Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, March 18, to Sunday, March 24.
🚶‍♀️ Did you know that all the stone used to build Malmsbury Viaduct was quarried less than a mile away? In April, join Malmsbury Historical Society for a series of history walking tours to learn about Malmsbury bluestone and why it has recently been internationally recognised for its cultural significance. The tours are: Malmsbury cemetery (April 6), Malmsbury’s bluestone industrial heritage (April 13) and Malmsbury’s remnant bluestone heritage (April 20).
🎨 Eleven artists in Macedon and Mount Macedon will be opening their studios this weekend. You can see their work, discover how they create it, and be inspired. Click here to meet the artists.
🪨 In today’s local history article, find out about Malmsbury’s bluestone sawing factory. Do you know where the factory was located? (Hint: It was initially powered by water.) See the article below the event guide.
Here are the events and activities happening in the Macedon Ranges this week:
Click the links for more info 👇
Tuesday, March 19
Craft A Curious Circle – Book Spine Bookmarks: Create things in a friendly and inclusive setting. Romsey Library, Main St. 5pm-7pm. Free.
Wednesday, March 20
Singing Woodend Warblers: Community choir. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 7.30pm. $12.
Thursday, March 21
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 Japanese Home-Style Cooking: Learn to cook seasonal, healthy and delicious Japanese home-style food. Malmsbury Town Hall, Mollison St. 10.30am-1.30pm. $195.
Poetry Talk Anne Gleeson – Living a Poetic Life: Poet Anne Gleeson will talk about what led her to poetry, which poets matter most to her, and what keeps her living a poetic life. Kyneton Library, Baynton St. 2pm-3pm. Free.
Quiz Trivia Night: General knowledge quiz. Gisborne Golf Club, Daly St. 7pm. Free.
Theatre Adrifting: Comedy about a brilliant young photographer with a problem – he can only photograph the truth. Woodend Community Centre, Cnr High St & Forest St. 7.30pm-9.30pm. $30.
Friday, March 22
Cooking Rolled Sushi Workshop: Learn how to prepare, cook and roll sushi rice and how to make oinari san. Malmsbury Town Hall, Mollison St. 10.30am-1.30pm. $159.
Community Easter Community Music Night: Family fun. Easter egg hunt, craft activities, and music. Riddells Creek Neighbourhood House, Main Rd, Riddells Creek. 5pm-8.30pm. Child $10, Adult free.
Music Ollie: Live music in the bar. The Victoria Hotel, High St, Woodend. From 6.30pm.
Music Kerryn Fields and Alana Wilkinson: Folk music. Major Tom’s, 57 Piper St, Kyneton. 8.30pm-11pm. $20.
Saturday, March 23
Exercise Parkruns: 5km fun runs/walks in Gisborne (Dixon Field), Lancefield (Lancefield Park) and Woodend (Campaspe Dr). All abilities welcome. 8am. Free.
Cycling Gravel Macedon: Three circuits will cater for everyone from new gravel riders to masters of grit. Discover hidden roads, majestic views and moments of exhilaration. Woodend Racecourse Reserve, Forest St, Woodend. Start 8.30am-10.30am. 137km route $190, 91km route $160, 46km route $100.
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.
Community Easter Egg Hunt: Easter egg hunts for children aged under 5, 5-8 and 9-12. Plus Easter egg painting, egg and spoon races, animal petting farm. Jacksons Creek Reserve, Brantome St, Gisborne. From 10am. Easter egg hunt $5.
Community Tylden Primary School Fair: Rides, camels, silent auction, live music. Plus food, craft, and plant stalls. Tylden Primary School, Clowes St, Tylden. 10am-3pm. Free.
Art Open Studios: Eleven artists in Macedon will be opening their studios and discussing their work. Macedon. 10am-4pm. Free.
Gardening Tuberous Begonia and Fuchsia Show: Hundreds of nursery-grown tuberous begonias. White House Nursery, 691 Ashbourne Rd, Ashbourne. 10am-4pm.
Craft Whole Town Sewing Bee: Help to turn waste fabric into new seating designs for Old Kyneton Primary School. St Paul’s Parish Hall, Cnr Powlett St & Yaldwyn St West, Kyneton. 10am-4pm.
Cooking Organic Tofu Workshop: Learn how to make organic tofu from scratch and how to make tofu meals. Malmsbury Town Hall, Mollison St. 10.30am-1.30pm. $195.
Workshop Blacksmith Class: Join blacksmith Rob Nansen to learn the basics of blacksmithing. Make your own cheese knife. Woodend Neighbourhood House, Forest St. 1pm-4pm. $140.
Music Macedon Ranges Music Festival: Featuring Mahalia Barnes & The Soul Mates, Immy Owusu, Alana Wilkinson, Taylor Sheridan, Doc Halibut, Grim Fawkner, Aunty Blue, and the youth stage winner. Hanging Rock Reserve, South Rock Rd, Woodend. 1pm-10pm. Adult $43, Concession $38, Child (age 6-17) $15.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Ghost Hunt Kyneton Masonic Lodge Paranormal Investigation: This fascinating venue, with an Egyptian-themed main hall, was built in 1866. But who are the ghosts who live here? Zetland Masonic Lodge, 3 Piper St, Kyneton. 8pm-10pm. $40.
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Sunday, March 24
Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St. 8am-3pm.
Poultry Helmsman Poultry Auction: About 700 birds on offer. Organised by Kyneton & District Poultry Club. Kyneton Showgrounds, Mollison St. Birds penned 8am-10am. Bidding ends 1pm.
Art Open Studios: Eleven artists in Macedon will be opening their studios and discussing their work. Macedon. 10am-4pm. Free.
Gardening Tuberous Begonia and Fuchsia Show: Hundreds of nursery-grown tuberous begonias. White House Nursery, 691 Ashbourne Rd, Ashbourne. 10am-4pm.
Cooking Organic Miso Paste: Make your own miso paste using traditional Japanese tools. Followed by a degustation lunch. Malmsbury Town Hall, Mollison St. 10.30am-1.30pm. $195.
Music Jarrod Shaw & Moosejaw Rifle Club: Enjoy live music from local musicians under the trees. Mechanics Institute (outside), Mollison St, Kyneton. 12pm-3pm.
Music Lior: Woodend Winter Arts Festival will launch its 2024 program with a concert by two-time ARIA award-winning singer-songwriter Lior. St Ambrose Church, Templeton St, Woodend. 2.30pm-3.30pm. Full $48, Concession $42.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
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.
Exhibitions
Kyneton The Old Auction House: Exhibition: Jacklyn Foster. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Art on Piper: Exhibition: Judy Perfect. Every day 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Stockroom: Exhibitions: Laura Woodward, Joshua Cocking, Angela Hayes. Wed by appt, Thu-Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm.
Kyneton Cusack & Cusack: Fri-Sun 10am-3pm.
Kyneton Unmasked: A celebration of nursing and midwifery. Mon, Thu, Fri 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Kyneton Ridge Artspace: Exhibition: Gayle Cykner. Sat & Sun 11am-5pm.
Mount Macedon The Gallery: Exhibition: Lara Le Reveur. Fri-Tues 10am-4pm.
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
Author Talk Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist: Meet authors Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist as part of the Great Australian Bookshop Tour. Red Door Books of Lancefield, High St, Lancefield. 6pm-8pm. Free. March 28.
Community Blackwood Woodchop and Easter Carnival: Woodchopping competition, gumboot throwing, tug-of-war, pet show, treasure hunt, market stalls, face painting, games, races and live music. Street parade at 11am. Blackwood Recreation Reserve, Recreation Reserve Rd. 10am-6pm. Adult $20 ($15 earlybird), Senior $15, Child (under-16) free. March 30.
Music Opera at Tugurium: The Australian Contemporary Opera Company’s young artist cohort will be performing in the garden. Tugurium, 8 Centenery Ave, Macedon. 2pm-5pm. $90. April 7.
Running Run the Rock: Three races at Hanging Rock, over 5km, 13.5km and 22km, plus a 2km route for children. Plus games, live music, and food and drink. Hanging Rock Reserve, South Rock Rd, Woodend. From 7am. April 20.
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.
🍂 If you enjoy gardens and gardening, there’s lots to see and do in the Macedon Ranges this autumn. Click here for local autumn garden events.
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At the cutting edge
PAST TIMES
With thanks to Malmsbury Historical Society.
Next time you find yourself outside Malmsbury Bakery, look down – the bluestone slabs in the footpath were made just down the road.
Although you wouldn’t know it now, a stone sawing factory once operated on the banks of the Coliban River behind Malmsbury Botanic Gardens.
The bluestone sawing works opened in 1874. Mechanical sawing meant stone slabs could be created with smooth faces on both sides.
While Victoria’s other bluestone sawing factory, at Footscray, was run with steam power, the Malmsbury plant used a turbine to run the machinery with water from the recently completed Coliban water race.
The cutting process involved placing a frame with a series of parallel metal blades over a large block of stone.
The frame, driven by the water-powered turbine, moved back and forth, and as sand or crushed quartz was applied to the stone block, the blades (which had no teeth) ground into the surface. Water washed away the resulting sludge. Downward pressure, and more sand, enabled the blades to cut through the stone.
Malmsbury’s unique experiment in bluestone sawing continued until 1884 when drought forced the plant’s conversion to steam power.
Because of Malmsbury bluestone’s durability and workability, it has been used in buildings and structures far and wide, including in St Paul’s and St Patrick’s cathedrals in Melbourne.
Now it has been designated a Global Heritage Stone Resource, recognising its use on several continents and its cultural significance.
✍️ Susan Walter, President of Malmsbury Historical Society.
In the news
🎰 KYNETON: Kyneton Bowling Club faces a financial blow if the Shire Council adopts a new policy that would ban electronic gaming machines at sites the council owns or manages.
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