbourne Rd, Ashbourne. 10am-4pm.
Art & Craft Phoenix Macedon Ranges Art and Craft Exhibition: Includes paintings, ceramics, paper craft, glass art, jewellery, woodwork, knitting and textiles. Old Gisborne Court House. 4 Hamilton St, Gisborne. 10am-4pm.
Garden Viewfield Open Garden: Majestic trees with brilliant autumn colour, stunning views, a fruit forest, a children’s fairy garden, perennial gardens and a sparkling stream through shady fern glades. Viewfield, 651 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. 11am-4pm. Adult $10, Child free.
Music David Knight: Acoustic folk and roots. Mount Macedon Hotel, 694 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. 1pm-4pm.
Local History Malmsbury Stone and Stoneworkers History Walk: Find out about Malmsbury’s bluestone heritage on a walking tour of the picturesque cemetery with Susan Walter, from Malmsbury Historical Society. Malmsbury Cemetery, Cemetery Rd, Malmsbury. 1.30pm-3pm. $5.
Local History Lancefield Then and Now History Walk: Join Bronwyn Wilson to learn about Lancefield’s history and the stories behind some of the town’s buildings and sites. Lancefield Mechanics’ Institute, The Crescent, Lancefield. 2pm-4.30pm. $20.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Music Power Ballads vs Hair Metal: Join DJ Dave for an evening of power ballads and rock guitar anthems. Prizes for the most rock ’n’ roll outfits, plus other games. The Kyneton Hotel, Mollison Street, Kyneton. From 4pm. Free.
Music Dolla Pots: Part of the Live and Local in Community Halls series of music events for the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival. Wine and wood-fired pizzas available. Bolinda Community Hall, 5 Mullalys Rd, Bolinda. 6.30pm-10pm. $15.
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Sunday, April 7
Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St. 8am-3pm.
Market Gisborne Olde Time Market: Aitken St/Hamilton St. 9am-2pm.
Art & Craft Phoenix Macedon Ranges Art and Craft Exhibition: Includes paintings, ceramics, paper craft, glass art, jewellery, woodwork, knitting and textiles. Old Gisborne Court House. 4 Hamilton St, Gisborne. 9am-3pm.
Flowers Bouquet Workshop: Create a beautiful hand-tied bouquet with flowers from the farm. 302 Flowers, 302 Mount Gisborne Rd, Gisborne. 10am-12pm. $120.
Gardening Tuberous Begonia and Fuchsia Show: Hundreds of nursery-grown tuberous begonias. White House Nursery, 691 Ashbourne Rd, Ashbourne. 10am-4pm.
Garden Viewfield Open Garden: Majestic trees with brilliant autumn colour, stunning views, a fruit forest, a children’s fairy garden, perennial gardens and a sparkling stream through shady fern glades. Viewfield, 651 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. 11am-4pm. Adult $10, Child free.
Music Valley Road & Luke Watt: Part of the Live and Local in Community Halls series of music events for the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival. Wine and food truck available. Baynton Community Hall, 51 Darlington Rd, Baynton. 12pm-4pm. Entry $15, Child (under 15) free.
Food & Music Gourmet Pies and Live Music: Three American barbecue pies. Plus live music. Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. 12pm-5pm. $45.
Flowers Tour of Fleurs de Lyonville: Join Janae and Chris Paquin-Bowden for a tour of their flower farm. Make your own bouquet to take home. Fleurs de Lyonville, 35 Leishmans Ln, Lyonville. 1pm. $95.
Music Opera in the Garden: The Australian Contemporary Opera Company’s young artist cohort will be performing at Tugurium, home of nurseryman and former Gardening Australia host Stephen Ryan. 8 Centenery Ave, Macedon. 2pm-5pm. $90.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Exhibitions
Kyneton The Old Auction House: Exhibition: Jacklyn Foster. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Art on Piper: Exhibition: Judy Perfect, Tatania Korinfsky. Every day 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Kyneton Ridge Artspace: Exhibition: Gayle Cykner. Mon 11am-5pm.
Kyneton Unmasked: A celebration of nursing and midwifery. Mon, Thu, Fri 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Stockroom: Exhibitions: Laura Woodward, Joshua Cocking, Angela Hayes. Wed by appt, Thu-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.
Kyneton Cusack & Cusack: Fri-Sun 10am-3pm.
Kyneton Trio Art Studio & Gallery: Exhibition: Poetry in Print. Sat-Mon 10am-4pm. Official opening April 7 2pm-5pm.
Mount Macedon The Gallery: Exhibition: Lara Le Reveur. Fri-Tues 10am-4pm.
Newham Art in the Vines: Sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Every day 10am-5pm.
Trentham Trentham District Story: Outdoor display telling the story of Trentham from its earliest Indigenous inhabitants to the present day. Open every day in the grounds of the Old Police Station, 3-5 Camp St, Trentham.
Trentham Little Gallery: Fri-Mon 10am-4pm.
Woodend The Back Shed Gallery: 33 Urquhart St, Woodend. Tues-Sun 10am-5pm.
Coming up
Local History Malmsbury’s Bluestone Heritage Walk: Learning about Malmsbury’s bluestone history and visit some of the village’s bluestone buildings. Walking tour with Susan Walter, from Malmsbury Historical Society. Malmsbury Town Hall, Mollison St, Malmsbury. 1.30pm-3pm. $5. April 20.
Nature Mushroom Foraging: Learn to find and identify mushrooms with professional forager Richard Ford. Smith St, Macedon. 10am-12.30pm. $89. April 20, 21, May 4, 18.
Have a great week!
Richard
P.S. I’ve tried my best to ensure accuracy, but please follow the links above to confirm details before attending events.
🍂 If you enjoy gardens and gardening, there’s lots to see and do in the Macedon Ranges this autumn. Click here for local autumn garden events.
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The pub on the bend
THEN & NOW
With thanks to Trentham & District Historical Society
The Commercial Hotel was the first brick building in Trentham. It stands on the left of High St, on the brow of the hill, as you enter the village.
The building is curiously sited on a bend in the road, a kink thought to have been originally carved by coaches drawing up in front of the pub to collect and drop passengers.
Paddy Murphy leased out the hotel, as well as the bakery, butchery and grocery shops visible on the street frontage of the 1890s photograph above. The latter have long since been demolished.
The building has been altered many times. The 19th-century verandah, complete with iron lace, was replaced by solid pillars in the 1920s.
The hotel licence was not renewed in the 1970s and since then the building has been, among other things, a guest house and an antiques shop.
✍️ Sue Worthington, curator of Trentham & District Historical Society.
📘 Trentham Tales: Stories From Yesteryear, a new book featuring 21 stories from Trentham’s curious, colourful, often dramatic and always entertaining recent past, is available for $12.50 (plus postage) from Trentham & District Historical Society.
In the news
🎬 BULLENGAROOK: A documentary that follows a group of teenagers living with disabilities and neurodiversity as they prepare for their high school musical about John Farnham will premiere on ABC-TV on April 30. This Is Going To Be Big [Trailer], filmed at Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School in Bullengarook, won two awards at last year’s Melbourne International Film Festival and was nominated for two AACTA Awards.
🏡 KYNETON: Former Hawthorn and North Melbourne footballer Nathan Thompson is selling his home in Kyneton. Rosemont, built about 1890, has been listed at $1.55m-$1.65m.
😎 The school holidays are here. Click here for a guide to the children’s activities that are taking place over the next two weeks.
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