Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, February 12, to Sunday, February 18.
🎶 It’s eight years since Jimmy Barnes and Cold Chisel performed at Hanging Rock. Now his daughter Mahalia Barnes is following in his footsteps. With her band The Soul Mates, Mahalia will be headlining at the Macedon Ranges Music Festival on March 23. Click here for the festival line-up and tickets.
🏡 Islay House, one of the best-known buildings in Woodend, will be opening to the public this Saturday. The historic property has just been renovated and is available to book as short-term accommodation. How did Islay House get its name? Find out in this week’s local history article. Scroll down below the event guide or click here to read the article on the website.
Here are the events and activities happening in the Macedon Ranges this week:
Click the links for more info 👇
Wednesday, February 14
Models Vintage Model Vehicles: David Flintoff will talk about the beautiful wooden models he makes, including a 1930 Ford Roadster, a 1934 Chevy Coupe, vintage fire trucks, and an engine that runs on air. Kyneton Library, Baynton St. 10am-11am. Free.
Author Talk Helen Elliott – Eleven Letters to You: Helen Elliott talks about her intimate account of growing up in Melbourne in the 1950s and ’60s, before feminism. Her memoir is written in the form of 11 letters to neighbours, relatives, friends, teachers and mentors who shaped her early life. Woodend Library, Cnr High St & Forest St. 11am-12pm. Free.
Sport Twilight Orienteering – Kyneton Botanic Gardens: First of three beginner-friendly orienteering events in parks around the Macedon Ranges. Suitable for adults and children, and all fitness levels. Kyneton Botanic Gardens (Clowes St entrance). 6pm-8pm. $5 per participant (parents shadowing children free).
Singing Woodend Warblers: Community choir. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 7.30pm. $12.
Thursday, February 15
Nature Bird Walk for Beginners – Jacksons Creek: Join biodiversity projects officer Tanya Loos to learn about the birds found along Jacksons Creek. Gisborne Administration Centre, 40 Roberston St, Gisborne. 9am-10am. Free.
Food & Books Lunch with Jelena Dokic: Former tennis star Jelena Dokic will discuss her career, the challenges she faced along the way, and how she reclaimed her life when all else felt lost. The Oaks Grill on Piper, Piper St, Kyneton. 12.30pm-3pm. $120.
Quiz Trivia Night: General knowledge quiz. Gisborne Golf Club, Daly St. 7pm. Free.
Music Tylden Valentines Prom: Rock ’n’ roll dance event. The Bad Cats, fronted by Tylden local Jeff Tynan, will be performing. Bar and food truck. Tylden Hall, Tylden-Woodend Rd. 7pm-11pm. Adult $10, Age 5-18 $5, Under-5 free.
Friday, February 16
Music The Simba Sessions: Music, storytelling and poetry. Featuring Daisy Kilbourne, Lane Milburn and Benjamin Trillado. Kyneton Uniting Church, Ebden St. 7pm-11pm. $20.
Music Polly & The Pockets: Alt-rock music. With The Piggietails. Major Tom’s, 57 Piper St, Kyneton. 8.30pm-11pm. $15.
Saturday, February 17
Exercise Parkruns: 5km fun runs/walks in Gisborne (Dixon Field), Lancefield (Lancefield Park) and Woodend (Campaspe Dr). All abilities welcome. 8am. Free.
Market Riddells Creek Farmers’ and Makers’ Markets: Memorial Dr, Riddells Creek. 9am-1pm.
Market Trentham Farmers’ Market: Town Square, High St, Trentham. 9am-1pm.
Market Glenlyon Village Market: Shire Hall, Barkly St, Glenlyon. 9am-1pm.
Gardening Tuberous Begonia and Fuchsia Show: Hundreds of nursery-grown tuberous begonias. White House Nursery, 691 Ashbourne Rd, Ashbourne. 10am-4pm.
Garden Open Garden at Stone Hill: Designed by Michael McCoy, the stunning perennial and gravel gardens at Stone Hill have attracted attention worldwide. Stone Hill, 97 Boundary Rd, Woodend North. 10am-4pm. Adult $15, Child free.
Wine Sparkling Wine Workshop: Learn about sparkling wine in this hands-on workshop with winemaker Brian Martin. Hunter-Gatherer Winery, 362 Pipers Creek-Pastoria Rd, Pipers Creek. 11am-12.30pm. $80.
Open House Islay House: Take a look around one of Woodend’s best-known buildings. Islay House, 123 High St, Woodend. 11am-1pm. Free.
Music & Drink Songs and Cider: Live music with Liam Morton. DV Cider, 39 Darraweit Valley Rd, Darraweit Guim. 12pm-9pm (music 2pm-6pm).
Craft A Curious Circle – Vision Boards: Create things in a friendly and inclusive setting. Romsey Library, Main St. 1pm-4pm. Free.
Community Riddell Pink Stumps High Tea: High tea plus door prizes and music. Fundraiser for the McGrath Foundation. Riddell Cricket Club rooms, Riddells Creek Recreation Reserve, Sutherlands Rd, Riddells Creek. 2pm-4pm. $45.
Nature Campout at Hanging Rock: Spend a night under the stars at Hanging Rock. Join a ranger-guided sunset tour to the summit. Watch a movie in the open air. Explore the reserve after dark. Hanging Rock Reserve, South Rock Rd, Woodend. From 4pm. $70 per site (up to six people).
Music An Electric Night of Live Music: Featuring local acts Strange Trails, Marlee Grace, and Elevated Planes. The Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. 7pm-11.45pm. $20.
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Sunday, February 18
Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St. 8am-3pm.
Market Malmsbury Farmers’ and Artists’ Market: Mollison St, Malmsbury. 9am-1pm.
Market Woodend Lions Sunday Market: Cnr High St & Forest St, Woodend. 9am-2pm.
Gardening Tuberous Begonia and Fuchsia Show: Hundreds of nursery-grown tuberous begonias. White House Nursery, 691 Ashbourne Rd, Ashbourne. 10am-4pm.
Community Old Trentham Police Complex Open Day: Look around the historic buildings and cells which served as Trentham’s police station from 1866-1984. Guided tour, talks, games and giveaways, and free sausage sizzle. 3-5 Camp St, Trentham. 11am-1pm.
Food & Drink A Taste of Spain with El Pintxo: Traverse the regions of Spain over five courses prepared by Iker Garcia and Shirin Harvison from El Pintxo Melbourne. Lyons Will Estate, 60 Whalans Track, Lancefield. 12.30pm-4pm. $75.
Recycling Women’s Clothing Swap: Bring along up to eight garments to swap, including shoes and accessories. Raffle and afternoon tea. Trentham Neighbourhood Centre, 56 High St, Trentham. 1pm-3pm.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Beekeeping Woodend Bee-Friendly Society: Monthly meeting. Woodend Neighbourhood House, Forest St, Woodend. 3pm-4.30pm.
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.
Ghost Hunt Victoria Hotel Paranormal Investigation: Is it Isabella who turns the bar lights on and off and follows the staff around, or other spirits we don’t yet know of? It’s time to find out. Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. 7pm-9pm. $65.
Exhibitions
Gisborne The Ranges in Focus: Images of the Macedon Ranges by members of Macedon Ranges Photographic Society. Gisborne Village Shopping Centre, Brantome St, Gisborne.
Kyneton The Old Auction House: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Art on Piper: Exhibition: Scott Maltese (photographic artist). Every day 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Stockroom: Exhibitions: Greg Wood, Yuria Okamura, Laura Veleff. Wed by appt, Thu-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.
Kyneton Cusack & Cusack: Fri-Sun 10am-3pm.
Kyneton Stitch in Time: Historical folk art and craft materials. Fri-Sun 11am-4pm.
Kyneton Kyneton Ridge Artspace: Exhibition: Jaime Emily Powell. Sat & Sun 11am-5pm.
Mount Macedon The Gallery: Exhibition: Tatiana Korinfsky. 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
Entertainment Circus Latino: Be amazed by daring aerial acts and tricks with fire and hoops, and laugh at the clown’s antics. Performers from South America and Australia. Gisborne Steam Park, 10 Webb Cr, New Gisborne. $20-$50. February 23-25, March 1-3, 8-11, 15-17.
Theatre Wild: Dark comedy loosely based on the story of Edward Snowden, who leaked highly classified information when he was an employee of the US National Security Agency. Mountview Theatre, Smith St, Macedon. February 23-25, March 1-3, 8-10.
Crime Talk Hunting Killers – Charlie Bezzina: Having spent a large part of his 37-year police career as a detective in the homicide squad, Charlie Bezzina is no stranger to murder. He will discuss the twists and turns from eight chilling investigations. The evening includes a pasta meal and a glass of wine. Roomba’s at Mt Aitken, 3 Cadana Rd, Gisborne South. 7pm-10pm. $98.50. March 2.
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.
🛍️ Town garage sales are coming soon to Woodend, Trentham, Kyneton and Lancefield. Click here for dates and details.
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Raising a glass to the motherland
PAST TIMES
With thanks to Woodend & District Heritage Society. The society meets on Wednesdays, 10am-4pm, at the old courthouse in Forest St, Woodend.
Islay House is a familiar sight on the main road through Woodend. But how did it get its name? And what’s the correct way to pronounce it?
The grand double-storey building stands just over the bridge on the northern side of Five Mile Creek. It was a hotel for six of its early years, operating finally as Patterson’s Hotel from 1876 to 1877.
Across the road at this time was a general store run by John Gilchrist.
Gilchrist and his wife Christina had a large family (eight of their 10 children survived to adulthood) and it’s believed they were living in a small house next to Patterson’s Hotel.
To solve their need for more space, the Gilchrists bought the hotel from Thomas Patterson in 1878 and moved in.
They called their new home Islay (pronounced “eye-luh”) after the Scottish island where John Gilchrist was born.
✍️ Richard Padgett
📷 Tiffany Warner
Take a look around Islay House
Islay House (123 High St, Woodend) will be open this Saturday from 11am to 1pm.
More photos on the web version of this article.
In the news
👮 MALMSBURY: Two teenagers from Bendigo have been charged in connection with the fire on January 31 at Malmsbury Railway Station.
🏡 MALMSBURY: Landscape designer Deborah Hambleton is selling her circa-1860s bluestone cottage Melrose. The Mediterranean-inspired garden, which Hambleton created from a horse paddock, was opened to the public for the final time in November.
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