Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for the week of Monday, June 21, to Sunday, June 27.
The year’s shortest day is upon us. After Monday, we’ll gradually be getting more daylight hours, so it seems an opportune time to look forward. We’re lucky that even in winter we have lots of things locally to enjoy. Some of the highlights of the next six weeks include the revised Woodend Winter Arts Festival (July 10-11), Stephen Ryan’s open garden in Macedon (July 24-25), and Kate Ceberano performing at the Macedon Railway Hotel (August 1).
As well as looking forward, it’s interesting to look back. I’m indebted to the local history groups for their contributions every week. Today it’s the turn of the Romsey & Lancefield Districts Historical Society, which has shared a fascinating story about a long-lost railway. You’ll find it down below this week’s events.
Monday and Wednesday: No events.
Tuesday, June 22
[Community] Riddells Creek Community Group Expo: Includes Lions Club, HMS Collective, RC Netball Club, Christmas in Riddells Creek, Greening of Riddell. Presentations: Waste education, recycling, Landcare, Macedon Ranges Seed Savers. Sausage sizzle and jumping castle. Riddells Creek Neighbourhood House, 59 Main Rd, Riddells Creek. 12.30pm-8pm.
Thursday, June 24
[Health] Let’s Talk Winter Weight-Gain: Information session. Learn how to curb those winter cravings. Telegraph Hotel, Hamilton St, Gisborne. 6.30pm-8.30pm. Free.
[History] Museum Undone: The rooms of Kyneton Museum will be turned into vibrant performance spaces. Kyneton Museum, 67 Piper St, Kyneton. 7pm-8.30pm (sold out).
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Friday, June 25
[Entertainment] Youth Night: A safe space for teenagers to hang out. Music, games, Xbox, free Wi-Fi and snacks. Riddells Creek Neighbourhood House, 59 Main Rd, Riddells Creek. Every Friday. 5.30pm-8pm. $2.
[History] Museum Undone: The rooms of Kyneton Museum will be turned into vibrant performance spaces. Kyneton Museum, 67 Piper St, Kyneton. 7pm-8.30pm (sold out).
[Film] Border Politics: Leading human rights barrister Julian Burnside deconstructs asylum seeker policies from around the world. Presented by Macedon Ranges Rural Australians for Refugees. Norma Richardson Hall, 15 Buckland St, Woodend. 7pm-10pm (sold out).
Saturday, June 26
[Market] Lancefield Farmers’ Market: High St & Park St, Lancefield. 9am-1pm.
[Workshop] Soap-making and Natural Cosmetics: Learn how to produce and enjoy the benefits of soap and skincare products free from harsh chemicals. Malmsbury Town Hall, Mollison St, Malmsbury. 9.30am-1.30pm. $60. (For residents of Malmsbury and surrounding villages.)
[Food & Drink] American Barbecue Pie and Wine Tasting: Try four gourmet pies and four wines. Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. Saturday and Sunday. From 12pm. $38.
[Beer] Brewery Tour: Learn how the beer is brewed at Holgate Brewhouse. Every Saturday and Sunday. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
[History] Museum Undone: The rooms of Kyneton Museum will be turned into vibrant performance spaces. Kyneton Museum, 67 Piper St, Kyneton. 3pm-4.30pm (tickets available) and 7pm-8.30pm (sold out). Full $25, Senior/Concession $15, Reduced access $12, Child $10.
[Equestrian] Woodend Pony Club 50th Anniversary Celebration: Members past and present, friends and supporters will be marking the pony club’s milestone. Woodend Racecourse Reserve, Forest St, Woodend. 3pm-7pm.
[Music] Ron S Peno & The Superstitions: The Died Pretty singer performs songs from his band’s new album plus old favourites. Macedon Railway Hotel, Smith St, Macedon. 7pm. $37.
[Music] The Luke Sinclair Set: The Raised By Eagles frontman brings his new outfit to Kyneton. Major Tom’s, 57 Piper St, Kyneton. 8.30pm-11pm. $15.
Sunday, June 27
[Food & Drink] American Barbecue Pie and Wine Tasting: Try four gourmet pies and four wines. Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. Saturday and Sunday. From 12pm. $38.
[Crafts] Winter Crafternoons: Bring along a current project or something that needs mending. Knitters, sewers, crocheters, weavers and creators of all kinds. Malmsbury Town Hall, Mollison St, Malmsbury. 1pm-4pm. $8.
[History] Museum Undone: The rooms of Kyneton Museum will be turned into vibrant performance spaces. Kyneton Museum, 67 Piper St, Kyneton. 2pm-3.30pm and 5pm-6.30pm (both sessions sold out).
[Music] Ross Wilson & The Peaceniks: Aussie rock legend performs hits from his 50-year career. Macedon Railway Hotel, Smith St, Macedon. 2.30pm. $57.
[Beer] Brewery Tour: Learn how the beer is brewed at Holgate Brewhouse. Every Saturday and Sunday. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Coming up
[Arts] Woodend Winter Arts Festival: Includes events originally scheduled for the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. Venues across Woodend. July 10-11, August 7-8.
[Dance] A Taste of Ireland: Starring dancers from the West End’s Lord of the Dance, Riverdance, and Gaelforce Dance alongside Irish Dancing world champions. Kyneton Town Hall, Mollison St, Kyneton. July 23.
[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.
[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.
Warm wishes,
Richard
P.S. I’ve tried my best to ensure accuracy, but please follow the links above to confirm details before attending events.
End of the line
PAST TIMES
With thanks to Romsey & Lancefield Districts Historical Society. The society meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10am-2pm, at Lancefield Courthouse, in Main Rd, Lancefield.
In the photo above, from June 23, 1956, a Victorian Railways train calls at Monegeetta on its journey along the Clarkefield-Lancefield line. The scene of a passenger checking his watch and people striding along the platform suggests nothing out of the ordinary. However, this was the final time a passenger service would run along those tracks.
The line closed for good almost two months later, its demise sealed by the increasing popularity of the motor car and the cost to repair the Bolinda trestle bridge.
The Clarkefield-Lancefield railway operated for 75 years. In addition to Monegeetta, the stations along the route included Bolinda, North Monegeetta and Romsey. In 1892, 11 years after it opened, the track was extended 30km to Kilmore, linking the Bendigo and Heathcote lines. But the Lancefield-Kilmore section, built at great expense over steep terrain, proved to be a white elephant. Suffering from a lack of passengers and freight, it closed five years later (though it did briefly reopen from 1900-1903).
Of the former stations on the Clarkefield-Lancefield line, only Lancefield remains in its original location. The station at Monegeetta was moved to a farm near Romsey, where it serves as an outbuilding.
Kylie McKay, co-author of A Pictorial Guide to the Long Lost Lancefield and Kilmore Railway
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