Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, January 17, to Sunday, January 23.
🌻 Simon Rickard’s garden in Trentham is filled with plants perfectly suited to our frosty winters and scorching summers. How has he worked with such challenging conditions to produce such a stunning space – and how can we do it too? Join him on Thursday for a virtual tour of his garden, and pick his brain about gardening in a changing climate, in the first of three online masterclasses hosted by Open Gardens Victoria. The first seminar focuses on the early-summer garden, the second (in March) considers the late-summer garden, and the third (in July) covers the winter garden.
Here are the events and activities happening in the Macedon Ranges this week:
Click the links for more info 👇
Thursday, January 20
Drink Pups and Pints: Catch up with friends and bring your dog along too. In an enclosed area where dogs can be off-leash. Woodend. 5pm-8pm.
Gardening Gardening in a Changing Climate (online): Trentham-based garden designer and author Simon Rickard presents the first of three masterclasses. This one looks at the early-summer garden. 7.30pm-9pm. Individual sessions $50, All three sessions $130.
Friday, January 21
Music The Meanies: Punk-rock band with their latest album. Macedon. 7pm. $30.
Nature Hanging Rock Night Walk: Experience Hanging Rock after dark on a ranger-guided walk. See gliders, wallabies, native birds, bats, possums, koalas and many other animals. Hanging Rock Reserve. 7pm-10pm. Family $62, Adult $25, Child $12.
Saturday, January 22
Exercise Campaspe Parkrun: 5km fun run along the Five Mile Creek path. Campaspe Park, Campaspe Dr, Woodend. 8am. Free (registration required).
Market Lancefield Farmers’ Market: High St & Park 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. 9am-1pm.
Local History Book Launch: Join Romsey & Lancefield Districts Historical Society for the launch of its new book, Benloch: A Journey Through Time. Red Door Books, High St, Lancefield. 11am.
🍷 Wine Riesling and Seafood Saturday: Enjoy four aged rieslings and a seafood platter. Summertime Fling event. Gisborne Peak Winery, 69 Short Rd, Gisborne. 11.30am-3pm. $106.07.
Food & Drink Low ‘n’ Slow American Barbecue Pie and Wine Pairing: Four gourmet pies with five wines. Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. 12pm and 2pm. $50.
🍷 Wine Pinot and Penne Puttanesca Special: Summertime Fling event. Kyneton Ridge Estate, 517 Blackhill Rd, Kyneton. 12pm-3pm. $25.
Music Summer Sessions: Music from Louise McGregor at DV Cider House. DV Cider, 39 Darraweit Valley Rd, Darraweit Guim. 12pm-5pm.
Music Tunes and Tastings: Live music from bluegrass duo Dan Watkins and Justin Vilchez. Local wines and gins on paddle boards, plus beers. Newham General Store, Dons Rd. 1pm-4pm.
Beer Brewery Tour: Learn how the beer is brewed at Holgate Brewhouse. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Music Merpire: Music from her debut album. Supported by Feelds. Major Tom’s, 57 Piper St, Kyneton. 8.30pm-11pm. $15.
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Sunday, January 23
Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St. 8am-3pm.
Food & Drink Low ‘n’ Slow American Barbecue Pie and Wine Pairing: Four gourmet pies with five wines. Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. 12pm and 2pm. $50.
🍷 Wine Pinot, Pizza and Petanque: Summertime Fling event. Cleveland Winery, 55 Shannons Rd, Lancefield. 12pm-3pm.
🍷 Wine Gene Leone: Guitar music. Summertime Fling event. Kyneton Ridge Estate, 517 Blackhill Rd, Kyneton. 12pm-3pm. Free.
Music Music and Guitar Masterclass: For beginning to intermediate hobby musicians. Baringo Food & Wine Co., 283 Station Rd, New Gisborne. 12pm-5pm. $125.
Beer Brewery Tour: Learn how the beer is brewed at Holgate Brewhouse. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Exhibitions
Kyneton Creatures of Art: Kylie Cuthbertson pairs the vibrant colours and textures found in nature with her whimsical, energetic style. Until February 14. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Over the Horizon: An exhibition of work by five local artists. Until January 31. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Stockroom Artists: Fri-Sat 10.30am-5pm.
Kyneton A Biodiversity Crisis – Animals and Plants of the Macedon Ranges: Interactive exhibition. Contains taxidermy. Fri-Sun 11am-4pm. Adult $5.10, Concession/student $3.10, Child under 5 free, Family $10.20.
Lancefield Community Art Gallery: Paintings, sculptures and glass jewellery by local artists. 34a High St, Lancefield.
Newham Art in the Vines – AV4: Sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Until April 25. Every day 10am-5pm.
Trentham Little Gallery Members: Artwork by Rose Wilson, Helen Cottle, Kim Haughie, Ri Van Veen, Larissa Gray, Llael McDonald, Frances Harkin, Liz Archer, Ruby Wilson-Peirce, Sam Bloomfield. Thu-Mon 10am-4pm.
School holidays
Kids Movie Matinee – Sing: Animated musical comedy. A hustling theatre impresario tries to save his theatre by holding a singing competition. Gisborne. January 19.
Kids Tie-dyed Socks: Have fun with colour and create a unique and groovy pair of socks just for you. For ages 5-10. Woodend. January 20.
Kids Sharpie Shoes: Create cool and colourful shoes. For ages 10-15. Woodend: January 20. Gisborne: January 22.
Kids The T-Rex Tea Party: Interactive theatre about a cheeky dinosaur. For ages 4-8. Woodend. January 21.
Coming up
Horse Racing Australia Day Races: The Hanging Rock Cup meeting. Hanging Rock Racecourse. January 26.
Theatre Love Song: The Mount Players present a romantic comedy about an oddball and his mysterious new love. Macedon. February 18-March 6.
Festival The Gathering of the Goddesses: For women of all ages and from all walks of life. Art and craft workshops, dance, music, food stalls, markets, street theatre and a children’s festival. Riddells Creek. February 24-27.
Motoring Picnic at Hanging Rock Car Show: Retro cars, trucks and motorbikes, plus miniature train and exhibitors. Hanging Rock Reserve. February 13.
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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Rectory’s roots stretch way back
Then & Now
With thanks to Will Jones and Q1 Choi.
The Old Rectory is believed to be the oldest surviving stone house in Kyneton, having been commissioned by the Church of England in 1850.
It was first occupied in 1851 or 1852, before the construction of St Paul’s Church was completed in 1856. A number of services were conducted at the rectory, including the first registered wedding, on January 10, 1855.
The large walnut tree in the garden is thought to be of similar age to the house.
Whilst the rectory’s architect is unknown, Georgian features, which include a symmetrical facade, sash windows, French doors onto the verandah and a fan light above the front door, combined with a lack of cornices and ceiling roses internally, suggest the plans came from Sydney. A subsequent red-brick extension was the work of architect William Douglas.
The rectory, which stands on the corner of Ebden St and Piper St, was sold by the Church in 1945. A major renovation was undertaken by the current owners under architect supervision in 2016.
The Old Rectory is listed by the National Trust of Victoria, which notes its rarity as a building that pre-dates both the separation of Victoria from the colony of New South Wales in 1851 and the Victorian gold rush.
It is now operating as luxury whole-house short-term accommodation.
✍️ Will Jones
đź“… Booking enquiries can be made via the Old Rectory website or Airbnb.
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