Country Style Australia – June 2017

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WORDS

VIRGINIA IMHOFF

PHOTOGRAPHY

JOHN LAURIE

ILLUSTRATION

DANIELLA GERMAIN

The restored Cosmopolitan
Hotel. Hotel. CLOCKWCLOCKWISE, FROMISE, FROM
FAR RIGHTFAR RIGHT Fare of the day Fare of the day
at Du Fermat Du Fermier; the café at ier; the café at
Red Beard Historic Bakery; Red Beard Historic Bakery;
stunning display gardens at stunning display gardens at
FrogmFrogmore Gardens nursery.ore Gardens nursery.

TRENTHAM


A GENTLE VILLAGE ATMOSPHERE HAS
HHELPED THELPED THIS HIS HISTORIC TOWISTORIC TOWN BLOSSOMN BLOSSOM..

11 The Cosm The Cosmopolitan Hotel opolitan Hotel 22 Lerderderg State Park Lerderderg State Park 33 Du Ferm Du Fermier ier 44 Red Beard Red Beard
Historic Bakery Historic Bakery 55 Quarry St Reserve and Lake Quarry St Reserve and Lake 66 Dom Domino Trail ino Trail 77 Historic Historic
railwrailway station ay station 88 Trentham Trentham Falls Falls

WHILE NEIGHBOURING TOWNS in Victoria’s
central highlands reaped the spoils of visitor popularity over central highlands reaped the spoils of visitor popularity over
the past couple of decades, Trenthamthe past couple of decades, Trentham was quietly biding its tim was quietly biding its time e
in the min the misty forest at the top of the Great Dividing Range. But not isty forest at the top of the Great Dividing Range. But not
anymanymore. Trenthamore. Trentham m might still be a smight still be a small, albeit rapidly growing all, albeit rapidly growing
village, with a population of about 1400, but it happens to have village, with a population of about 1400, but it happens to have
an abundance of successful businesses, froman abundance of successful businesses, from restaurants such as restaurants such as
Du FermDu Fermier, owned by chef Annie Smier, owned by chef Annie Smithers, to boutiques, an iconic ithers, to boutiques, an iconic
bakery, great pubs and cafés. Nearby, there are also cool-climbakery, great pubs and cafés. Nearby, there are also cool-climate ate
nurseries with stunning display gardens. Fringed by the tall nurseries with stunning display gardens. Fringed by the tall
timtimbers of the Wbers of the Womombat State Forest, Trenthambat State Forest, Trentham has plenty of has plenty of
beautiful scenery, fresh air and a down-to-earth country feel. beautiful scenery, fresh air and a down-to-earth country feel.
All this and it’s only 93 kilomAll this and it’s only 93 kilometres north-west of Metres north-west of Melbourne. elbourne.
TrenthamTrentham’s location is part of the reason why the town is ’s location is part of the reason why the town is
now a popular day-trip destination and weekend escape fromnow a popular day-trip destination and weekend escape from
the city, but is also increasingly becomthe city, but is also increasingly becoming a place to put down ing a place to put down
roots. Fromroots. From the 1850s, the town was built on gold, tim the 1850s, the town was built on gold, timber and ber and
—— thanks to the fertile volcanic soils of the region — thanks to the fertile volcanic soils of the region — agriculture, agriculture,
particularly potato growing. Trenthamparticularly potato growing. Trentham proudly celebrates that proudly celebrates that
heritage with the Great Trenthamheritage with the Great Trentham Spudfest held annually in Spudfest held annually in
MMay, however these days the region is also known for berry ay, however these days the region is also known for berry
growing, wine, orchard fruits and honey, not to mgrowing, wine, orchard fruits and honey, not to mention ention
numnumerous boutique produce enterprises.erous boutique produce enterprises.
The town has the TrenthamThe town has the Trentham District Prim District Primary School, with ary School, with
secondary school options available in nearby Daylesford, Kyneton secondary school options available in nearby Daylesford, Kyneton
and Castlemand Castlemaine, plus a co-ed private secondary college at Waine, plus a co-ed private secondary college at Woodend.oodend.
For mFor more informore information, go to visittrenthamation, go to visittrentham.com.com.au.au

PROPERTY
The median house price is between $400,000
and $500,000 for a two- to three-bedroomand $500,000 for a two- to three-bedroom
brick or timbrick or timber homber home in Trenthame in Trentham. According. According
to Frances Hto Frances Harkin, sales director of Harkin, sales director of Harkin arkin
Property in TrenthamProperty in Trentham, the town is increasingly , the town is increasingly
attractive to city and interstate buyers looking attractive to city and interstate buyers looking
for a change and the opportunity to mfor a change and the opportunity to move into ove into
an original early homan original early home or farme or farmhouse, which house, which
tend to get snapped up quickly. “People fromtend to get snapped up quickly. “People from
MMelbourne often have a romelbourne often have a romanticised idea of anticised idea of
the classic mthe classic miners’ cottage frominers’ cottage from the 1800s or the 1800s or
a farma farmhouse on the outskirts of town,” she says. house on the outskirts of town,” she says.
Frances also adds there are new developmFrances also adds there are new development ent
areas around town, where the trend is towards areas around town, where the trend is towards
building energy-efficient hombuilding energy-efficient homes designed for es designed for
the region’s cool climthe region’s cool climate. ate.
Part of TrenthamPart of Trentham’s attraction is that it’s very ’s attraction is that it’s very
mmuch a country town with a vibrant comuch a country town with a vibrant commmunity. unity.
“It doesn’t have a train station, so it’s not “It doesn’t have a train station, so it’s not
a coma commmuter town,” Frances says. “But there’s uter town,” Frances says. “But there’s
everything else here. There are great eateries, everything else here. There are great eateries,
galleries and festivals. It mgalleries and festivals. It might have a cold ight have a cold
climclimate, but it’s got a warmate, but it’s got a warm com commmunity spirit.”unity spirit.”

TRAVEL TO AND FROM
ROAD Trentham is about one hour’s drive
or 93 kilomor 93 kilometres on the Calder Hetres on the Calder Highway, ighway,
via Wvia Woodend, fromoodend, from M Melbourne.elbourne.
RAIL AND COACH V/Line rail services run
fromfrom M Melbourne to Welbourne to Woodend —oodend — a 20-m a 20-minute inute
drive away —drive away — several tim several times a day, with es a day, with
less-frequent coach services connecting less-frequent coach services connecting
to Daylesford and stopping at Trenthamto Daylesford and stopping at Trentham
en route. 1800 800 007; vline.comen route. 1800 800 007; vline.com.au.au

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OONN T THHE ME MOOVVE E T RE NT RE NT HT HAMAM V VICT OICT ORRIAIA

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