Lost Magazine is an independent monthly magazine circulating throughout Daylesford, Hepburn Springs, Kyneton, Trentham, Glenlyon, Castlemaine, Woodend, Creswick, Clunes and surrounds. We also distribute to select Melbourne venues and to an ever-growing subscriber base.
Neil 'Jobbo' Jobson by photographer Chris Turner. Read the full story on page 42.
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FEATURE WRITER
Larissa Dubecki
FEATURE WRITER
Mahmood Fazal
PHOTOGRAPHER
Chris Turner
FEATURE WRITER Michael Harden
EDITOR
Jess Walsh
PUBLISHER
Tony De Marco
PUBLISHER
Theresa Albioli
Lost News
WRAP UP OF NEWS AND HAPPENINGS IN OUR REGION
BY EDITOR, JESSICA WALSH
Winter is coming... or maybe it isn’t this year? Seasonal living keeps us guessing. Winter to me means comfort, and this edition is subconsciously focused on just that! Daylesford in Winter is akin to a warm hug, with the blanket of leaves lying until the shake-up wind of spring rolls in. It's a time to reflect and indulge. Boy, do we have some winter treats for you this edition!
My longtime happy place is finally published in the pages of LOST Magazine. Julian Blackhirst's legacy, The Garden of St Erth, is a truly special place. If you haven't already, sign up for the Diggers Club! We live in the best region and climate for growing heirloom varieties, both vegetables and flowers.
From the garden, we retreat to the inside of one of Daylesford's most beautiful homes, The Vintage House Daylesford, the creation of interior designer Kali Cavanagh. Mahmood discovers where her passion started and how it translates into her stunning designs.
Mahmood also speaks with Gaëtan of the Long Paddock Cheese school. Hear about the fusion of cultures and the poetic nature of the cheeses they produce with absolute passion. Here you can not only purchase cheese but learn how to make it yourself.
Up to the Mountain is our next stop, where Larissa discovers the hidden gem and heart of the Mount Macedon community - The Mount Macedon Trading Post. So much more than a post office, and with inspiring new owners, a humble story is told.
We head off the beaten track to visit 'Jobbo' the builder-barber for a cut and a yarn. Jobbo has gone from creatively 'adding' to creatively 'removing.' A refreshing look into the world of barbering in his hand-built studio. You can feel the creativity in the walls.
Our last stop involves not just one, but many stops, on board the Daylesford Wine Tours bus. It is no secret that our climate boasts some of the best wines in Australia. Pinot's to rival France and the crispest sparklings. Jump on board the red bus, recently taken on by friends, Chris and Ange, and you have the key to the best vineyards and wines in the region.
Now it's time to light the fire and get LOST in the pages to follow. We hope this edition warms your soul like a hug from an old friend. Till the flowers are in bloom,
Jessica Walsh, Editor
BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE
living A Tapestry
STORY BY MAHMOOD FAZAL PHOTOS BY CHRIS TURNER
GARDEN OF ST ERTH
In the bucolic heartland of Blackwood, where verdant landscapes paint the canvas of rural life, lies a hidden gem known as The Garden of St Erth - a 160 year old stone cottage which has become home to a celebrated garden and Diggers Club shop.
Julian Blackhirst, the Head Gardener, serves as maestro, orchestrating a symphony of flora and fauna that captivates the senses and nourishes the soul.
As he reminisces about his journey, Blackhirst shares a glimpse into his childhood dreams, "When I was a child, like between five and ten, I always wanted to be a market gardener," he muses, his voice tinged with nostalgia.
Yet fate had different plans, leading him down the corridors of academia to study the intricacies of politics and economics. It wasn't until his late twenties that the call of the soil enticed him once more, “Then in my teens I read a book called, ‘How to Grow More Vegetables: Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine.’ It's like, very, very intensive food gardening.”
He was guided to cultivate his own patch of paradise in Trentham, and was quickly offered a gig at the Garden of St Erth - a tenure that has spanned fifteen years and counting.
Describing the garden as a living tapestry, Blackhirst paints a vivid portrait of its everevolving beauty. "Garden of St Erth is a working garden so you can always see what we're working on," he explains.
"It's got a very secret garden type of feel," he adds, recounting his initial bewilderment amidst its labyrinthine pathways. Blackhirst's favourite corners are the vegetable and fruit patches, where the bounty of the earth springs forth in a kaleidoscope of colours and flavours. "My favourite corner is the food gardens," he confesses, his reverence for organic gardening palpable in every word.
For Blackhirst, the food garden is more than just a patch of soil; it's a testament to his ethos of sustainability and stewardship. "It's partly a political thing," he opines, his words echoing with conviction. "It's an act of environmentalism."
As he reflects on his legacy, Blackhirst's gaze turns towards the future, where the seeds of his labor continue to bear fruit. "The food garden is probably what my legacy here will be," he muses.
In the tranquil embrace of The Garden of St Erth, Julian Blackhirst stands as a custodian of nature's bounty, weaving a tapestry of beauty and sustainability that tells a story resonating far beyond the garden's borders.
And for those embarking on their own gardening journey, Blackhirst offers a nugget of wisdom gleaned from a lifetime spent tending to the soil. He advises, "One piece of advice for people wanting to get into gardening; visit large gardens but keep a small one."
The Garden of St Erth Part of Diggers Club
diggers.com.au
Nick Skinner Photography
KALI CAVANAGH
STORY BY MAHMOOD FAZAL
PHOTOS BY NICK SKINNER
Nick Skinner Photography
Kali Cavanagh, an interior designer with a knack for blending vintage charm with industrial aesthetics, has carved a niche for herself in the world of interior design. Her journey into this field is as unique as her style, deeply rooted in her upbringing and personal experiences.
"I kind of just got into it. Because of my mum, she was a single parent and a bit of a hippy. We lived in this little tiny town in the middle of nowhere," Kali reflects. "I remember growing up, she would be building mud brick houses and changing the feel of the house around." This early exposure to hands-on building and design sparked her lifelong passion for creating beautiful, functional spaces.
"It made sense to me to just start buying and doing up my own properties," she explains. Her venture into showcasing her work began with Vintage House in Daylesford, a property she felt was the perfect canvas for her ideas. "When I started getting into interior work, I wanted to have a property that showcased my work and I thought Vintage House in Daylesford would be a good one to start with."
Kali says, "I knew I wanted to create a vintage style house, hence the name.
It suited the Daylesford area, it also suited the era of the house because it was built in the 1800s.” Her vision was to preserve the traditional feel of the house while infusing it with industrial elements that fascinated her. "In Australia, like, there's always been an element of industrial in the vintage style."
Kali's international travels, particularly to America, influenced her design choices. "When I was in America, I saw that kind of work - the old school workshop furnishings. So I ended up buying a container full of stuff," she shares. Notable finds included a beautiful old blue kitchen stove and heavy industrial coffee tables and side tables from a warehouse in LA. "I could see that they could work really well if I added textures and warmth to the rest of the house. It gave the house a masculine feel so I used a lot of linen to soften the industrial ambience."
In addition to her overseas pickings, Kali sourced many pieces locally. "I bought the majority of my pieces locally from Daylesford Markets, Found, and Guy Matthews who is an industrial furniture designer in Melbourne."
Each piece was carefully selected to contribute to the home's narrative, ensuring that every room told its own story.
"I wanted every room to have its own story. You know when you go into a house quite often, there's one amazing room and the rest of the home is okay? I wanted everything to sort of have a story. So it sort of flowed from the light to dark."
One of Kali's standout design choices was sanding the floors to maintain a raw, natural look. "The initial floorboards were quite light in colour and over time with the sun they've become very warm. It's interesting how the house naturally changes over time."
For those looking to infuse their homes with a touch of Kali's style, she offers a practical tip: "Choose a favourite piece, it doesn't have to be the focal piece, but something that's going to be an important piece for that room. You can then arrange your colour palette around that item. For example, even though the blue oven was in our kitchen, that didn't mean that everything else was blue, I just made that the focal point of the room and then it didn't need any kind of over styling because the oven expressed its own story."
Vintage House is available for weekend getaways, and available to book for photoshoots with varying rates. Kali also provide tailored experiences, whether it’s a massage therapist or cafe suggestions - Vintage House has all bases covered for their guests.
The Vintage House Daylesford vintagehousedaylesford.com
Kali
Cavanagh
kalicavanagh.com
Nick Skinner Photography
Cultures Fusion of
LONG PADDOCK CHEESE & THE CHEESE SCHOOL
STORY BY MAHMOOD FAZAL PHOTOS BY CHRIS TURNER
Long Paddock Cheese, with its unassuming facade and charming interior, is not merely a dairy emporium in the picturesque town of Castlemaine; it's a testament to the fusion of cultures.
Manager Gaëtan Chapon was born in the quaint city of Grenoble, ensconced in the French Alps. His journey to Australia was serendipitous, guided by his love for fine cuisine and an innate passion for hospitality. "As a young child born in the French Alps, in a city called Grenoble, I tried a cheese called St. Marcellin - a lactic cheese made out of cow's milk; quite pungent, very decadent, super spreadable," reminisces Chapon, his eyes alight with nostalgia.
He speaks with a palpable fondness for the cheeses of his homeland, describing the transformation of St. Marcellin as it matures, from a "fudgy sort of chalky heart" to a "very runny, pungent curd," each stage imbued with its unique allure.
Upon encountering Long Paddock Cheese, Chapon found himself transported back to the cobblestone streets of France. "I tried the cheese and I'm like, oh my god, it’s
exactly like what we have in France. Except it's made here in Australia," he exclaims, his voice tinged with disbelief and pride.
Long Paddock Cheese boasts an eclectic selection of eight cheeses, each with the richness of Australian terroir. "We've got eight cheeses at Long Paddock Cheese. Seven of them have strong French sort of accents or twists I would say and one of them has an English identity and that one is called the Granite," Chapon elaborates, his words resonating with reverence for the diverse culinary landscape he now calls home.
Amongst the myriad offerings, Chapon holds a particular fondness for the Driftwood, a "lovely super soft, runny cheese" ensconced in a spruce bark belt. "If I was to choose one of the cheeses to push forward, I would definitely put the Driftwood," he asserts, his voice animated with enthusiasm. It’s described as a “funky bark-belted soft cheese in the style of Vacherin Mont d’Or. Delicious eaten as is – or baked in its belt like a mini-fondue.”
Chapon adds, "These are Australian cheeses with a very, very strong French
accent," he affirms, underscoring the symbiotic relationship between tradition and innovation that defines the ethos of Long Paddock Cheese.
As patrons peruse the shelves adorned with an array of artisanal delights, from the tangy Silverwattle to the robust Granite, they are invited on a journey of gastronomic discovery, where each bite tells a story of heritage and craftsmanship.
For Chapon, Long Paddock Cheese is not merely a business venture; it's a labor of love, a homage to his roots and a celebration of the culinary alchemy that occurs when cultures collide. "I wanted to be an engineer. I was actually working more in hospitality as a foodie, managing restaurants and then hospitality businesses," he reflects, his trajectory veering unexpectedly towards the realm of cheese-making.
In the hallowed halls of Long Paddock Cheese, amidst the heady aroma of aged curds and the rhythmic hum of satisfied patrons, Gaëtan Chapon has found his calling, bridging the divide between continents with each delectable morsel of cheese.
Long Paddock Cheese and The Cheese School 10am - 4pm most days longpaddockcheese.com.au
The Houses Daylesford have a portfolio of beautiful accommodation rental properties interspersed throughout Daylesford & surrounds. Our 100+ properties provide the perfect setting for couples, families, groups, corporates, photo shoots and location hire.
Leonards Hill House
Mountain Heart of the
MOUNT MACEDON TRADING POST
STORY BY LARISSA DUBECKI
PHOTOS BY CHRIS TURNER
When you’ve been embedded in a community for 17 years, taking over the local café, grocery and post office might seem like a logical step.
That’s the way things transpired for Sarah Leatch and her husband Damien, long-time Macedon locals who took over the Mount Macedon Trading Post just before Easter.
“Going to work is just like catching up with everyone in the area,” says Sarah. “We both love it. We’ve always been really involved in the local community – Damien coaches junior football and cricket, and having three school-aged kids means we know pretty much everyone.”
The Trading Post is the kind of place that’s all things to all people. It’s a café and wine store, a grocer and a place to pick up take-home meals for the nights when you really can’t be bothered cooking. Its subbusiness Mount Macedon Kitchen has an online presence selling housemade cookies, preserves and local wine. It’s also the post office for the community living on the mountain, in one of regional Victoria’s most captivatingly beautiful areas.
Located about halfway up the mountain, the historic weatherboard shop with its signature red doors is nestled in the typical Macedon landscape of deciduous trees planted by homesick colonials – although at the moment, says Sarah, “there are more leaves on the ground than on the trees!” Out front you’ll usually find customers (and their dogs) resting at tables under the gas heaters, while walking inside is like being enveloped in a cashmere hug (as Sarah notes, heating is important in an area where the winter chill bites hard).
Another way to beat the chill comes in the form of the house-made pies, rocking the classic combos of chicken and leek, beef or lamb, rosemary and vegetable. Settle in at a table beneath the rugged timber ceiling and chase that pie with a freshly baked friand and a coffee with beans from Gravity roastery. Or you could swing in the direction of roasted pumpkin frittata, toasted Turkish bread with smoked salmon, or one of the chunky sausage rolls with the house tomato relish. Scones with jam and cream are another guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
There are few businesses in Australia where you can post a parcel then grab a bottle of wine to go. Not just any old bottle, either. Regional stars including Bress and Bindi grace these shelves, meaning maximum indecision but a great payoff. Things are more G-rated during the afternoon post-school rush, when milkshakes and chocolates are all the rage.
As a career change for both Leatches, taking over custodianship of the Mount Macedon Trading Post has been profoundly successful. Sarah had worked as a pharmacy technologist while Damien was in building and construction but, she says, “We both love people and were looking for a real life change. Now that the kids are a bit older – they’re 13, 11 and eight – it was time to grab the opportunity.”
Mt Macedon Trading Post
03 5426 1471 mtmacedontp.com.au
Open Monday to Sunday 7am – 5pm; Sunday 8am – 5pm
WEDNESDAYS
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
OPEN 7 DAYS
From 8am till late
Unconventional Reinvention of
tale
BUILDER BARBER
NEIL 'JOBBO' JOBSON THE
STORY BY MAHMOOD FAZAL
PHOTOS BY CHRIS TURNER
In the picturesque town of Daylesford, an unconventional tale of reinvention unfolds. Meet Neil 'Jobbo' Jobson, a renaissance man whose journey from artisan builder to esteemed barber is as intriguing as it is inspiring.
"We had a little opening here in mid-Feb with all the people that have been coming and getting a haircut before I officially opened up, just so I can say thank you. I reckon I've been open now for three or four months," Jobbo muses, his voice carrying a hint of pride as he reflects on the humble beginnings of his barbering venture.
For Jobbo, the transition from wielding hammers and saws to mastering the art of the cutthroat razor was serendipitous, a twist of fate that began with a chance encounter at a local barber shop three years ago. "I just fell into it," he recalls, his words tinged with a sense of wonder. "There was a barber shop in town, Barber & Co, and I went in there one day, three years ago. And I just went in for a haircut, so I was asking about a cutthroat and where I might be able to go to learn how to use it properly."
He was struck by the creative power of barbering, “with building I was always
adding, but with cutting hair I was always subtracting. It’s very sculptural.”
Little did Jobbo know that this seemingly innocuous visit would alter the course of his career forever. "She gave me some clippers and said I’m going to teach you how to cut hair," he recounts, his eyes alight with the memory of that pivotal moment. "It was an opportunity that arose, that I grabbed with both hands."
As Jobbo honed his skills under the guidance of his mentor, his passion for barbering blossomed. "I realised I loved it. I really like doing this," he admits. "I like doing things my way, after three years of learning I thought that's it, I'm going to open up my own barber shop."
And so, armed with determination and a newfound sense of purpose, Jobbo embarked on the next chapter of his journey, enrolling in trade school to obtain his barber's certificate. "I work for myself as a builder, working on creative projects like small studios, using materials that are readily available at hand," he explains, his hands animated as he speaks of his other passion. "About 95% of the materials in my space have been recycled."
Indeed, Jobbo's barber shop is a testament to his creative vision, a warm and welcoming oasis where clients are invited to unwind and indulge in a moment of pampering. "I wanted my space to feel warm and welcoming. I wanted it to feel like a space where you could hang, listen to some music and have a whisky," he shares, his eyes scanning the cozy interior of his establishment with pride.
But beyond the artistry of his craft, it is Jobbo's profound understanding of human connection that truly sets him apart. "I really enjoyed the different understanding of relationships," he reflects, his voice tinged with emotion. "With barbering, you meet someone regularly for years and the relationship’s much deeper and stronger. The connection is nuts."
From offering solace to grieving hearts to fostering moments of joy and camaraderie, Jobson's barber chair has become a sanctuary for those seeking more than just a haircut. It is a place where stories are shared, burdens are lifted, and connections are forged—a testament to the transformative power of human touch.
The Builder Barber Coomora
Instagram @the_builder_barber w the-builder-barber.square.site
ENKI
APOTHECARY & BOTANICALBAR
The Daylesford and Macedon Ranges area is fast securing a reputation as one Australia’s most interesting and diverse wine regions. Already renowned for the elegant pinot noir, chardonnay and shiraz it produces, the cool climate region is expanding its reputation for sparkling wine, pinot blanc, riesling
and, increasingly Italian grape varieties like vermentino and nebbiolo. The diversity is amazing but it can also present a challenge for those wondering where to start. Which is where Daylesford Wine Tours comes in.
Daylesford Wine Tours has been running wine tours in the region for nine years and was taken over last year by Ange Webster
DiversityDiscovering
DAYLESFORD
and Chris Taylor, friends who, with their spouses, have both moved to the area in recent years, Chris from Sydney and Ange from Melbourne. What began as only a semi-serious suggestion turned out to be, Chris says, “a great opportunity to lay some roots in and promote an area we really love”.
“Ange and her husband were buying a house In Eganstown and the owner of the property had set up Daylesford Wine Tours,” says Chris. “He somewhat jokingly suggested that they should buy the business too. We actually thought it sounded like a good idea that stacked up.
Ange and I had worked together before, me in sales and marketing and Ange in finance. We had the balance right and so we decided to do it.”
“It helped that the business was already really well established and had a fantastic reputation,” says Ange.
Though they have no official knowledge of wine they saw this not just as a great business opportunity but as a way to broaden their own horizons. It helped that the business came with some long-term and incredibly knowledgeable local tour guides who were not only able to talk about the region’s wineries but of stories about and history of the region itself.
“One of the great things about the wine tours is that you have a local showing you around,” says Ange. “So you get to see spots that you wouldn’t otherwise discover and hear stories that only someone with an intimate knowledge of the area can tell you. You get to experience both wellknown wineries like Passing Clouds, and Attwoods alongside smaller, lesser-known ones, plus we also include the region’s distilleries, breweries and cideries in the mix.”
Daylesford Wine Tours offers an impressive range of options, full day and morning tours, which include lunch, and afternoon tours that take in three cellar doors and end with a tasting at one of Daylesford’s distilleries. There are group, private and corporate tours that all include a pickup and drop off service to and from the customer’s accommodation so people can enjoy the bounty without having to worry about driving.
The company also asks for people’s preferences when they book so they can match each tour with the interests of the customers.
“There are often people on the tours who have a broad knowledge of vintages and grape varieties and so have specific interests but there are also those who don’t know the area at all and just want to have a fun day out with a guide showing them the best of what’s available,” says Chris. “Every tour is different.”
Ange and Chris are also planning to expand the reach of Daylesford Wine Tours and are currently looking at running tours out of Bendigo and Ballarat. But for now, their best advice is to book early to avoid disappointment. Word is spreading about the unique diversity of Macedon Ranges wines meaning Daylesford Wine Tours is in demand.
Daylesford Wine Tours
daylesfordwinetours.com
0473 302 206
Half day and full day tours available
Reasons to get LOST in winter…
COMPILED BY JESSICA WALSH
Lost in Palm Springs
Lost in Palm Springs is a multidisciplinary exhibition bringing together fourteen creative minds, artists, photographers and thinkers from America and Australia- who respond to, capture, or re-imagine the magical qualities of the landscape and the celebrated mid-century modern architecture of the desert city of Palm Springs, California. This exhibition examines the connection between Palm Springs and Australia, and how contemporary artists engage with and respond to modernism’s aesthetic and influence.
On Now till 1st Sptember, 2024 artgalleryofballarat.com.au
Words in Winter
Words in Winter is a literary and arts festival held in August in the Hepburn Shire and surrounding districts. Words in Winter is a celebration of words, stories and ideas in all their forms shared by locals and visiting presenters through readings, poetry, theatre, music, talks, workshops, author talks, and exhibitions.
23- 25 August 2024 wordsinwinter.com
Introduction to Vegetable Growing
Inspired by our feature on Julian Blackhirst? Nothing beats the flavour, freshness and nutrient density of home-grown vegies picked straight from you own garden, and in terms of living sustainably, nothing is better as it turns food miles into food metres. This Masterclass is designed to cover everything you need to know to set up and start your productive vegie patch in time for a bumper Autumn harvest.
18 August 2024
The Garden of St Erth (Blackwood) Sunday 10am - 1pm
Village Dreaming Workshops
Learn traditional skills and artisanal crafts, from sourdough bread to salami making. Mara offers lessons in traditional cooking, sustainable living, and togetherness at a regenerative permaculture farm and cooking school. It's a place to connect, share, and learn. Private classes are also available.
Village Dreaming Workshops villagedreaming.com.au/workshops
LOST REASONS
MARA RIPANI VILLAGE DREAMING WORKSHOPS
WINTER LOCAL MARKET GUIDE
FIRST SATURDAY
WOODEND FARMERS MARKET
9am-1pm High Street, Woodend
FIRST SUNDAY
CASTLEMAINE FARMERS MARKET
9am-1pm Forest Street, Castlemaine
FOURTH SUNDAY
CASTLEMAINE ARTISTS MARKET
9am-2pm Western Reserve, Castlemaine (Opp Farmers Market)
GISBORNE ALL SEASONS MARKET
9am-3pm Gisborne Village Shopping Centre, Gisborne
SECOND SATURDAY
BALLAN FARMERS MARKET
9am-1pm Mill Cottage, 96 Inglis Street, Ballan
KYNETON FARMERS MARKET
8am-1pm St Pauls Park Piper Street, Kyneton
SECOND SUNDAY
CLUNES FARMERS MARKET
9am-2pm Collins Place, Clunes
MALDON MARKET
9am-2pm Cnr Church & Edwards Street, Maldon
THIRD SATURDAY
CRESWICK MARKET
9am-1pm Napier & Victoria Street, Creswick
GLENLYON VILLAGE MARKET
9am-1pm Glenlyon Hall, Glenlyon
LEONARDS HILL HALL & COUNTRY MARKET
9am-2pm Ballan-Daylesford Road, Leonards Hill
TRENTHAM FARMERS MARKET
9am-1pm Trentham Town Square, Trentham
THIRD SUNDAY
WOODEND LIONS CLUB MARKET
9am-1pm High Street, Woodend
THIRD SUNDAY
TALBOT FARMERS MARKET
9am-2pm Talbot
'LAST SATURDAY
LANCEFIELD & DISTRICT FARMERS MARKET
9am-1pm High Street, Lancefield
EVERY SATURDAY
WESLEY HILL COMMUNITY MARKET
9am-1pm Pyrenees Hwy, Castlemaine
EVERY SUNDAY
DAYLESFORD SUNDAY MARKET
8am-4pm Daylesford Railway Station, Midland Hwy
RESTAURANTS, CAFE'S & FOOD STORES
HEPBURN GENERAL STORE
102 Main Rd Hepburn Springs.
Open 7 day from 7am. (Sundays 8am) hepburngeneralstore.com.au
PALAIS-HEPBURN
5348 1000
New chef serving up Modern Australian cuisine in a luxurious setting. Open Thu 5pm-11pm, Fri-Sat 4pm-12am, Dinner from 5pm-9.30pm palais-hepburn.com
SAULT 5348 6555
2439 Ballan-Daylesford Rd, Sailors Falls. Seasonal Modern Australian dishes in a scenic homestead. Dinner Wed-Sun. Lunch Fri-Sun. sault.com.au
Open Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon 11.00 - 4.30 redhareestate.com.au
THE LOBBY BAR 5348 2271
77 Main Road Hepburn Springs. Open from 5pm until late. Swing by and settle in for the evening. bellinzona.com.au
SERVICES
OZ-TRANS 0407 697 877
Professional removals, general, furniture & produce freight. Art, piano's, pallets & parcels. Regular runs to Melbourne, Geelong & west/central Vic oztrans.com.au
SIGNSATION
0427 425 577
We specialise in hand painted signs and murals. We also offer the most up to date methods in digital printing to our customers. signsation.net.au
ACCOMMODATION
THE AMALFI 5348 2008
A beautiful self-contained property featuring 20 en-suited guest rooms, commercial kitchen and conference spaces. thehousesdaylesford.com
HOTEL BELLINZONA 5348 2271
77 Main Rd Hepburn Springs. Open 7 days. Bespoke accommodation in the heart of Hepburn Springs. bellinzona.com.au
PARKSTONE REAL ESTATE 9115 7328
Shop 6/22-24 Howe Street, Daylesford. Real Estate Sales & Property Management. Servicing Daylesford, Castlemaine & the Macedon Ranges. parkstonerealestate.com.au
THE OXFORD
5348 2008
Historical property catering to large groups of up to 24, in the scenic Hepburn Springs area. thehousesdaylesford.com
PEPPERS HOTEL 5348 2202
124 Main Rd, Hepburn Springs. Open 7 days. 1930's Daylesford hotel, transformed into a deluxe retreat. mineralspringshotel.com.au
THE HOUSES DAYLESFORD 5348 2008
Full service agency specialising in beautiful houses for corporate retreats and both large & small groups. thehousesdaylesford.com
WOMBAT EDGE
5348 2008
A beautiful and modern country home for up to 11 guests. Set on 10 acres with a lake, and only 15 minutes from Daylesford. thehousesdaylesford.com
THE GARDEN HOUSE
5348 2008
You could easily forget that you are so close to Daylesford’s thriving town centre, when inside these remarkable grounds. thehousesdaylesford.com
LEWELLYN HOUSE
5348 2008
Accommodateing 18 guests with 9 bedrooms & 9 ensuites. Positioned opposite The Convent Gallery. thehousesdaylesford.com
WINERIES & DISTILLERIES
BIG TREE DISTILLERY
1300 040 573
Producing Award Winning Farm Crafted Gin Distillery Tasting Room open most weekends and Mondays. bigtreedistillery.com.au
DAYLESFORD CIDER
5348 2275
155 Dairyflat Rd, Musk. Craft Cider, Tastings, Lunch & cellar-door sales. Online reservations, visit website for info on opening hours daylesfordcider.com.au
PASSING CLOUDS
5348 5550
30 Roddas Lane, Musk. Winery open daily 10am5pm. Lunch 12pm Fri-Mon (bookings are essential). passingclouds.com.au
Daizy
Daizy is a 25-year+ local and owner operator of Alice’s Journeys Walking Tours of Daylesford and Cammino di Hepburn.
What led you to reside in Daylesford 25 years ago?
I first came to Daylesford on School camp in 1977, when I was 10 years old. The Year that Elvis died and ABBA first came to Australia. It was an Alice in Wonderland experience. Forest landscapes and a picture postcard town, even back in the 1970s. There were a lot of “Milk Bars” in the main street, Vincent St., and one of them sold triple decker ice cream cones with bubble gum and liquorice flavours. Just heaven for a 10-year-old. We walked to Hepburn Springs along the Spring Creek Gully for a picnic. I fell in love with Daylesford through the eyes of a 10-yearold girl. My connection to Daylesford and its culture and history has never waned. As a Uni student living in Melbourne I would often seek reconnection to Daylesford and Hepburn with my friends.
Camping at Jubilee Lake and bathing at the Hepburn Bath House were rejuvenating. It was no real surprise in 1997 when I purchased a derelict miners’ hotel, The Old Elm Tree, on Stanbridge St. It was built by William Stanbridge, one of our founding great great grandfathers of the town. I set about to bring this little gem back to some of its former glory.
Eventually my partner, Rachel, and I found our “happy ever after” home on a 2.5-hectare property in Glenlyon, and have lived close to nature, for over 22 years.
What is so special about Daylesford and the community?
Daylesford is located on the traditional lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung who have inhabited these lands and waterways for over 45,000 years. To me this is incredibly special. Learning and understanding our First Nations’ history and culture is an amazing opportunity, which I missed as a child, because the school curriculum didn’t include it, so I have embraced this learning journey as a non-indigenous local.
Daylesford is also an eclectic diverse community of good, hard-working folk doing interesting and innovative stuff. I never cease to be enriched by everyone, from organic and regenerative farmers, artists, writers, chefs and cooks, accommodation providers and cleaners, to the health care workers who caringly deliver the finest health and medical services. The farmers, vintners, distillers, brewers and food manufacturers produce some of the best food and beverages in Australia, and their innovation and work are inspirational.
The visitor economy and hospitality industry, the restaurants, cafes, pubs and wineries along with the accommodation offerings are world class. As a local, I feel so privileged to soak up all the offerings every day of the year.
You must have a favourite place or building here - care to share?
As the designer and operator of a local walking tour company this is the hardest question to answer. There’s over a dozen buildings, at least, that top my list. To name just a few highlights though, the Convent Gallery, Lavandula Farm, Luccini’s Macaroni Factory, The Daylesford Court House, St Peters and Christ Churches, The Daylesford Town Hall, The Daylesford Post Office, Villa Parma and Hotel Bellinzona are right up there. The architectural styles and stories behind these places are just wonderful. You can see all of these and hear their stories when you come on one of our guided walking tours.
What would be, in your opinion, Daylesford/ Hepburn's greatest treasure?
Without a doubt the people are what make this place. From the multi generation locals to recent arrivals, there’s something special about our residents and it shines through in unexpected ways. When there’s a natural disaster, like a bushfire or flood, or a serious incident, the community draws on its goodness and supports each other in truly special ways.
Being a safe and harmonious place for our LGBTIQ community, of which I am a member, can’t be understated. When the whole town, including the schools and
students, turns out for the ChillOut street parade each year, it speaks volumes about inclusivity and celebration of diversity.
If you were to be a tourist in our town, what would your weekend itinerary look like?
I’d start with single origin filter coffee at Pancho, then take a stroll around Lake Daylesford followed by a dish of prawn and chicken dumplings @ Jackies on Vincent. I’d then fill my bag with a few home town favourites for later and to take home including; a loaf of organic sourdough bread from Himalaya Bakery, a Cornish pastie from The Daylesford Meat Co., a jar of Australian Bush Pepper Blend from the Gewurzhaus Spice House, a selection of home-made chocolates from Sweet Decadence at Locantro. Before lunch I’d have a little Gin tasting at Hepburn Distillery.
I’d lunch at Bar Merenda Daylesford, A walk through the Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens is my next stop before I take in a beer tasting at Daylesford Brewing Company.
Saturday night dinner at the Boat House Daylesford on Lake Daylesford.On Sunday morning I’d pickup some fresh local produce at the Daylesford Market at the Railway Station where I can stock up on seasonal organic fruit and vegies, free range organic meats, breads and pastries, artisan cheese and pickles etc. Sunday lunch would find me at the Guildford Winery. I’d end my weekend with an apéritif in Hepburn at either Bellinzona or the Mineral Springs Hotel, followed by dinner at the Surly Goat.
Book your walking tour with Daizy & the team at alicesjourneys.com
