Daylesford Macedon Life https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au Daylesford Macedon Tourism Mon, 17 Mar 2025 22:54:21 +0000 en hourly 1 https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/cropped-DaylesfordMacedonLifelogo-white-32x32.jpg Daylesford Macedon Life https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au 32 32 The Great Trentham Spudfest https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/business/food-drink/the-great-trentham-spudfest/ Mon, 17 Mar 2025 22:45:45 +0000 https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/?p=101162
Celebrating our people, produce and region.

The tiny township of Trentham, located high on the Great Dividing Range, celebrates its long history of potato growing with The Great Trentham Spudfest, a community-led festival bringing together local potato growers, artisans, music, food vendors, and history to showcase the region’s finest offerings across one entire weekend in early May.
The annual two-day event, held against a backdrop of spectacular autumn colour, attracts over 8000 visitors and is hosted throughout the historic town of Trentham and surrounding districts.

Spudfest runs a different program across each day and is a largely free event, with a selection of specially curated activities requiring tickets.

On Saturday, the legendary Street Fair is held in the heart of Trentham town, with four main precincts packed full of spud food, fresh regional produce, our local makers market, live music, and of course the fabulous Spud Olympics, creating a fantastic carnival atmosphere. If you want to buy a bag full of famous Trentham spuds, Saturday is the day all the growers are in town.

Visitors can also join a Trentham Historical Society-led bus tour of the heritage-protected Spud Huts, dotted across the local landscape.
Saturday evening the fun continues with the Spudfest Cèilidh, a family-friendly celebration of Celtic music, food, and dancing, to mark the halfway point of the festival.
Sunday is Discovery Day, delivering the perfect energy shift from Day 1. Get out into the surrounding countryside and explore curated Farm Gate Trails, filled with fresh-from-the-paddock produce, or book a tour at a renowned local farm. Or sign up for the legendary Great Spud Scavenger Hunt.

On Sunday, Trentham Town Square transforms into the Spud Hub, with freshly harvested potatoes on sale, exclusive Spudfest merch, details about all tours and trails, and sign-ups for the Scavenger Hut. Horse and cart rides, guided historic walking tours, and the Red Beard Bakery Scotch Oven tour operate during the day, while spudtastic dishes are served all day at venues throughout the region.

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trenthamspudfest.org.au

]]> Castlemaine Fringe Festival https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/business/art-makers/castlemaine-fringe-festival/ Wed, 12 Mar 2025 23:29:51 +0000 https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/?p=101118
Castlemaine Fringe Values are: Inclusion, Accessibility, Participation Working towards an inclusive festival for all.

Fringe is a celebration of community & creativity: our people & our places. The festival takes place in the streets & buildings of Castlemaine and surrounds, activating our town, inspiring our people. Community is at the heart of what we do – providing access to a diverse range of cultural and artistic experiences, providing and promoting opportunities for musicians, performers and artists.

As part of our commitment to our community, we conduct the biennial Castlemaine Fringe Festival, an independent festival which is run on the commitment of volunteers, loads of community goodwill and very limited financial budgets. Castlemaine Fringe aims to enhance the health, welfare and wellbeing of our community through engagement in cultural and artistic experiences. Street parties, comedy & theatre in pubs, artwork on walls, in shopfronts, in galleries and schools. Music in unusual places, film for everyone. Dancing, eating, sharing. Picnics in the park and dancing in the dark. Fun, accessible, affordable events for everyone.

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Throughout Castlemaine VIC

castlemainefringe.org.au

]]> Leonardo Catarcia’s Potato Gnocchi, Taleggio And Speck https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/recipes/leonardo-catarcias-potato-gnocchi-taleggio-and-speck/ Wed, 12 Mar 2025 07:00:11 +0000 https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/?p=84457 RECIPE BY: Leonardo Catarcia, Head Chef of the Argus Dining Room, Peppers Mineral Springs Hotel

Savour Leo’s dishes at Peppers Mineral Springs Hotel, The Argus Dining Room restaurant, open to public for breakfast lunch and dinner, seven days.

Prep: 15 minutes / Bake: 2 hours 15 minutes / Serves: 6

Ingredients

Gnocchi

  • 1kg raw spuds (find yours at a local farm gate during your visit – Dutch Creams and Desiree are the best)
  • 100 g plain flour
  • 150 g buckwheat flour
  • 2 tablespoon grated parmesan
  • 1 egg (Googie Eggs – a small-scale free-range farm, Clydesdale) 
  • Salt & pepper

Crunchy speck and kale

  • 200 g speck thinly sliced
  • 150 g Tuscan kale thinly sliced

Taleggio Cream

  • 2 sliced shallots 
  • 250 g chardonnay
  • 100 g sherry
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns
  • 5 juniper berries
  • 300 g pure cream
  • 80 g taleggio 

Method

Gnocchi

Roast your whole potatoes in the oven until cooked – this should take around an hour – and then while still hot, pass the soft potato centres through a mouli or ricer into a bowl.  Let the potatoes cool down and then mix with the remaining ingredients to form a dough.

Flour your work surface to shape your dough. If the dough is too sticky add a little more flour, but be careful not to make it too dry − too much flour will make the gnocchi hard and heavy.  Shape your dough into a roll, the thickness of a finger. Using a sharp knife, cut each roll into even pieces 2−4 cm long. As you cut your gnocchi, lay them on a floured tea towel in a single layer until you are ready to cook.

Taleggio Cream

Cook your sliced shallots in a frying pan with some butter until golden, deglaze with wine and sherry and add bay leaves, black peppercorn and juniper berries. Reduce your liquid by two thirds.

Bring your cream to the boil, stir in the taleggio and add the reduction.  Blend with a hand mixer and pass the liquid through a fine sieve.

Crunchy speck and kale

Place your speck in an oven at 60 degrees and dehydrate for 2 hours. Quickly deep fry your kale until it is crunchy. Rest on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.

Ready to serve

Boil a large saucepan of salted water and add the gnocchi until they start floating. You may need to do this in small batches to prevent the gnocchi from sticking together. As they rise to the surface, remove the gnocchi with a slotted spoon, and add them into a pan with the taleggio cream. Toss to cover the gnocchi in the delicious sauce and plate up. Decorate your dish with crunchy speck and kale and you are ready to serve. Pair this dish with a chardonnay that has spent a bit of time in oak and wouldn’t be overpowered by the richness of the dish, otherwise drink with a lighter red like a pinot or a young sangiovese.

]]> The magnificence of colour and diversity https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/articles/weddings-article/the-magnificence-of-colour-and-diversity/ Tue, 11 Mar 2025 05:17:01 +0000 https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/?p=101089

Autumn is a captivating season in this region, as nature transforms into a vibrant display of colour.

Autumn means settled, mild weather, making it an ideal choice for a wedding. Imagine a garden ceremony surrounded by the rich hues of fall leaves, or perhaps a harvest-inspired celebration, showcasing the season’s abundance of fresh produce and vibrant floral arrangements.

Autumn exudes romance, offering a perfect backdrop for your special day. The cooler temperatures allow for versatile fashion choices—from long sleeves to sleeveless styles, the options are endless, ensuring both you and your guests are comfortable and stylish.

We understand the importance of capturing the beauty of your celebration. With autumn’s stunning colours hilltop air, your wedding will be an Instagram-worthy event. And, of course, those breathtaking moments will look just as incredible in your professional photos.

Cleveland Estate

Cleveland Estate in Lancefield is an idyllic and picturesque four-star venue, that can cater for weddings large and small. Only 45 minutes from Melbourne CBD or Tullamarine Airport, this winery wedding venue offers fifty beautifully-appointed suites as well as the intimate Homestead, built in 1887 and catering for up to 14 guests – ideal for the bridal party or a small wedding.

lancemore.com.au

Cleveland Estate 11
Cleveland Estate

Glen Erin

Not far away is multi award-winning Glen Erin, which can also cater to larger weddings – up to 150 seated or 250 in a cocktail style. Say “I do” under a beautiful floral arch overlooking a vineyard, on in an enchanting chapel. The Bridal Suite is an 1860s luxury homestead, and a further 24 luxury suites cater for your guests. Glen Erin is renowned for its outstanding food, so is ideal for the foodie crowd.

glenerin.com.au

Lavandula

About ten minutes north of Daylesford, is the famous 100-acre Swiss Italian lavender farm, Lavandula. If you love the great outdoors and a beautiful natural setting, this is for you. Restored Swiss Italian buildings adorn the landscape, and cute farm animals roam the grounds. With the delights of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs just minutes away, this is a favourite amongst those in the know.

lavandula.com.au

The Convent

It’s hard to think of many places in regional Victoria that surpass The Convent as a wedding destination. Sitting proudly on the crest of Wombat Hill, over-looking Daylesford, this 19th century building was a convent and boarding school for almost 90 years. Now a premier art gallery, its four levels have wonderful spaces to celebrate your wedding, including a chapel, for those who cherish a more traditional space in which to get hitched.

conventgallery.com.au

Mel Panteli convent KatJohn 301
The Convent. Photo by Mel Panteli Photography

Mount Macedon Winery

Nestled in the heart of the Macedon Ranges, Mount Macedon Winery is perfect for those who seek a high-end, yet quintessentially Australian wedding. Sprawling gardens, a barn, spectacular vines, are all great options for the event. The views, the vineyards, native wildlife and highland cattle all come together to create a stunning backdrop for your special day. A bridal suite is onsite, and the ceremony, reception and accommodation for the newlyweds are all conveniently located in one place.

mountmacedonwinery.com.au

Mineral Springs Hotel

Originally built in 1935, the Mineral Springs Hotel has evolved into a romantically elegant boutique hotel, restaurant and spa offering accommodation, with interiors designed by the late Stuart Rattle, and surrounded by spectacular formal Italian gardens, complete with a manicured miniature hedge maze. While the main hotel itself is a magnificent building, for us, the real gem is Villa Parma. Built in 1864, this Swiss Italian building, within the grounds of the hotel, is truly unique and sleeps eight. The high-end spa facility, also within the grounds, is the ultimate de-stresser.

Mel Panteli Villa Parma MP8 1328
Villa Parma, Mineral Springs Hotel. Photo Mel Panteli Photography

Tuki

Perched on Stoney Ridges Tuki is a traditional grazing property, with the original woolshed, miner’s cottage and stable restaurant a reminder that this property has been farmed since the 1850s. The old stable perched high on the ridge looking over the trout ponds to the distant hills is where wedding receptions are held, and the restaurant and reception area provide a vista which a guest has described as a “little piece of heaven right here on earth”. Their reception area will sit up to 100 guests comfortably all year round, up to 120 in summer if required. Oh, and the hosts Jan and Robert are the nicest people you could ever meet.

tuki.com.au

RACV Goldfields

Just outside the lovely town of Creswick, the RACV Goldfields resort is ideal for groups of all sizes…particularly those with active guests. The resort is home to a beautiful 18-hole golf course, as well as a mountain bike track. Nearby is a world class mountain biking resort, for those who want to burn off any wedding-induced excess. The resort boasts luxury accommodation, an excellent restaurant, and can accommodate up to 300 guests.

racv.com.au

Lake House

Lake House almost needs no introduction. One of Australia’s most awarded and beautiful boutique hotels, it offers exceptional suites, its famed two-hatted destination restaurant, award-winning cellar and impeccable service. The lakeside location and impeccable setting make it a true wedding destination. To ease any pre-wedding stress, a state-of-the-art Spa allows you to indulge with the latest in treatments and technology… or have exclusive use of the entire spa for a heavenly hen’s day.

lakehouse.com.au

 

Hero Image: Lavandula by Ash + Elm Studios
Photo Credit: Mel Panteli Photography

Places Mentioned
]]> Guildford Garden Gate https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/location/guildford-garden-gate/ Tue, 04 Mar 2025 03:40:45 +0000 https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/?p=100987 Wander through the garden gate for inspiration, and a bit of retail therapy. Grown from seed, the plants here are well priced and the fairy-tale garden shed is chocked with unique garden ornaments and knick knacks, many made on site. You can also pick up a free coffee, tea, water or hot chocolate and cookies.

]]> The Big Tree https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/location/the-big-tree/ Tue, 04 Mar 2025 03:36:49 +0000 https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/?p=100984 A few steps across the road from the store, you’ll find a bust of AFL football legend, Ronald (Ron) Barassi AM atop a Castlemaine stone base at the edge of the recreation reserve. Unveiled in 2016 to celebrate Barassi’s 80th birthday the statue is a tribute to the great man who spent several years as a young boy living on his grandfather’s farm on Shicer Gully Road and attended Guildford Primary School. Pack a footy (especially if you’re travelling with kids), and have a kick on the oval in honour of one of the legends of Australian sport.

]]> Ron Barassi Statue https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/location/ron-barassi-statue/ Tue, 04 Mar 2025 03:34:26 +0000 https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/?p=100982 A few steps across the road from the store, you’ll find a bust of AFL football legend, Ronald (Ron) Barassi AM atop a Castlemaine stone base at the edge of the recreation reserve. Unveiled in 2016 to celebrate Barassi’s 80th birthday the statue is a tribute to the great man who spent several years as a young boy living on his grandfather’s farm on Shicer Gully Road and attended Guildford Primary School. Pack a footy (especially if you’re travelling with kids), and have a kick on the oval in honour of one of the legends of Australian sport.

]]> Guildford General Store https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/location/guildford-general-store/ Tue, 04 Mar 2025 03:24:54 +0000 https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/?p=100978 Snag a spot on the veranda or perch inside surrounded by white washed shelves curated with retro signs, kitchenalia and vintage collectibles. The homely menu includes hearty fare like creamy porridge with seasonal poached fruit, eggs benny done to perfection, or pulled pork burger with all the trimmings.

]]> Guildford Lookout https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/location/guildford-lookout/ Tue, 04 Mar 2025 03:20:58 +0000 https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/?p=100976 Morning is a great time to take in the view over the ancient landscape. Nestled into the valley Guildford is at the edge of what was once volcanic country and the stone platform is on the remains of lava flow. The plaque marks landmarks and distances. Look for Mount Franklin (Lalgambook) a well-defined extinct volcano and towering Mount Tarrangower (Tarrangower) in the distance.

]]> Guildford Family Hotel https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/location/guildford-family-hotel/ Tue, 04 Mar 2025 03:15:42 +0000 https://daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au/?p=100974 Locally owned and operated, the Guilford Family Hotel (circa 1855) oozes the atmosphere of yesteryear with the mod cons of fine food, wine and craft beers. Mingle with locals in the straight-out-of-a-movie front bar; cosy up by the fire in the main dining room or if travelling in summer, enjoy sundowners in the beer garden. The fare is hearty with dishes such as slow cooked pork belly sitting alongside classic parmas and beer battered fish and chips. Hot tip: if a roast is on the specials list, get your order in fast.

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