ESCAPE ROUTES
in their fabulous bushland setting, with a communal
barbecue area in a reconstructed slab tin miner’s hut so
naturally their venue is popular for decade birthdays, small
weddings and family reunions.
A bit further out of town on the road to Texas, Andrew
and Helen Ferrier run organic Dorpers on their family
farm, Mallow. As the breed is self-shedding, the family no
longer needs to shear, so they’ve converted the shearers’
quarters into a three-bedroom, self-catering farm stay.
Few shearers would have experienced such commodious
accommodation as the cottage boasts furniture made
by the Ferriers’ designer craftsman son, Nick. Helen was
a nurse in her fi rst career and off ers mindfulness and
wellbeing workshops and works with a local yoga teacher
and masseuse for retreats. Guests who venture out will
encounter Mallow lamb on the region’s fi ne-dining
menus, which include Varias Restaurant, located within
the campus of the Queensland College of Wine Tourism.
Students at the college gain valuable work experience in
the kitchen, on the restaurant fl oor and in the vineyards
and winery of its own label, Banca Ridge. Varias champions
local produce and is open for lunch daily and dinner Friday
and Saturday. From Thursday to Sunday at 10.30am guests
can take a tour of the facility, which includes a wine tasting
and cooking demonstration.
Banca Ridge’s Marsanne makes the winery part of the
Granite Belt’s Strange Bird wine trail, which celebrates the
fact that alongside traditional grapes such as Chardonnay
and Shiraz, the region produces many alternative varietals.
To earn the “alternative” label, the variety must represent
not more than one per cent of the total bearing vines
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