Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for Monday, March 28, to Sunday, April 3.
🍂 There’s a chill in the morning air and changing colours in the trees. Autumn has defiinitely arrived. And so has the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival.
🌷 If you enjoy gardens and gardening, there’s plenty to see and do. Mount Macedon Horticultural Society is putting on several events. Its botanic art exhibition opens on Saturday and features artists such as Craig Lidgerwood, Steph Goss and John Pastoriza-Pinol. Lots of workshops and open gardens are also coming up. Click here for a list of garden events in the next month.
📜 The local history feature will be taking a short break. It will return after Easter.
🛍️ And finally … as well its whole-town garage sale, Woodend will be holding a community showcase on Saturday. Learn more about the work of local groups and organisations at the Neighbourhood House from 9am-1pm. There will also be a sausage sizzle, children’s activities and entertainers.
Here are the events and activities happening in the Macedon Ranges this week:
Click the links for more info 👇
Tuesday, March 29
Sustainability Solar and Battery Information Meeting: Information about solar power and battery storage. Woodend. 6.30pm-8pm.
Nature Creatures of the Night – Bullengarook: Help record the night animals found by the roadsides within the shire’s biolink areas. Bullengarook. 8pm.
Wednesday, March 30
Nature Walk of Discovery at Bald Hill: Learn about the flora and fauna at Bald Hill Reserve and the area’s geological significance. Kyneton. 10am-12pm.
Singing Woodend Warblers: Community choir. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 7.30pm. $12.
Thursday, March 31
Nature Creatures of the Night – Newham: Help record the night animals found by the roadsides within the shire’s biolink areas. Newham. 8pm.
Cheese Introduction to Cheese-making: Learn to make bocconcini, mozzarella and halloumi with Craig Castree. Kyneton. 2pm-3pm. Free.
Food & Drink Pups and Pints: Catch up with friends and bring your dog along too. In an enclosed area. Woodend. 5pm-8pm.
Gardening Edible Gardens: With horticulturist and author Craig Castree. Woodend. 6pm-7pm. Free.
Friday, April 1
Art Journey: An interactive light and sound experience around the botanic gardens and lake. Created by artists Kirri Buchler, Thomas Campbell and Tashara Roberts. Malmsbury. Until April 24. 7.30pm-10pm.
Saturday, April 2
Exercise Campaspe Parkrun: 5km fun run. Campaspe Park, Campaspe Dr, Woodend. 8am. Free (registration required).
Exercise Lancefield Parkrun: 5km fun run. Lancefield Park, Chauncey St, Lancefield. 8am. Free (registration required).
Community Woodend Whole Town Garage Sale: Maps $5 on the day. Woodend Neighbourhood House, Forest St. 8am-12.30pm.
Market Woodend Farmers’ Market: Cnr High St & Forest St. 9am-1pm.
Community Woodend Community Showcase: Find out about local community groups. Plus entertainers, sausage sizzle and hot drinks. Woodend Neighbourhood House community garden, Forest St. 9am-2pm.
Market Antiques, Vintage and Collectibles Fair: Items include furniture, ephemera, china, jewellery, glassware, silverware, books, antique prints and engravings. Romsey Mechanics Institute, Main St. 9.30am-3.30pm. $5.
Kids Beasties in Romsey: A petting zoo with difference, featuring strange and endearing creatures. Romsey Lions Park, Main St. 10am-11am. Free.
Workshop Blacksmith Class: Join Rob Nansen for a three-hour blacksmith class. Make your own fire poker. All materials provided. Dromkeen, 1012 Kilmore Rd, Riddells Creek. 10am-1pm. $140.
Food & Drink CWA Devonshire Tea: Tuck into freshly baked scones. CWA Hall, 662 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. 10am-2pm.
Open Garden Viewfield: Majestic trees, stunning views, a fruit forest, a children’s fairy garden, perennial gardens and a sparkling stream through shady fern glades. Viewfield, 651 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. 10am-4pm. Adult $10, Under-16 free.
Open Garden Bringalbit: Explore the historic homestead’s 4ha garden, including a 60m Quince Walk. Bringalbit, 512 Sidonia Rd, Sidonia. 10am-5pm. $5.
Food & Music Acoustic Music and Pizzas: Enjoy live music and stone-baked gourmet pizza with a glass of wine. Parkside Winery, Parks Rd, Lancefield. 12.30pm-4.30pm. $18-$28.
Food & Music Cidersong: Picnic and live music. Featuring Rich Davies and the Low Road, Paper Jane, Jarrod Shaw, and Sing Pub Sing. Plus food trucks. DV Cider, 39 Darraweit Valley Rd, Darraweit Guim. 1pm-7.30pm. Adult $25, Under-12 $15.
Food & Drink American Barbecue Pies, Wines and Tunes: Four gourmet pies with wines. Plus live music. Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. 2pm. $60.
Kids Beasties in Woodend: A petting zoo with difference, featuring strange and endearing creatures. Woodend Children’s Park, Nicholson St. 2pm-3pm. Free.
Books Children’s Storytime: Award-winning author/illustrator Mark Wilson shares his picture book A New Prayer For the Animals. Dromkeen, 1012 Kilmore Rd, Riddells Creek. 2pm-3pm.
Music The Alice Sessions: Performances by students from Alice Miller School. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 2pm-4pm.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Music Park Pop-up – The Ranges Little Big Band: The classic big band sound mixed with rock, soul, and jazz. Woodend Children’s Park, Nicholson St. 3pm-5pm. Free.
Culture Watsonia in Woodend: Political adviser, screenwriter, satirist and traveller Don Watson in conversation. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 4pm-6pm. $25.
Art Journey: An interactive light and sound experience around the botanic gardens and lake. Created by artists Kirri Buchler, Thomas Campbell and Tashara Roberts. Malmsbury Botanic Gardens, Ellesmere Pl. Until April 24. 7.30pm-10pm.
Music Absolutely 80s: Featuring Scott Carne, Sean Kelly and Ally Fowler. Riddells Creek Hotel, Hamilton St. 8pm. $40.
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Sunday, April 3
Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St. 8am-3pm.
Market Gisborne Olde Time Market: Aitken St/Hamilton St. 9am-2pm.
Walk & Wine Macedon Ranges Gourmet: A 13km walk along bushland tracks and a visit to two wineries. Mount Macedon. 9.30am-3.30pm. $159.
Wellness Outdoor Sound Bowl Meditation: Experience a sacred sound bath meditation in the botanic gardens. The Rotunda, Kyneton Botanic Gardens, Mollison St. 10am-10.30am.
Kids Beasties in Riddells Creek: A petting zoo with difference, featuring strange and endearing creatures. Lions Park, Main Rd, Riddells Creek. 10am-11am. Free.
Open Garden Viewfield: Majestic trees, stunning views, a fruit forest, a children’s fairy garden, perennial gardens and a sparkling stream through shady fern glades. Viewfield, 651 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. 10am-4pm. Adult $10, Under-16 free.
Craft Fairfield Finns Farm Open Day: Meet the Finn sheep, buy fleece, tops and yarn direct from the producers. See the historical shearing shed and spend time spinning and knitting. Plus live music. 1275 Bacchus Marsh Rd, Bullengarook. 10am-4pm.
Open Garden Bringalbit: Explore the historic homestead’s 4ha garden, including a 60m Quince Walk. Bringalbit, 512 Sidonia Rd, Sidonia. 10am-5pm. $5.
Food & Drink American Barbecue Pies, Wines and Tunes: Four gourmet pies with wines. Plus live music. Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. From 12pm. $60.
Food & Music Chicken Wings and Tunes: Live music from Jarrod Shaw. DV Cider, 39 Darraweit Valley Rd, Darraweit Guim. 12pm-5pm.
Music Park Pop-up – Bullfeathers Professional Swingers: 1920s-inspired six-piece band. Lancefield Skate Park, Lancefield Park, Chauncey St. 1pm-3pm. Free.
Food & Drink Gin Afternoon Tea: An afternoon tea with an autumn and gin twist. Big Tree Distillery, Hennerbergs Rd, Newham. 1.30pm-4pm. $85.
Dance & Food La Gran Fiesta: Discover the passion, magic and rhythms of Cuba. Salsa dancing workshop, food, music and live performances. Sol y Sombra Estate, 38 Greenvale Dr, Gisborne. 1pm-6pm. Adult $30.
Kids Beasties in Gisborne: A petting zoo with difference, featuring strange and endearing creatures. Gisborne Adventure Playground, Brantome St. 2pm-3pm. Free.
Music Afternoon Jazz: The Melbourne Octet presents an afternoon of sumptuous harmonies, witty lyrics and cheerful melodies. St Ambrose Church, Templeton St, Woodend. 2pm-3pm. Adult $40, Concession $30.
Beer Brewery Tour: See how beer is brewed. Holgate Brewhouse, High St, Woodend. 3pm-4pm. $25.
Exhibitions
Online Magnificent Macedon Ranges: Photographs inspired by local people and scenery. Macedon Ranges Photographic Society online exhibition. From March 28.
Gisborne Phoenix Macedon Ranges Art and Crafts: Pottery, paintings, sculptures, paper craft, glassware, jewellery, basket weaving, and textiles. Until April 3. Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 9am-4pm.
Kyneton The Old Auction House Artists: Exhibitions: Way Out West (until March 28), Life Through a Kaleidoscope (every day), and Before the Fall (from Thursday). Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm.
Kyneton Art on Piper Artists: Showcasing work by local artists. Current exhibition: Autumn Blaze. Wed-Mon 10am-4pm.
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.
Kyneton Stockroom Artists: Michael Needham, Greg Wood, Talitha Kennedy, Vanessa Lucas. April 2-May 8. Official opening Sat 4.30pm. Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-3pm.
Lancefield Community Art Gallery: Paintings, sculptures, glass jewellery by local artists. 34a High St, Lancefield. Wed-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-2pm, Sun 10am-1pm.
Mount Macedon Japanese Traditional and Modern: Anna Konecny and Yukimi Breaden. Until April 3. Fri-Sun 10am-4pm.
Mount Macedon Autumn Botanic Art: Features artists who regularly exhibit at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne and Sydney, and internationally. Mount Macedon Horticultural Hall, 583 Mount Macedon Rd, Mount Macedon. Until April 17. Sat-Sun 10am-4pm. Gold coin.
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.
Coming up
Community Romsey Whole Town Garage Sale: Maps $3 on the day. Register to host a sale $10. Romsey. April 9.
Poultry Helmsman Poultry Auction: About 700 birds on offer. Organised by Kyneton & District Poultry Club. Kyneton. April 10.
Pets Puppy Pride: Meet and greet for LGBTIQA+ people, friends and puppies. Food trucks, market stalls, competitions and a scavenger hunt. Kyneton. April 10.
Art Easter Art Market: Artworks old and new, framed and unframed. Ceramics, jewellery, sculpture, glass works, cards and more. Woodend. April 16-18.
Food & Drink The Great Trentham Spudfest: A celebration of all things potato. Trentham. May 7.
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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In the news
✈️ AIRPORT: Melbourne Airport third runway information session at Gisborne on Tuesday and online on Thursday.
🥕 MACEDON RANGES: The search is on for the most delicious plant-based food in the Macedon Ranges. Nominate a cafe for an Edgy Veg Award.
⛽ CARLSRUHE: Council backs service station redevelopment.
🌳 MACEDON RANGES: Habitat-recovery kits available to storm-affected residents.
🏡 ROMSEY: Plea to protect historic homestead.
🚧 RIDDELLS CREEK: Have your say on transport and infrastructure development and population growth.
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