News for 2009

Recent-opened and notable product and news includes eco friendly luxury accommodation, two new food and wine offerings in Bendigo, and a new fashion complex in Castlemaine specialising in local designers.

Enjoy your cheese and make it too

Goldfields Farmhouse in Ballarat is one of newest businesses cementing the Goldfield region’s reputation for producing some of the finest, most indulgent cheese in Victoria, ranging from handmade French style white mould and fromage blanc to English inspired blue mould and Cheddar. Goldfield’s Farmhouse also enables you to make your very own cheese with their one-day cheese making workshops. In the workshop you can experience a range of cheese making methods from the very quick to the more sedate. The cost of the workshop is $125 and includes lunch, milk for cheese making, cheese hoops and detailed notes on cheese making. Bookings are essential as the workshops fill up very quickly all year round. www.goldfieldsfarmhouse.com.au

Local designers showcased in Castlemaine’s new fashion retail hub

The ground floor of the iconic Midland Hotel in Castlemaine has been transformed into a new fashion retail hub showcasing the work of local independent designers. Taking its inspiration from the 5 star international hotels that have long devoted in-house space to upmarket boutiques, Castlemaine Fashion Central brings together stylish and individual fashion retailers, as well as a café and exhibition space. www.fashioncentral.com.au

Bendigo’s new ‘laneway bar’ - Dispensary Enoteca

Visitors can have their own laneway bar experience in Bendigo with the opening of The Dispensary Enoteca in Chancery Lane, a new café/bar/restaurant and wine cellar all rolled into one. Open seven days a week, there’s some serious talent behind this venture: co-owner Tim Baxter was formerly sales & marketing manager at Ten Minutes by Tractor, while the other partner in the business, Hayden Winch, used to be the manager of Daylesford’s iconic Lake House. Chef Travis Rodwell is formerly of L'Oustal and Echuca's Oscar W. The drinks list boasts more than 100 varieties of single malt whisky and over 250 wines. www.thedispensaryenoteca.com

New restaurant in Bendigo’s heritage-listed Capital Theatre

The Basement on View is an exciting new restaurant in the elegantly refurbished basement of Bendigo’s heritage-listed Capital Theatre. With a relaxed ambience, visitors can enjoy fine plunger or espresso coffee, teas of the world, cakes, fine wines and meals, and there’s also a delightful gift shop that sells quality handicrafts from Myanmar and India, with all profits going back to help the underprivileged. www.basementonview.bendimar.com.au

Shack 14 - Luxury accommodation at its eco-friendly best

Located in a tranquil 10-acre bush setting just outside of Chewton, Shack 14 is the new, eco-friendly accommodation option in the Goldfields. Featuring two bedrooms and open-plan living and dining, this environmentally low impact cabin uses green energy to run its electrical appliances, solar energy to heat its own independent water supply and treats waste organically with a worm farm. With no television, internet, telephone and limited mobile phone coverage – the space simply utilises its position as a place to relax and reconnect. Shack 14 was designed by Ken Latona, best known for his eco-lodge in Tasmania’s Bay of Fire National Park. www.shack14.com.au