Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for the week of Monday, July 5, to Sunday, July 11.
This week, after so much disruption from the lockdown and the storm, two local favourites are once again available for us to enjoy.
On Saturday, the first of the two main weekends of Woodend Winter Arts Festival gets under way. It features six events due to have been held on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. The remainder of this year’s festival program – including the art and pottery exhibitions – will be held in four weeks, on August 7-8.
And Hanging Rock is open. Although the summit walking trail and the creek walking trail remain off-limits while the post-storm clean-up continues, the main recreation areas, the base walking track and the dam are accessible again, and you can enjoy coffee and cake in the warmth of the cafe.
While it may not be picnic weather right now, the Rock is the subject of this week’s local history article down below.
It’s the final week of the school holidays. If you missed last Sunday’s special edition with a round-up of kids’ activities, you can find it here:
Click here for details of school holiday activities.
Without further ado, here are the events and activities happening this week in the Macedon Ranges:
Monday, July 5
[Exhibition] Art in the Vines – the Renaissance: A sculpture exhibition featuring work by 25 acclaimed artists. Hanging Rock Winery, Jim Rd, Newham. Daily until October 15. 10am-5pm. Free.
Tuesday, July 6
[Exhibition] Art in the Vines – the Renaissance: A sculpture exhibition featuring work by 25 acclaimed artists. Hanging Rock Winery, Jim Rd, Newham. Daily until October 15. 10am-5pm. Free.
[Quiz] Team Trivia Challenge: Topical and fun questions plus some games. Telegraph Hotel, Hamilton St, Gisborne. 6.30pm-9pm. Free.
Wednesday, July 7
[Craft] Social Craft Group: Are you working on a craft project alone? Enjoy the company of like-minded people while you’re being creative. Woodend Neighbourhood House, Forest St, Woodend. Every Wednesday. 10am-11am. Gold coin donation.
[Exhibition] Art in the Vines – the Renaissance: A sculpture exhibition featuring work by 25 acclaimed artists. Hanging Rock Winery, Jim Rd, Newham. Daily until October 15. 10am-5pm. Free.
Thursday, July 8
[Exhibition] Art in the Vines – the Renaissance: A sculpture exhibition featuring work by 25 acclaimed artists. Hanging Rock Winery, Jim Rd, Newham. Daily until October 15. 10am-5pm. Free.
[Exhibition] Every Artist Ever: Celebrating Stockroom’s 10th anniversary. Features more than 150 Stockroom artists. Stockroom, 98 Piper St, Kyneton. Until August 8. 10.30am-4pm.
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Friday, July 9
[Gardening] Seed Packet Folding: Fold and pack seeds, and talk all things gardening. Woodend Libary, Cnr High St & Forest St, Woodend. 10am. Free.
[Exhibition] Art in the Vines – the Renaissance: A sculpture exhibition featuring work by 25 acclaimed artists. Hanging Rock Winery, Jim Rd, Newham. Daily until October 15. 10am-5pm. Free.
[Exhibition] Every Artist Ever: Celebrating Stockroom’s 10th anniversary. Features more than 150 Stockroom artists. Stockroom, 98 Piper St, Kyneton. Until August 8. 10.30am-4pm.
Saturday, July 10
[Exercise] Campaspe Parkrun: 5km fun run along the Five Mile Creek path. Every Saturday. Campaspe Park, Campaspe Drive, Woodend. 8am. Free (registration required).
* [Exercise] Lancefield Parkrun: 5km fun run around Lancefield Park. Every Saturday. Lancefield Park, Chauncey St, Lancefield. 8am. Free (registration required). * Awaiting clearance to use the track again. Follow the link for updates.
[Market] Kyneton Farmers’ & Makers’ Market: St Paul’s Park, Piper St, Kyneton. 8am-1pm.
[Market] Kyneton Community Market: Bric-a-brac, art, clothes, plants, food and local produce. Ebden St & Yaldwyn St West, Kyneton. 8am-1pm.
[Winter Arts Festival] Barry Jones: Inaugural Sheila Drummond Memorial Lecture. St Ambrose Hall, Templeton St, Woodend. 10am-11am. $20.
[Gardening] Seasonality and Timing – Environmental Gardening Influences: Timing is critical to successful gardening. This workshop provides you with the knowledge to plan your planting, watering, pruning and pest control. Leaf, Root & Fruit, 21 Dettmanns Lane, Kyneton. 10am-3pm. $100.
[Exhibition] Art in the Vines – the Renaissance: A sculpture exhibition featuring work by 25 acclaimed artists. Hanging Rock Winery, Jim Rd, Newham. Daily until October 15. 10am-5pm. Free.
[Exhibition] Every Artist Ever: Celebrating Stockroom’s 10th anniversary. Features more than 150 Stockroom artists. Stockroom, 98 Piper St, Kyneton. Until August 8. 10.30am-4pm.
[Winter Arts Festival] Ensemble 642 – À modo italiano: St Ambrose Church, Templeton St, Woodend. 11.30pm-12.30pm. Adult $45, Concession $40, Child $25.
[Food & Drink] Truffle and Wine Pairing: Four gourment truffle meal tasters and four wines. Double Oaks Estate, Ashworths Road, Lancefield. Saturday and Sunday, 12pm-5pm. $65.
[Art] Art to Wear Parade: All clothes, jewellery and accessories made by local artists. Presented by The Gallery Mt Macedon. Afternoon tea. Jubilee Hall, Smith St, Macedon. 1pm-3pm. $25.
[Winter Arts Festival] Backstage with Max: Jacqueline Ogeil in conversation with actor and comic Max Gillies, best known for impersonating Australia’s political leaders and public figures over three decades. St Ambrose Hall, Templeton St, Woodend. 1.30pm-2.30pm. $30.
[Winter Arts Festival] Ensemble Gombert – Anniversaries: Festival favourites Ensemble Gombert will perform an a cappella concert of Anniversaries, including music by Josquin des Prez, Michael Praetorius, Stravinsky and Vaughan Williams. St Ambrose Church, Templeton St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. Also Sunday. Adult $45, Concession $40, Child $25.
[Beer] Brewery Tour: Learn how the beer is brewed at Holgate Brewhouse. Every Saturday and Sunday. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
[Music] Dunc and Dave: Performing in the front bar. Macedon Railway Hotel, Smith St, Macedon. 8pm-10pm.
[Music] Backlash: Three hours of ’70s pub rock. Gisborne Golf Club, Daly St, Gisborne. 8pm-11.30pm. $20.
[Music] Kino Motel & Our Carlson: Kino Motel is the new “grit pop” project from Ed Fraser and Rosa Mercedes. With Blackwood’s Our Carlson. Major Tom’s, 57 Piper St, Kyneton. 8.30pm-11pm. $15.
Sunday, July 11
[Horses] Eales Racing Open Day: All 2021 yearlings on display. Trainers include Mark Kavanagh and Jason Warren. Kids’ activities: pony rides, face-painting, balloon art. Widden Stud, 56 Mount Eliza Rd, Riddells Creek. 10am-12pm.
[Exhibition] Art in the Vines – the Renaissance: A sculpture exhibition featuring work by 25 acclaimed artists. Hanging Rock Winery, 88 Jim Rd, Newham. Daily until October 15. 10am-5pm. Free.
[Exhibition] Every Artist Ever: Celebrating Stockroom’s 10th anniversary. Features more than 150 Stockroom artists. Stockroom, 98 Piper St, Kyneton. Until August 8. 11am-4pm.
[Music] The Four Aces: Shaun Evans, Tom Martin, Dan Marsh and Rohan Sherlock perform songs from the ’60s. Wood-fired pizzas, and local wine and beer. Hedge Farm, 124 Three Chain Rd, Carlsruhe. 12pm-6pm. $18.
[Food] Pizza and Pooches: Every dog has his day and at Cleveland Winery that day is Sunday. Cleveland Winery, Shannons Rd, Lancefield. 12pm-3pm.
[Food & Drink] Truffle and Wine Pairing: Four gourment truffle meal tasters and four wines. Double Oaks Estate, Ashworths Road, Lancefield. Saturday and Sunday, 12pm-5pm. $65.
[Beer] Brewery Tour: Learn how the beer is brewed at Holgate Brewhouse. Every Saturday and Sunday. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
[Winter Arts Festival] Rameau: Pièces de Clavecin: Accademia Arcadia (Jacqueline Ogeil, Natalia Harvey and Laura Vaughan) perform Jean-Philippe Rameau’s works for harpsichord, violin and viola da gamba. St Ambrose Church, Templeton St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. Adult $45, Concession $40, Child $25.
[Winter Arts Festival] Ensemble Gombert – Anniversaries: Festival favourites Ensemble Gombert will perform an a cappella concert of Anniversaries, including music by Josquin des Prez, Michael Praetorius, Stravinsky and Vaughan Williams. St Ambrose Church, Templeton St, Woodend. 5.30pm-6.30pm. Also Saturday. Adult $45, Concession $40, Child $25.
Coming up
[Open Garden] Tugurium: A winter chance to see the garden of former ABC Gardening Australia presenter Stephen Ryan. 8-10 Centenary Ave, Macedon. July 24-25.
[Paranormal] Psychic Medium “Crossing Over” Lunch: Join host Dolly, from Kyneton Paranormal, and psychic medium Bec for a group show and Q&A. Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. July 25.
[Music] Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: Performed by the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. Kyneton Town Hall, Mollison St, Kyneton. Friday, July 30.
[Music] Kate Ceberano: ARIA-award-winning singer with one of the great voices of her generation. Macedon Railway Hotel, Smith St, Macedon. August 1 (sold out).
[Theatre] Blithe Spirit: Noel Coward’s comic play about a séance that backfires. Performed by the Cathouse Players. Kyneton Masonic Centre, 7 Yaldywn St West, Kyneton. August 13-22.
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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Flock to the Rock
PAST TIMES
With thanks to Woodend & District Heritage Society. The society meets every Wednesday, 10am-4pm, at the Old Courthouse in Forest St, Woodend.

Until European settlement, Hanging Rock was hidden in the landscape by trees and undergrowth. The Rock was situated on the run that Edward Dryden leased from the government for £10 a year from 1839 until the land was surveyed in the 1850s. He named it Newham Station after his home in England and locals referred to it as Dryden’s Rock.
From the time of settlement, people from the surrounding district enjoyed this wonder. They picnicked in the grounds and on the Rock, they rode their horses to the summit, climbed all over it, held sports meetings and gave unusual rock formations special names.
A gap between the rocks on the southwest was named McDonald’s Lookout after a bushranger of that name, and an opening in a rock on the west side was known as Morgan’s Lookout after a feared outlaw. There is nothing to prove that these notorious men ever climbed Hanging Rock but, of course, there is nothing to prove that they didn’t.
- From Sylvia Boxshall’s book Beyond the Black Forest, which describes the early settlement of Woodend and the surrounding district. Published 2017, Woodend & District Heritage Society. $27.50.

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