Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, January 20, to Sunday, January 26.
🌌 Fancy spending a night under the stars at Hanging Rock? This year’s camp-out will take place on February 22. In addition to camping overnight, you’ll be able to go on a ranger-guided sunset tour to the summit and enjoy an open-air family-friendly film. Click here for details of the camp-out.
🌱 Seeds or seedlings? Duncan Cocking firmly believes in growing as much as he can from seed. So why has he bought basil seedlings? Discover the answer, and his advice for you, in this month’s gardening article. Find it below the event guide.
Here are the events and activities happening in the Macedon Ranges this week:
Click the links for more info 👇
Monday, January 20
Film Despicable Me 4: Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina, forcing Gru and his family to go on the run. Gisborne Library, Hamilton St, Gisborne. 11am-12.30pm. Free.
Swimming Inflatable Fun: Children can play on the pool inflatable. Kyneton Toyota Sports & Aquatic Centre, Victoria St, Kyneton. 1pm-3pm.
Ghost Hunt Lancefield Mechanics Institute Paranormal Investigation: Who is the stage spirit who likes to hear singing? And what’s special about the number four? Lancefield Mechanics Institute, The Crescent, Lancefield. 8pm-10pm. $35.
Tuesday, January 21
Nature Immersive Forest Walk: Join Parks Victoria volunteers for a meditative walk through a tranquil corner of Macedon Regional Park. Take part in sensory and mindfulness activities designed to calm the mind and connect you to nature. McGregor’s Picnic Ground, Cameron Dr, Mount Macedon. 10am-11am. Free.
Animals Take a Walk on the Wild Side with Chris Humfrey: Australian wildlife workshop with TV zoologist Chris Humfrey. Get to see koalas, echidnas, reptiles, owls, critically endangered mountain pygmy possums, and more. Two sessions. Jubilee Hall, Smith St, Macedon. 10am-11.30am, 1pm-2.30pm. $30.
Water fun Woodend Pool Party: With DJ and sausage sizzle. Woodend Swimming Pool, Margery Cr, Woodend. 12pm-3pm.
Swimming Inflatable Fun: Children can play on the pool inflatable. Gisborne Aquatic Centre, Aitken St, Gisborne. 1pm-3pm.
Wednesday, January 22
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.
Animals Take a Walk on the Wild Side with Chris Humfrey: Australian wildlife workshop with TV zoologist Chris Humfrey. Get to see koalas, echidnas, reptiles, owls, critically endangered mountain pygmy possums, and more. Two sessions. Jubilee Hall, Smith St, Macedon. 10am-11.30am, 1pm-2.30pm. $30.
Film The Wild Robot: After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive, Roz bonds with the island’s animals. Romsey Library, Main St, Romsey. 10.30am-12.15pm. Free.
Water fun Lancefield Pool Party: With DJ and sausage sizzle. Lancefield Memorial Swimming Pool, Chauncey St, Lancefield. 12pm-3pm.
Swimming Inflatable Fun: Children can play on the pool inflatable. Kyneton Toyota Sports & Aquatic Centre, Victoria St, Kyneton. 1pm-3pm.
Quiz Trivia Night: General knowledge quiz. The Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. 7pm. Free.
Thursday, January 23
Animals Junior Zookeeper Workshop with Chris Humfrey: Spend a day at TV zoologist Chris Humfrey’s private zoo. Learn from Chris and get up close with more than 2,000 animals. For ages 5-17. Wild Action Zoo, 48 Middle Gully Rd, Macedon. 10am-4pm. $360.
Swimming Inflatable Fun: Children can play on the pool inflatable. Gisborne Aquatic Centre, Aitken St, Gisborne. 1pm-3pm.
Friday, January 24
Swimming Inflatable Fun: Children can play on the pool inflatable. Kyneton Toyota Sports & Aquatic Centre, Victoria St, Kyneton. 1pm-3pm.
Food & Drink Aperitivo Fridays: Enjoy drinks on the deck and a selection of snacks. Summertime Fling event. Lyons Will Estate, 60 Whalans Track, Lancefield. 4pm-6pm.
Dancing Old Time Dancing: Dancing to a live band. Lancefield Mechanics Institute, Cnr High St & The Crescent, Lancefield. 8pm-11.30pm. $8.
Saturday, January 25
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.
Food & Music Wombat Forest Locals Day: Wine, food, lawn games and live music with Jared Brentnall. Wombat Forest Vineyard, 189 Springhill Rd, Denver. 11am-5pm.
Food & Drink Mount Monument Barrel Room Tasting: Hear about estate-grown cool-climate wines in the underground barrel room. Enjoy wine tasting plus cheeses from Long Paddock Cheese. Mount Monument, 1399 Romsey Rd, Romsey. 12pm-2pm. $30.
Food & Drink Museum Riesling and Oysters: Enjoy freshly shucked oysters paired with a selection of museum rieslings. Summertime Fling event. Hesket Estate, 856 Romsey Rd, Hesket. 12pm-2pm.
Food & Drink Pèt-Nat Picnic: Enjoy a picnic at the winery. Bring your own food or pre-order from Daylesford Gourmet. Summertime Fling event. Zig Zag Rd Winery, 201 Zig Zag Rd, Drummond North. 12pm-4pm. $15.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4.30pm. $25.
Music Juliarna’s Jazz: Juliarna Clark (vocals) with James Clark (double bass) and guests Craig Fermanis and Gianni Marinucci. Newham Mechanics Institute, Rochford Rd, Newham. 3pm-5pm. $36.
Music Thunderchief and The Ivy Walkers: Blues rock and hard rock music. Mount Macedon Hotel, 694 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. 7pm.
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Sunday, January 26
Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St, Daylesford. 8am-3pm.
Community Australia Day Breakfast: Live music with Dolla Pots. Bolinda Hall, 5 Mullalys Rd, Bolinda. 8.30am-12pm. Free.
Community Australia Day Family Fun Day: Face painting, lawn games, live music, sausage sizzle and more. Free drink/sausage/snack. John Aitken Reserve, Aitken St, Gisborne. 9am-11am. Free.
Market Flea Market: Treasures to be found. Malmsbury Town Hall, Mollison St, Malmsbury. 9am-2pm. Entry gold coin donation.
Community Survival Day Morning Reflection: Truth telling, acknowledging and learning about our nation’s history. Macedon & Mount Macedon Community House, 47 Victoria St, Macedon. 9.30am.
Horse Racing Hanging Rock Races: The Hanging Rock Cup meeting. Hanging Rock Racecourse, South Rock Rd, Newham. Gates open 11am. Adult $25.
Wine & Food Family Fun Day Sundays: Enjoy Wombat Forest wines, plus products from Bunjil Farm, Goldfields Farmhouse Cheese, Istra Smallgoods and more. Live music with Jared Brentnall. Summertime Fling event. 189 Springhill Rd, Denver. 11am-5pm.
Community Australia Day Party: Live music with Jukebox Heroes, plus crayfish racing, sheep shearing, and special guest Sam Kekovich. Telegraph Hotel, Hamilton St, Gisborne. From 12pm.
Food & Music Sunday Music Sessions: Enjoy food and wine, plus music with Gene Leone. Summertime Fling event. Kyneton Ridge Estate, 517 Blackhill Rd, Kyneton.
Food & Drink Museum Riesling and Oysters: Enjoy freshly shucked oysters paired with a selection of museum rieslings. Summertime Fling event. Hesket Estate, 856 Romsey Rd, Hesket. 12pm-2pm.
Community Celebrate Australia: Family event to celebrate the local community. Free lunch. by BBQ 23 and Woodside food vans. Plus live music. Woodend RSL Club, 32 Anslow St, Woodend. 12pm-5pm. Free.
Community Tylden Hall 85th Anniversary Celebration: Live music with Jeff Tynan, children’s activities, barbecue and pizza.. Tylden Hall, 5 Tylden-Woodend Rd, Tylden. 12pm-9pm.
Music Son of a Gun: Acoustic duo will perform in the beer garden. Riddells Creek Hotel, Hamilton St, Riddells Creek. 2.30pm-5.30pm. Free.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4.30pm. $25.
Exhibitions
Kyneton The Old Auction House: Exhibitions: Views of Elsewhere (group), Festivalis (group). Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Art on Piper: Exhibitions: Summer Vibes, Donna Crebin. Every day 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Stockroom: Exhibitions: Anthea Kemp, Madeleine Minack, Steph Wallace. Thu-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.
Kyneton Cusack & Cusack: Fri-Sun 10am-3pm.
Kyneton Kyneton Museum: Exhibition: Nurses, Medicine and Caring. Fri-Sun. 11am-4pm.
Kyneton Kyneton Ridge Artspace: Exhibition: Callan Skimin. Fri-Sun 11am-5pm.
Mount Macedon The Gallery: Fri-Tues 10am-4pm.
Newham Hanging Rock Winery: Exhibition: Art in the Vines (sculptures). 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.
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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Why I bought basil seedlings
GARDENING
Horticulturalist Duncan Cocking, who runs Kyneton-based Leaf, Root & Fruit, explains why it sometimes helps to take a shortcut.

I’m a staunch believer in growing as much as you can from seed. For one thing, it’s better value. A packet of seed costs around the same as a punnet of seedlings, but you get hundreds of seeds versus six or eight seedlings. You can usually sow several crops from the one seed packet.
This summer, however, rampant slaters mowed down every single one of my basil seedlings. This left me with three options:
- Forget about basil pesto this year (which is not really an option)
- Try to raise some more seedlings (basil is initially slow to take off and our growing season is very short – this option was too risky)
- Head into town and buy some seedlings to transplant (which is what I did).
Sometimes you just need to admit defeat and resort to less-than-ideal methods.
I’d much rather buy seedlings to transplant and have my own home-made basil pesto than leave the basil patch fallow this year and have to resort to store-bought pesto for all of 2025. There’s nothing wrong with buying seedlings to transplant, if that is the difference between growing some of your own food and not growing food. Do whatever suits you.
No need to get bogged down with ideals and details. If the idea of growing from seed is too daunting, then don’t overthink it. Stick with store-bought seedlings until you gain more confidence.
Find out more about this relaxed approach to gardening.
Happy gardening!
Duncan

🌱 For more gardening tips see my latest planting guide and garden update.
In the news
🍺 LYONVILLE: A one-of-a-kind pub with legions of fans will be closing this month, with little clue as to what’s caused the sudden announcement. Radio Springs Hotel in Lyonville shared the news on social media on Wednesday night.
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