This week in the Macedon Ranges (April 21-27)

Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, April 21, to Sunday, April 27.

🍂 Is there a more beautiful autumn setting locally than Malmsbury Botanic Gardens? This Sunday, the gardens will host Malmsbury Village Fayre, with the seasonal colours of the trees providing a stunning backdrop to what promises to be another relaxed and family-friendly community celebration.

📷 Today’s smartphone photography feature is an old favourite, first published 12 months ago. Don’t miss Tiffany Warner’s striking image of Honour Avenue (just below the event guide). It’s a timely reminder of the amazing results that can be achieved with a smartphone.

🌸 If you’d like to visit some of Mount Macedon’s magnificent gardens this week, a shuttle bus will run from Macedon to Camelot, Duneira, Forest Glade and Viewfield on Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The bus is free for garden ticket-holders.

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Here are the events and activities happening in the Macedon Ranges this week:

Click the links for more info 👇

Monday, April 21

Garden Camelot Open Garden: First public opening in the estate’s 139 years. The gardens were originally designed by William Sangster, Melbourne’s leading designer of the time. Camelot, 847 Mount Macedon Road, Mount Macedon. 10am-4pm. Group (4 adults) $60, Adult $20, Child (under 12) free.

Garden Duneira Open Garden: Enjoy the visual splendour of the historic hill-station garden. Duneira, 1 Officer Ln, Mount Macedon. 10am-4pm. Adult $17, 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. 10am-4pm. Adult $15, Child free.

Entertainment Circus Latino: Clowns, aerial acts, hand balancing, jugglers, and fire and hoops. Performers from South America and Australia. Gisborne Steam Park, 10 Webb Cr, New Gisborne. 3pm-4.40pm. $20-$50.

Tuesday, April 22

Community Chatty Café: Enjoy a cuppa and a natter. Woodend Neighbourhood House, Forest St, Woodend. 10am-11am.

Wednesday, April 23

Environment Sanatorium Eco-Trail Walk: Join Parks Victoria volunteers on a 3km moderate-level walk. Learn about plants and animals as well as the history of the Macedon Regional Park. Days Picnic Ground, Lions Head Rd, Mount Macedon. 9.30am-11.30am. Free.

Singing Woodend Warblers: Community choir. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 7pm. $12 (first session free).

Quiz Trivia Night: General knowledge quiz. The Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. 7pm. Free.

Friday, April 25

Anzac Day Mt Macedon Dawn Service: Access via bus only, including shuttle buses from Tony Clarke Reserve in Macedon. Memorial Cross, Mt Macedon. Service starts at 6am.

Other Anzac Day services:

Gisborne – 10.30am: Parade and service at the cenotaph, Hamilton St.
Kyneton – 6am: Dawn service at the cenotaph in Mollison St, followed by Gunfire Breakfast at Kyneton RSL. 9.30am: Parade starts from junction of Yaldwyn St and Mollison St. 10am: Ceremony at the cenotaph followed by refreshments at Kyneton RSL.
Malmsbury – 8am: Service at the War Memorial Gates at Malmsbury Botanic Gardens (cnr Mollison St & Ellesmere Pl).
Riddells Creek – 5.45am: Dawn service at the War Memorial Gates, Main Rd.
Romsey/Lancefield – 9am: Wreath-laying ceremony at Romsey cenotaph, Main St. 10.30am: Service at Lancefield cenotaph, High St. Morning tea afterwards at Lancefield Mechanics Institute.
Trentham – 6am: Dawn service at the cenotaph. 11.30am: March from the Town Square to the cenotaph. Morning tea at Trentham Neighbourhood Centre.
Woodend – 11.30am: Parade starts in the High St slip road (outside Bradley’s Curtains & Blinds). 12pm: Commemorative service outside Woodend RSL, Anslow St, followed by light refreshments.

Garden Duneira Open Garden: Enjoy the visual splendour of the historic hill-station garden. Duneira, 1 Officer Ln, Mount Macedon. 10am-4pm. Adult $17, Child (under 16) free.

Music Live Music at Gindu: With Pete Walsh. Gindu, 4/80 High St, Woodend. 6pm-9pm.

Saturday, April 26

Exercise Parkruns: 5km fun runs/walks in Gisborne (Dixon Field), Lancefield (Lancefield Park) and Woodend (Campaspe Dr). All abilities welcome. 8am. Free.

Market Lancefield Farmers’ Market: Central plantation, High St, Lancefield. 9am-1pm.

Market Little Treasures Market: Tasty treats, handmade goods, plants, jewellery, hats and scarves, and more. Mechanics Institute, Main St, Lancefield. 9am-1pm.

Market Daylesford Farmers’ Market: Daylesford Primary School, Vincent St, Daylesford. 9am-1pm.

Market Woodend Artists’ and Makers’ Market: Artworks for sale. Plus live music, food and coffee. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 10am-3pm.

Garden Duneira Open Garden: Enjoy the visual splendour of the historic hill-station garden. Duneira, 1 Officer Ln, Mount Macedon. 10am-4pm. Adult $17, Child (under 16) free.

Art Nature Sketching with Watercolour Pencils: With travel sketch artist Alissa Duke. Dromkeen, 1012 Kilmore Rd, Riddells Creek. 11am-1pm or 2pm-4pm. $55.

Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4.30pm. $25.

Drink & Music Sunset Gin Cocktails and Canapés: Enjoy cocktails that showcase Big Tree Distillery’s premium gin. Music by Sugarloaf Creek (Tom and Georgia Martin). Big Tree Distillery, Hennerbergs Rd, Newham. 4.30pm-6.30pm. $95.

Music Kyneton Country Revue and Moosejaw Rifle Club: Country music bands. Plus Cool Country Bootscooters dancing. Tylden Hall, 5 Tylden-Woodend Rd, Tylden. 6pm-11pm. Adult $15, Child $5.

Music Kylie and Katy: Acoustic duo. The Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. 6.30pm-10pm.

Music Dancing Queen: Abba tribute show. Plus two-course meal. Cleveland Estate, 55 Shannons Rd, Lancefield. 7pm-11pm. $99.

Music EGGY: Alternative-rock band. Major Tom’s, 57 Piper St, Kyneton. 8.30pm-11pm. $20.

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Sunday, April 27

Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St, Daylesford. 8am-3pm.

Market Trentham Seasonal Market: Trentham Railway Station, Victoria St, Trentham. 9am-1pm.

Community Malmsbury Village Fayre: Live music, children’s activities, food vans and craft stalls. Malmsbury Botanic Gardens, Ellesmere Pl, Malmsbury. 10am-3pm. $2.

Garden Duneira Open Garden: Enjoy the visual splendour of the historic hill-station garden. Duneira, 1 Officer Ln, Mount Macedon. 10am-4pm. Adult $17, Child (under 16) free.

Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4.30pm. $25.

Singing Rainbow Voices Community Choir: LGBTQIA+ and allies choir. For anyone aged 13 and over. Kyneton Community House Good Food Hub, 35 High St, Kyneton. 4pm-6pm.

Exhibitions

Kyneton The Old Auction House: Exhibitions: Cathy Mackay and Larissa Taylor, Cozy Comfort (group). Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.

Kyneton Art on Piper: Exhibitions: Autumn Delight, Tru Dowling and Sharon Greenaway. Every day 10am-4pm.

Kyneton Stockroom: Exhibitions: Hayley Arjona, Laetitia Olivier-Gargano, Matt Butterworth. Thu-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.

Kyneton Cusack & Cusack: Fri-Sun 10am-3pm.

Kyneton Kyneton Museum: Exhibition: Good Sports, Leisure and Recreation in the Macedon Ranges. Fri-Sun. 11am-4pm.

Kyneton Kyneton Ridge Artspace: Exhibition: Andrew Tate. Fri-Sun 11am-5pm.

Kyneton Trio Art Studio & Gallery: Exhibition: Words in Art (group). Sat-Mon 10am-4pm.

Mount Macedon The Gallery: Exhibition: The Gallery Mt Macedon Art Prize. Fri-Tues 10am-4pm.

Newham Hanging Rock Winery: Exhibition: Art in the Vines (sculptures). Every day 10am-5pm.

Riddells Creek Dromkeen: Exhibition: The Wonder of Nature. Tues-Sun 10am-4pm.

Trentham Trentham Easter Art and Craft Show: Hundreds of exhibits. The Mechanics Trentham, 66 High St, Trentham. Mon 10am-1pm. Family $10, Individual $5.

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: Thu-Mon 10am-4pm.

Woodend The Back Shed Gallery: 33 Urquhart St, Woodend. Tues-Sun 10am-5pm.

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.

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Snap it with your phone

HONOUR AVENUE

Professional photographer Tiffany Warner explains how a smoky sky and golden light came together for a striking autumn shot.

📍 Honour Avenue, Macedon

A weather event can enhance a photograph, whether it be a sunrise, a sunset, mist or a storm. Smoke can also work well, as was the case in this image of Honour Avenue.

I took advantage of the sun shining through smoke from nearby fires to capture an atmospheric shot of the trees.

I zoomed in to frame the shot tightly, and I also managed to sneak a bit of the sun into the top right. You can see that it’s cast a wonderful golden glow onto the trees.

💡 Tip: Look out for weather events or smoke. They can transform a photo into something special.

Happy snapping!

Tiffany

(Note: This article was originally published in April 2024.)

📷 In addition to portrait and commercial work, Tiffany Warner runs short courses on smartphone photography for social media. See more of her images on Instagram.

In the news

🏡 MACEDON RANGES: With some of the state’s most Instagrammable locations, the Macedon Ranges once fielded an influx of tree-changers escaping Melbourne’s lockdowns. “The charm of regional living was like a vacuum,” Domain’s chief of research and economics, Nicola Powell, said. Now the median house price has dropped back from its peak of $1m in March 2022 to $870,000 in March 2025. (The Age)

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