Day 6 Friday 15/9/2023 Daylesford, sunny 9 – 18

With the muster officially over the majority of our group leave for home today. There is quite a bit of last-minute chatting, farewell hugs, and ‘see you next times’.

When things quieten down, we take a drive out to the other spa town, Hepburn Springs admiring the mix of houses. Real Estate has gone crazy up here of late and a quick count seems that about a third of homes are ultra-modern, a third exquisitely restored cottages and the rest awaiting the right price and restoration.

Across the other side of town, I want to take some photos for later ‘travel’ sketching. While Woody gallops off for a walk I wander about The Farmers Arms Hotel (boy, we’ve had some good food in there in the past), the foodie’s favourite Cliffy’s produce ‘emporium’, and Wombat Hill Gardens on the hill above.

Determined not to miss out on the Convent Gallery, I leave Woody reading in the sun after lunch while I set off to soak up some culture. What a surprise it is to meet the owner and restorer herself. Tina Banitska tells me that in 1988 with a newly minted arts degree and huge dreams of creating the best regional art gallery in the country she bought the derelict and about to be demolished property from the Nuns and set about achieving her goal. Originally built in the 1860’s as a private residence and later purchased for the Catholic church, in 1892 it became Holy Cross Convent and boarding school run by the Presentation nuns. It functioned as a convent for 90 years.

Wandering this rambling building of many styles is a lesson in goldfields history. After all there is a gold mine below the building that has a 175ft deep ventilation shaft. The nun’s cells, the chapel, the bell tower. A basement music room and delightful views of Daylesford from the windows of the Infirmary. The building houses a café, a bar, and function rooms for events and I probably should mention the ever-changing artworks created by 200 local artists. Wow Tina, you’ve certainly done a great job!

Back at camp, the boys light a fire in our folding fire pit and we sit around in a circle eating dinner off our laps chatting and star gazing. Sipping Sandie brings out a box of port and the rest is history. Now what did we eat for dinner?

Accom: $32.50