Monthly Events

Castlemaine Farmers' Market
Meet the growers and producers from the region, including Taste of Gold people. Sample the local produce then make your choice - and plan a visit to some local attractions afterwards.
Location & Time: Castlemaine Visitor Information Centre, Castlemaine, 1st Sunday in month, 9am to 1pm

Kyneton Farmers' Market
Featuring fresh in-season produce, fine local wines, the best olive oils, preserves, pasta, plants and more. Art and craft market in March and September.
Contact: Canon Graham Snell (03) 5422 1025
Location: St Pauls Park, Pipers Street Kyneton,
When: 2nd Saturday of month, 9am to 1pm all year round

Talbot Farmers Market
Held on the third Sunday of every month from 9am to 1pm, Talbot Farmers Market embraces 70 stalls with seasonal harvest foods, regional wines and ales, small livestock, condiments, bakery items, cheeses, plants, heirloom seeds and much, much more.
Location: Scandinavian Crescent Talbot 3371
Phone: (03) 5463 2001
Email: talbotfarmersmarket@bigpond.com

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Local Attractions
(see the Trail Maps, or click on available web sites for more information)

CASTLEMAINE

Victorian Goldfields Railway
Enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of the steam train era with a classic steam train journey linking the historic towns of Castlemaine and Maldon.  Special First Class carriages available on Sunday trains with light refreshments available during the journey.  
Location: Castlemaine Railway Station Kennedy St. Platform 3
Phone: 03 5470 6658
Email: marketing@vgr.com.au
Web: www.vgr.com.au
Wednesdays and Sundays, and some public holidays Check the web site.

Bold Garden Nursery
The Bold Garden is a unique nursery that will inspire and delight you with its ever changing display of original local artwork, quality plants and horticultural goods.
Location: 146 Dukes Street, Castlemaine
Phone: 03 5470 6028
Email: mail@boldgarden.com
Web: www.boldgarden.com
Open: Wed to Sun 10am to 5pm and most Public Holidays.

Buda Historic Home & Garden
Buda is one of the great heritage assets of the region.  Built in 1861 and home to noted silversmith Ernest Liviny from 1863 and is set in 1.2 hectares of enchanting gardens.
Location: 42 Hunters Street, Castlemaine
Email: admin@budacastlemaine.org
Web: budacastlemaine.org
Open: Wed - Sat 12 noon to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 5pm
Groups by arrangement

Castlemaine and District Garden Club
Membership of the club is open to all and costs $15 a year per household. Subscriptions are apyable at the beginning of each calendar year.  New members and visitors welcome.
Phone: 03 5472 3544
Email: emgerahty@yahoo.com
Contact: Graeme Watson

HARCOURT

Mt Alexander Regional Park
Enjoy the bush and the spectacular views. Lookouts, picnic places, bushwalking, rock climbing, camping, native plants, wildlife.
Web: www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

The Great Dividing Trail Leanganook Track completes the northern leg of the Great Dividing Trail.  The Trail passes through the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park, traverses the summit of Mt. Alexander and follows the historic Coliban Water Main Channel to the outskirts of Bendigo.  Trail maps available at Castlemaine Visitor Centre.
Web: www.gdt.org.au 

MALDON

Maldon-Castlemaine Historic Steam Train
Winding through forest and open land in Central Victoria, the Victorian Goldfields Railway, through the efforts of volunteers, has taken on a new life as a heritage railway, enabling the visitor to see, hear and participate in an active steam railway from the era of the branchline.
www.vgr.com.au

Penny School Gallery & Cafe
A beautiful gallery specialising in exhibitions by some of Australia’s finest artists. A licensed café offers seasonal menus. Ideal function venue for that personalised celebration - weddings, birthdays, christenings.
Location: 11 Church Street, Maldon
Phone: 03 5475 1911
Email: psgallery@netcon.net.au
Web: www.pennyschoolgallery.com.au
Open: 11am–5pm every day, and for dinner every Friday, Saturday & Sunday evening - hosts Barry & Marilyn Veith. 

MALMSBURY

The Hogarth Collection 
Ignite your senses! Do yourself a favour. Visit this unique and quirky collection of art and decorative pieces from here, there (in fact) and everywhere.
Location: 81 Mollison Street, Malmsbury  3446
Phone: (03) 5423 2222  Mob. 0418 297 116
Fax: (03) 5423 2622
Email: thehogarthcollection@hotmail.com
Open: 10am - 5pm Thurs to Sunday and public holidays, or by appointment 

MARYBOROUGH

Central Goldfields Art Gallery 
Located in the heart of Maryborough, the gallery is situated in the historic fire station built in 1861.  Local and Goldfields region artists are showcased.  The gallery collection is exhibited.
Location: Old Fire Station, Neill Street, Maryborough
Phone: (03) 5460 4588
Email: kayp@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au
Open: Thurs - Sun 10am to 4pm

Possum Gully Fine Art Gallery 
Our gallery specialises in drawing, painting and printmaking by local and well known Australian artists.  Sculpture, glass, textile art, handmade jewellery and cards are also available.
Location: 428 Possum Gully Road, Adelaide Lead via Maryborough
Phone: (03) 5461 1775
Email: patricia@possumgullyfinearts.com
Host: Patricia Walsh

TALBOT

Slightly Bent Books 
Pre-loved and new, old and antiquarian literature and fiction for children, art lovers, historians and adults ahve been brought back to life like the old store.  Art Gallery is attached.
Location: Scandinavian Crescent, Talbot
Phone: (03) 5463 2152
Email: bridson@gotalk.net.au
Open: Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays - 11am to 3pm.
Host:  Helen Green 

Taste of Gold sponsored & supported Events

January

The 'fabulous' Maldon & Beyond Twilight Festival
Dine under the stars by candlelight in the Main Street of historic Maldon. Be enchanted by live music whilst you graze on the local gourmet delicacies being offered and enjoy the wonderful wines this region has to offer. 
Saturday evening January 16th, 2010 - Tickets cost $15 per person and can be purchased from Goldfields Provender 12 Main St Maldon, or ring 03 5475 2444, or email provender@goldfieldsprovender.com.au . 

Holmesglen Institute/Taste of Gold Farmers Market 
Saturday January 30th 2010 - 9am to 1pm at the Holmesglen Waverley Campus - 585 Waverley Road, Waverley (not the main campus in Holmesgen). Great range of fresh fruit, vegies, meats, beverages, olive products, hot food, coffee, preserves, cakes and biscuits, etc. etc.  Every month with a fifth Saturday.

February

Harvest Picnic Hanging Rock
Taste of Gold members will again be at the 'award winning' Mount Alexander Shire Marquee at Hanging Rock -come and enjoy the day and call in at the Taste of Gold display.
Last Sunday in February

March

Mineral Springs Festival, Taradale
Enjoy quality foods and wine sourced from Central Victoria. Large range of locally made products, fresh produce, wine tastings, art activities, live music, free children's entertainment. 
Location: Mineral Springs Reserve, Calder Highway, Taradale 
When: March 7th 2010, 10am-4pm
Contact Ron Paine (03) 5423 2350, 0409 148 690
Email: painerl@bigpond.com

The Bridge Regional Picnic - at Redesdale 
Proudly supported by the Coliban Bridge Trail and part of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, this new event is all about celebrating the history of the Redesdale area, the fantastic regional produce we have to offer and a great but quirky story about our Bridge.  Call beforehand to order your picnic hamper of fabulous local produce. On the day there will be regional food, local wines, great music, childrens entertainment and a fun community spirit.
Location: Redesdale Reserve, Kyneton-Redesdale Road, Redesdale 
When: Sunday March 21st - 10am to 5pm
Bookings: (03) 5423 4225
Picnic Hampers - adults $20, children $10

Harcourt Annual Applefest 
Watch out for 2010 Festival details for the 4th weekend in March.
Phone 03 5474 2578 for details
Web: www.harcourtapplefest.org.au

April

Heritage Weekend in Central Goldfields - 17 & 18th April 2010 
Explore our heritage, cultural and other secrets in a weekend in Central Victoria.  Visit 4 heritage homes, a working historic family farm, join a guided cultural walk with Jaara elders, and sample local wines, produce and restaurants.  Many things to do and many things to visit.  Drive yourself around or jump on a Shuttle bus.  Tickets $50 (or $15 under 15 years) and program available from Maryborough Information Centre.
Email: visitorinfo@cgoldshire.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 5460 4511
Freecall:  1800 356 511
Fax: 03 5460 5188

Castlemaine State Arts Festival (biennial)-Next in Easter 2011
Web: http://www.castlemainefestival.com.au

May

Holmesglen Institute/Taste of Gold Farmers Market 
Saturday May 29th 2010 - 9am to 1pm at the Holmesglen Waverley Campus - 585 Waverley Road, Waverley (not the main campus in Holmesgen). Great range of fresh fruit, vegies, meats, beverages, olive products, hot food, coffee, preserves, cakes and biscuits, etc. etc.  Every month with a fifth Saturday.

June

Kyneton Olive Oil Annual Open Weekend
Tastings & Sales - Saturday to Monday 12th -14th June 2010. 
A great weekend to sample the Kyneton Olive Oil 2010 Harvest Product launch,  while at the same time take a tour of the processing facility.  Also local wine tastings, wood fired pizzas and local produce market.
See www.kynetonoliveoil.com.au
2090 Kyneton Heathcote Road, Barfold.
For directions phone Sam: 0419 191 192 or (03) 5423 4240

Maldon & Beyond Food & Wine Festival
Enjoy a day sampling gourmet foods and fine wines from the region - all down the centre of the Main Street of historic Maldon.  Live music, live cooking demonstrations and interesting displays will make this a day not to miss. 
Sunday 27th June 2010  - 11am to 4pm - Free Admission

October

Kyneton Wine Show - part of the annual Kyneton & District Agricultural Show 
Formal wine judging for those winemakers that enter their product and a real showcase of the great wines on offer from the Taste of Gold region.  Dinner held in October to celebrate the prize winners.
Late October at a Kyneton venue - contact Sandra on 0411 024 157 for entry and dinner booking details

November

Malmsbury Village Fayre
Annual wine, food and music extravaganza. Local award winning wines and olive oils, locally made produce, talented musicians.  Next to the Botanic Gardens and lake.
Contact: Nea (03) 5423 2088
Location & Time: Malmsbury Town Hall Calder Highway
When: 3rd Sunday of November 10am-4pm

Other Regional Events held annually

Newstead Live Folk Festival - January

Vaughanbury Musical Festival – early March

Maldon Easter Fair - Easter

Winemakers Festival - Easter Sunday
Castlemaine Botanical Gardens
Contact: (03) 5474 8250

Newstead on Show - mid April

Maldon in Winter Festival (July/Aug)

Kyneton Daffodil & Arts Festival – early September

Guildford Banjo Jambouree - September

Maldon Folk Festival – October/November

Kyneton Cup - early November

Castlemaine Goldfields Festival of Gardens (biennial)Melbourne Cup weekend November - next 2009
Email: info@festivalofgardens.org 
Web: www.festivalofgardens.org

Welshmans Reef Photographic Prize - November
Location: Welshmans Reef Vineyard
Web: www.welshmansreef.com for details

Sawpit Gully Festival, Elphinstone - November
Location: Reserve next to Elphinstone Post Office
When: Second Sunday November, 10am-3pm