Tarnagulla Strictly Vintage Fair 1-2 October

Published on 14 September 2016

The raucous and bustling Sandy Creek diggings of the 1850s left an indelible mark on the settlement that was to become Tarnagulla.
 
It’s a heritage still eloquently preserved today, in the many buildings erected in the days when the town was awash with the glow of gold.

The district’s history will be celebrated again when Tarnagulla hosts its first Strictly Vintage Fair on 1-2 October as part of the 2016 “Naturally Loddon” Spring Festival.

The festival, running from early September until 30 October, comprises 10 family-friendly events, including the ever-popular Kooyoora Wildflower Show, a family weekend at Terrick Terrick National Park, a fishing competition, two local festivals and Boort’s annual metal sculpture competition.

The event opens at 9am on the Saturday with all-town garage sales, followed by a town tour and historical display and High Tea in the Victoria Theatre.

The former Victoria Hotel and Theatre, built in 1861-62, was licensed until 1916 and operated as a Cobb and Co coach depot.  It is the oldest known purpose-built theatre attached to a hotel in Australia.

Sunday sees vintage shops and stalls, a cemetery tour, wagon rides by Sandy Creek Clydesdales from Maldon, historical displays and town tours, a cupcake competition and veterans’ cycling races from 9am to noon.

President of the Loddon Southern Development and Tourism Committee Dorothy Silke said this year’s High Tea would feature two harpists as well as a visit from “Queen Victoria”.

“About 300 people came to our event last year and a third of those took part in the High Tea, so I think we’ll build on those numbers this time,” Mrs Silke said.

“There’ll also be a vintage fashion parade in the Soldiers Memorial Park and a performance by the Maryborough Big Band, which proved a highlight of this year’s Castlemaine Jazz Festival.

“The Sunday will also see a couple of book launches – Ken Arnold’s Early Australian Windmills, Water Carts and Troughs and David Gordon’s fourth instalment of his Tarnagulla’s Golden History series, this one covering the period 1890-1920.”

For more details, contact the Loddon Visitor Information Centre on (03) 5494 3489 or go to www.loddon.vic.gov.au

http://www.loddon.vic.gov.au/Lists/Events/Tarnagulla-Strictly-Vintage-Fair