Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for the week of Monday, November 1, to Sunday, November 7.
🏇 It’s Cup week! The Kyneton Cup is on Wednesday. Sadly, though, the meeting comes one day before spectators can return to country racecourses, so there will be no crowd. There are, however, racing-related events this week to mark both the Kyneton Cup and that other cup at Flemington. See Tuesday and Wednesday.
Did you know race meetings were once held at Carlsruhe, Malmsbury, Lancefield, Romsey, Trentham and Woodend, as well as at Kyneton and Hanging Rock? The local history feature looks back at one of the most popular country racecourses in the state.
🌱 A mini version of the Macedon Ranges Sustainable Living Festival will take place on Saturday. Topics include household energy, waste reduction, efficient travel, vegetables, and beekeeping.
Here are the events and activities happening in the Macedon Ranges this week:
Online, anytime
Exhibition Macedon Ranges Art Trail Exhibition: Paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings and mixed media by 26 artists. Until November 30.
Monday, November 1
Exhibitions Sacred Heart Students, Rebecca Warr: Artwork and designs from Kyneton’s Sacred Heart College. Plus large-scale, vibrant paintings by Rebecca Warr. Kyneton. 9am-5pm. Free.
Exhibition Art in the Vines – AV4: New exhibition of sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Newham. Daily until April 25. 10am-5pm. Free.
Music Mini Blues Festival: With Bill Barber and special guest Jarrod Shaw. Darraweit Guim. 12.15pm-4pm.
Tuesday, November 2
Exhibitions Sacred Heart Students, Rebecca Warr: Artwork and designs from Kyneton’s Sacred Heart College. Plus large-scale, vibrant paintings by Rebecca Warr. Kyneton. 9am-5pm. Free.
Exhibition Art in the Vines – AV4: New exhibition of sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Newham. Daily until April 25. 10am-5pm. Free.
Yoga Nup to the Cup Fundraiser: Outdoor yoga class. Proceeds to the Protection of Racehorses and Edgar’s Mission. Kyneton. 11am-12pm. $25.
Food & Drink Melbourne Cup Alfresco Lunch: Lunch and champagne at a winery. Limited to 24 places. Lancefield. 11.30am-4pm. $35.
Food & Music Melbourne Cup in the Garden: Barbecue from 12pm, live music from 3pm. Gisborne. From 12pm.
Music Mini Blues Festival: With Bill Barber and special guests Amy Tie and Brandon Trickey. Darraweit Guim. 12.15pm-4pm.
Wednesday, November 3
Exhibitions Sacred Heart Students, Rebecca Warr: Artwork and designs from Kyneton’s Sacred Heart College. Plus large-scale, vibrant paintings by Rebecca Warr. Kyneton. 9am-5pm. Free.
Exhibition Art in the Vines – AV4: New exhibition of sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Newham. Daily until April 25. 10am-5pm. Free.
Exhibitions Liss Fenwick, Nicholas Burridge, Lauren Joffe: Stockroom, 98 Piper St, Kyneton. Until November 28. 10.30am-5pm.
Food & Music Kyneton Cup in the Garden: Food, wine and music. Gisborne. 12pm-5.30pm. $60.
Singing Woodend Warblers: Community choir rehearsal. Everyone welcome. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 7.30pm. $12.
Thursday, November 4
Exhibitions Sacred Heart Students, Rebecca Warr: Artwork and designs from Kyneton’s Sacred Heart College. Plus large-scale, vibrant paintings by Rebecca Warr. Kyneton. 9am-5pm. Free.
Exhibition Little Gallery Members: Artworks by Rose Wilson, Helen Cottle, Kim Haughie, Ri Van Veen, Larissa Gray, Llael McDonald, Frances Harkin, Liz Archer, Ruby Wilson-Peirce, Sam Bloomfield. Trentham. 10am-4pm.
Exhibition Art in the Vines – AV4: New exhibition of sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Newham. Daily until April 25. 10am-5pm. Free.
Exhibitions Liss Fenwick, Nicholas Burridge, Lauren Joffe: Kyneton. Until November 28. 10.30am-5pm.
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Friday, November 5
Exhibitions Sacred Heart Students, Rebecca Warr: Artwork and designs from Kyneton’s Sacred Heart College. Plus large-scale, vibrant paintings by Rebecca Warr. Kyneton. 9am-5pm. Free.
Exhibition Little Gallery Members: Artworks by Rose Wilson, Helen Cottle, Kim Haughie, Ri Van Veen, Larissa Gray, Llael McDonald, Frances Harkin, Liz Archer, Ruby Wilson-Peirce, Sam Bloomfield. Trentham. 10am-4pm.
Exhibition Art in the Vines – AV4: New exhibition of sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Newham. Daily until April 25. 10am-5pm. Free.
Exhibitions Liss Fenwick, Nicholas Burridge, Lauren Joffe: Kyneton. Until November 28. 10.30am-5pm.
Exhibition A Biodiversity Crisis – Animals and Plants of the Macedon Ranges: Interactive exhibition. Contains taxidermy. Kyneton. 11am-4pm. Adult $5.10, Concession/student $3.10, Child under 5 free, Family $10.20.
Entertainment Youth Night: A safe space for teenagers to hang out. Music, games, Xbox, free Wi-Fi. Riddells Creek. 5.30pm-7.30pm. $2.
Saturday, November 6
Market Woodend Farmers’ Market: Cnr High St & Forest St. 9am-1pm.
Sustainability Sustainable Living Festival: Showcasing Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group’s 14 action groups. Cnr High St & Forest St, Woodend. 10am-1pm.
Gardening Photosynthesis – Just Add Water, Air and Sunlight: Learn how sunlight, air and water can all influence your garden. Leaf, Root & Fruit, 21 Dettmanns Ln, Kyneton. 10am-3pm. $100.
Exhibitions Sacred Heart Students, Rebecca Warr: Artwork and designs from Kyneton’s Sacred Heart College. Plus large-scale, vibrant paintings by Rebecca Warr. The Old Auction House, 52-56 Mollison St, Kyneton. 10am-4pm. Free.
Exhibition Art in the Vines – AV4: New exhibition of sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Hanging Rock Winery, Jim Rd, Newham. Daily until April 25. 10am-5pm. Free.
Exhibitions Liss Fenwick, Nicholas Burridge, Lauren Joffe: Stockroom, 98 Piper St, Kyneton. Until November 28. 10.30am-5pm.
Food & Drink American Barbecue Smoked Pork and Wine Pairing: Four gourmet meals and four wines. Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. From 12pm. $65.
Music Blues and Brews: Blues music with Bill Barber. DV Cider, 39 Darraweit Valley Rd, Darraweit Guim. 12.15pm-4.15pm.
Sunday, November 7
Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St. 8am-3pm.
Nature Wildflower Walk: Look for Bossiaea decumbens (syn Bossiaea buxifolia) and orchids. Hobbs Rd Reserve, Bullengarook. 10am-12pm. Free.
Exhibitions Sacred Heart Students, Rebecca Warr: Artwork and designs from Kyneton’s Sacred Heart College. Plus large-scale, vibrant paintings by Rebecca Warr. The Old Auction House, 52-56 Mollison St, Kyneton. 10am-4pm. Free.
Exhibition Art in the Vines – AV4: New exhibition of sculptures by 26 acclaimed artists. Hanging Rock Winery, Jim Rd, Newham. Daily until April 25. 10am-5pm. Free.
Food & Drink American Barbecue Smoked Pork and Wine Pairing: Four gourmet meals and four wines. Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. From 12pm. $65.
Coming up
Drink Wine Retreat: Taste more than 20 wines, learn about Macedon Ranges and European wine and food, enjoy wine panel discussions, and relax in a luxurious setting. With special guests from the wine industry. Lancefield. November 12-14.
Community Plant Sale: Plus sausage sizzle, cakes, face painting and music. Woodend. November 13.
History History Fest: Victoria’s Surveyor-General, Craig Sandy, will talk about the ancient profession of surveying. Plus Peter Sanders on Burke and Wills, and more. Tickets include Burke & Wills Winery tastings and refreshments. Lancefield. November 14.
Community Kyneton Show Fireworks: Although this year’s Kyneton Show isn’t going ahead, there is due to be a fireworks display. Kyneton. November 19.
Bees Introduction to Beekeeping (online): Learn about what you need to get started. With Craig Castree. Goldfields Libraries. November 25.
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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Then & Now
With thanks to Woodend & District Heritage Society. The society meets every Wednesday, 10am-4pm, at the old courthouse in Forest St, Woodend.
More than 1,000 people attended the first meeting at Woodend’s new racecourse in 1903.
But Gambill’s victory in the Woodend Cup wasn’t the most impressive feat they saw.
“During the Trial Stakes on the same day, a calf wandered on to the track and the leading horse cleared it in the style of a top-class jumper to go on to victory,” the Victorian Racing Calendar noted.
Since 1860, horse races had been held on the hill now occupied by the golf course. The opening of the longer track in Forest St reflected the sport’s popularity.
Woodend became one of the first country racing clubs to install photo-finish equipment and to have its own mobile starting stalls.
But despite having the highest attendances for Saturday meetings of any country course in the state, the club found its future under threat in the mid-1960s. The government wanted to have only one racecourse in the area – and chose Kyneton.
After a long, drawn-out battle, the government got its wish in 1982.
Newry Boy, ridden by Ron Trevor, had the distinction of winning the last race at the final meeting before the two clubs merged.
📘 Beyond the Black Forest, by Sylvia Boxshall (2017), describes the early settlement of Woodend and the surrounding district. Available from Woodend & District Heritage Society, $27.50.
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