Welcome to Your Macedon Ranges for the week of Monday, November 8, to Sunday, November 14.
🎅 It’s 48 days until Christmas. Yikes! The festive season seems even closer when you realise the first of the Macedon Ranges’ twilight shopping events are less than three weeks away. First up are Riddells Creek and Woodend (Nov 27), followed by New Gisborne (Dec 4) and Romsey (Dec 10-11).
🎉 If you’re looking further ahead to New Year’s Eve entertainment, Athol Guy of The Seekers will be performing in Woodend.
📜 On Sunday, it’s History Fest in Lancefield. Craig Sandy, Victoria’s Surveyor-General and a Macedon Ranges resident, will deliver a talk about the history of surveying in the district. And Peter Sanders will discuss Burke and Wills and exhibit his paintings of their expedition. Tickets include Burke & Wills Winery tastings and refreshments.
My thanks go once again to the Romsey & Lancefield Districts Historical Society (which is organising History Fest) for this week’s local history feature. To find out more about History Fest, click here.
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 8
Exhibition Every Which Way – Rebecca Warr: Large-scale, vibrant paintings. 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.
Tuesday, November 9
Exhibition Every Which Way – Rebecca Warr: Large-scale, vibrant paintings. 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.
Quiz Team Trivia Challenge: Topical and fun questions plus games. Gisborne. 7pm-9pm. Free.
Agriculture Compost Research (online): Learn about the use of compost on farmland. Jim Radford, from Latrobe University, will be sharing the results of local trials. Macedon Ranges Shire Council. 7.30pm-8.30pm. Free.
Wednesday, November 10
Exhibition Every Which Way – Rebecca Warr: Large-scale, vibrant paintings. Kyneton. 9am-5pm. Free.
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. 10am-11am. Gold coin donation.
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.
Books Monica McInerney (online): Best-selling author Monica McInerney will talk about her latest novel, The Godmothers, her Castlemaine-based novel, At Home with the Templetons, and her first children’s book, Marcie Gill and the Caravan Park Cat, due out this month. Goldfields Libraries. 6pm-7pm. Free.
Singing Woodend Warblers: Community choir. Everyone welcome. Norma Richardson Hall, Buckland St, Woodend. 7.30pm. $12.
Thursday, November 11
Exhibition Every Which Way – Rebecca Warr: Large-scale, vibrant paintings. 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 12
Exhibition Every Which Way – Rebecca Warr: Large-scale, vibrant paintings. Kyneton. 9am-5pm. Free.
Flower arranging Flowers for the Home: Workshop with Aga Jones. Riddells Creek Neighbourhood House, Main Rd. 10am-12pm. $45.
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.
Community Spring Community Lunch: Enjoy a two-course meal. Woodend. 12pm. $5.
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. Friday-Sunday. $2,175.
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 13
Market Kyneton Farmers’ & Makers’ Market: St Paul’s Park, Piper St, Kyneton. 8.30am-1pm.
Market Kyneton Community Market: Bric-a-brac, art, clothes, plants, food and local produce. Ebden St & Yaldwyn St West, Kyneton. 8.30am-1pm.
Gardening Plant Sale: Plus sausage sizzle, cakes, face painting and music. St Mary’s Church, Buckland St, Woodend. 10am-3pm.
Exhibition Every Which Way – Rebecca Warr: Large-scale, vibrant paintings. 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.
Exhibition A Biodiversity Crisis – Animals and Plants of the Macedon Ranges: Interactive exhibition. Contains taxidermy. Kyneton Museum, Piper St. 11am-4pm. Adult $5.10, Concession/student $3.10, Child under 5 free, Family $10.20.
Food & Drink American Barbecue Pie and Wine Pairing: Try four gourmet pies and four wines. Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. Saturday and Sunday. From 12pm. $45.
Music Blues and Brews: Blues music with Bill Barber. DV Cider, 39 Darraweit Valley Rd, Darraweit Guim. 12.15pm-4.15pm.
Music Bach’s Motets (online): The Australian Chamber Choir had hoped to bring this concert to Macedon in October. Watch a live-stream of the Melbourne performance from 3pm. Available on-demand from 5.30pm on Nov 13 to Dec 31. $24.
Sunday, November 14
Market Daylesford Sunday Market: Daylesford Railway Station, Raglan St. 8am-3pm.
Nature Backyard Birds: Walk from Kyneton Museum to the Campaspe River and learn about the types of birds that live locally. Kyneton Museum, Piper St. 10am-12pm. Free.
Food Trentham East Farm Gate: Fresh produce. 150 Bergs Ln, Trentham East. 10am-12.30pm.
Exhibition Every Which Way – Rebecca Warr: Large-scale, vibrant paintings. 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.
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 Mechanics’ Institute, Cnr High St and The Crescent. 12pm-4pm. Individual talks $15-$25, Full-day admission $55.
Exhibition A Biodiversity Crisis – Animals and Plants of the Macedon Ranges: Interactive exhibition. Contains taxidermy. Kyneton Museum, Piper St. 11am-4pm. Adult $5.10, Concession/student $3.10, Child under 5 free, Family $10.20.
Food & Drink American Barbecue Pie and Wine Pairing: Try four gourmet pies and four wines. Double Oaks Estate, 104 Ashworths Rd, Lancefield. Saturday and Sunday. From 12pm. $45.
Coming up
Film Outdoor Cinema: Live music, food, games and a screening of Shrek. Gisborne. November 19. From 6pm (film at 8pm). $2.
Food & Music Welcome Back Party: With music from Casey Withoos and the So Saxy Band (Shaun Evans, Keith Smith, Terry Carrick and Oscar Lenaine). Hedge Farm, 124 Three Chain Rd, Carlsruhe. November 21. 12pm-6pm. $58.
Community Riddells Creek Twilight Festival: Food, entertainment, music and competitions. November 27. 3pm-8pm.
Community Woodend Twilight Festival: Light show, entertainment, shopping, food trucks, street dining. November 27. From 5pm.
Drink Gin-blending Masterclass: Learn about distillation and how recipes are created. Kyneton. December 4 & 18.
Market Gisborne Montessori School’s Twilight Christmas Market: Gifts, arts and crafts, homewares, groceries, and face painting. Gisborne Montessori School, 57 Barringo Rd, New Gisborne. December 4. 3pm-9pm.
Market Romsey Twilight Christmas Market: Christmas shopping. Romsey Mechanics Institute, Main St. December 10-11. 4pm-8pm.
Music Athol Guy & Friends: The Seekers star will be joined by Buddy England. Supported by Jenny Blake and Rod Hulls. Woodend. December 31.
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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The universal provider
Then & Now
With thanks to Romsey & Lancefield Districts Historical Society. The society meets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am-2pm, at Lancefield courthouse, in Main Rd, Lancefield.
The White family owned the general store at Romsey for 79 years.
William White bought the site at 106-108 Main St from Cornelius Maher for £30 in 1869. The store was known as the Hall of Commerce, and White and his wife Sarah ran it alongside an auctioneering business.
From 1908, White also ran the Registry for Births and Deaths from the shop.
White’s eldest son, also William, was given a full partnership in the store in 1877 for his 21st birthday. But within four years, William Jr had left Romsey for Melbourne.
When White’s second son, Frederick, joined the business, the store was renamed from The Full and Plenty Store to F A White. Later it became Fred White Universal Provider, under the stewardship of Fred and his wife May.
The general store remained in the family until 1948.
William White Sr also owned the Lancefield Chronicle & Romsey Advocate for 10 years from 1872. He and his family are remembered by the elm trees planted in Main St in 1874.
Today, the general store building is occupied by Verdure bistro. The neighbouring house that once belonged to the Whites is now home to Krammers Accountants.
📘 From Fay Woodhouse’s book Romsey: An Historical Guide, which tells the stories of 55 buildings and landmarks in Romsey, and the families behind the businesses that occupied them. (Published 2021, $40.)
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