Grampians Guides Attractions Events in Victoria

The Stawell Spring show is considered to be the largest orchid show held in country Victoria and features orchids of all different genera arranged in large individual displays. A spectacular and colourful display.

The Apsley Cup is a fun day out at the races. Dress up or dress for fun but dress in Green in 2009. Your friends will be Green with Envy if they miss out on this years event. Bring your friends for a fun party. Visit Apsley for the weekend, accommodation available at Border Inn, free camping at footy ground, use of shower facilities and bbq breakfast. Bus from Horsham, Frances or Naracoorte on the day. Weekend bus from Adelaide dependant on numbers. Other accommodation available at Edenhope Motel and caravan park.

"Experience the Gift"


Come and discover the magic of one of the world's most famous and prestigious footraces.


The history and romance of the Australia Post Stawell Gift is entrenched in Australian folklore. The Stawell Gift has been held in all but two years since 1878 and has developed into one of the most esteemed footraces in Australia and the world.


Competitors in the Australia Post Stawell Gift 120 metre footrace are handicapped according to form. This advantage allows the local runner to go hammer and tongs with the best in the world and in many cases, the local wins.


Held every Easter in the small town of Stawell, three hours west of Melbourne, the Gift started 130 years ago as an athletics competition between miners in the Victorian goldfields.


Today, the Gift attracts the cream of local and international athletes who compete for the largest professional prize in the world.

The Charlton Lawn Tennis Club holds an Annual 3 Day Tennis Tournament over the Australia Day Weekend on 16 grass courts. There are Open, A, B, C, & D grades in each event of mens and ladies singles, mens and ladies doubles and mixed doubles.


Mixed doubles are played on one day, singles on another and doubles on the third day; all events are on a round robin format, guaranteeing everyone at least 3 sets each day they play.


The club has excellent facilities, with all catering provided over the weekend; the tournament has a friendly family atmosphere and Charlton is located on the Calder Highway and on either side of the Avoca River.


Accommodation is provided by 2 Motels, 2 Hotels, a Bed & Breakfast House, a Camping Area, and an En-suite Caravan Park at "The Travellers' Rest". A variety of food outlets are available in the town.


Enjoy a relaxing weekend in the country.

The Easter Saturday Races at Nhill are the perfect place to kick off the long weekend festivities. With a low-key, friendly atmosphere, there will be live music, plenty of cool drinks and the chance to back a winner. Young racegoers will enjoy the Wimmera's favourite clown, Strawberry, and there will be a jumping castle to bounce around in. You will have a perfect view of any race from either your Mini or Entertainer Marquee or you could really spoil them and go for a Corporate Marquee. If you would prefer to take it nice and easy, then go for an Umbrella Package. For more information please visit our website.

Recovering from a big night or just want to continue the party? Book a Mini or an Entertainer Marquee or even an Umbrella Package, refresh with cool drink and say hello to the New Year by backing in winner. The kids will have that much stuff to do they won t know what to do with themselves, Strawberry the Clown, Jumping castle and heaps more. You will also be able to listen to some live music while enjoying the sunshine and collecting your winnings. For more information please visit our website.

The inaugural Grampians - Classics in Wartook Valley celebrates the start of the Spring season and all that makes up a classic retreat in Wartook Valley.


The Festival features:

Classic Themes: from the traditional welcome to country and smoking ceremony by Aboriginal elders from the area, to classic Australian films on show, classic and vintage cars and motorcycles, restored carts, to internationally renowned Melbourne string trio and quartet "Accord" and recital featuring Classic FM Radio breakfast presenter Ms. Emma Ayres, and classic Irish music.


Local Produce & Artists: will feature throughout the festival with a black tie gala dinner prepared with local food and wine, native and local wildflowers as table centre pieces, gourmet picnic hampers, wine tasting, finger food, and tapas. A temporary art gallery will be established with working artists including limestone sculptor Mr. Kevin Free, and Wartook Artist Studio, artworks from budding artists and the community, open gardens and displays throughout the region.


Community: groups and businesses will contribute to the weekend-long event promoting the region through information stands, food stalls. A market extravaganza will take over on Sunday as a family-fun day out for all including kids' entertainment, joy rides, art exhibition, stalls, local produce, food and wine tasting, music, a Father's Day Luncheon and more.


This is a not to miss event!

Celebrity chef Ed Halmagyi will show off his swift culinary skills at the 19th annual Grampians Grape Escape The Food and Wine Festival to be held from May 1-2 in Halls Gap.


Foodies will be treated to two daily cooking demonstrations by Ed, where he ll inspire time-poor fans of Grampians food and wine to whip up a delicious meal with minimum fuss.


Ed will slightly slow the pace to oversee preparations for the classy three-course Festival Dinner, which comprises a menu of fresh regional produce complemented by fabulous Grampians wines.


More than 6,000 visitors are expected to drink and graze their way around the Halls Gap Recreation Reserve with the Grampians mountain range as the back-drop.


There will be 100 exhibitors, including winemakers and producers of olive oil, lentils, fruit and berries, yabbies, gourmet sausages, organic produce, venison, turkey, ice-cream, honey, teas, preserves, herbs and gluten-free food.

The Grampians Jazz Festival began at Roses Gap in September 1986 as a 21st birthday celebration. Friends and relations who played in two bands then suggested that it become a reunion. In February '87 fifty people headed back to Roses Gap for a weekend of jazz. This was the first of what has become an annual jazz festival. The 5th reunion (1991) known as 'Grampians Jazz Reunion' attracted 250 people.


However at this time it was decided that Roses Gap could no longer cater for further growth and the committee decided to change to Halls Gap with the new name being Grampians Jazz Festival. Today it has grown to 136 bands programmed over three days in eight venues - 3 marquees, Halls Gap Centenary Hall, Colonial Motor Inn, Pinnacle Holiday Lodge and Mountain Grand Guest House plus school band soundshell. Registrations commence on Thursday at 2.00pm with a black boarding session for early arriving musicians in one of the marquees, Mountain Grand and Colonial Motor Inn on this night.


Programmed sessions for the weekend commence at 6.00pm at all venues and continue until after midnight. A jazz street march begins at 11.00am on Saturday followed by normal programmed session s right through until the next morning.


Sunday commences with an ecumenical church service in the largest marquee followed by a workshop for anyone wanting to learn a little more regarding jazz music and programmed sessions at all venues plus an open air performance across Stony Creek in the middle of town. The local primary school also runs a craft and produce market.


All programmed venues are located within 500 metres and this allows easy walking between venues which all have seating provided. The main street is closed for the whole of the weekend so jam sessions are often seen. Casual venues also cater for those musicians without a band.

The Grampians Pétanque Club conducts two major tournaments each year, in May and September. These are well supported by clubs from Melbourne and Adelaide as well as clubs in regional and rural Victoria and South Australia.


Seventy eight players competed in our triples tournament in May, 2008 and interest continues to grow.


Tournaments are arranged so that (usually) three rounds of games are played before lunch and the eight top teams are assigned to play off for the Principal, over four games. The next eight teams play off for the Consolante, again over four games and the remainder play in the social competition.


Prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category and other prizes may also be awarded at the discretion of the organisers. This tiered format guarantees a full day of competition for competitors as no teams are eliminated in the early rounds.


Date: Saturday, September 19, 2009

Format: Doubles

Registration: 9 amCommence

Play: 10am

Grampians TEXTURE is an exciting concept in art forums.


Set in the beautiful Halls Gap and Wartook Valley in the Grampians National Park, Grampians TEXTURE will give textile artists the opportunity to develop their artistic practices in one of Australia's most beautiful park settings, under the inspiring tuition of fourteen Australian and New Zealand tutors.


Two and four day workshops are on offer.


Book the style and level of accommodation that you require whether it be camping or 5 star. You have the option to cater for yourself or join other students and tutors at an evening meal at one of the many restaurants in Halls Gap. Lunch will be provided at all workshops.


Tutors for the 2010 program will be announced in September 2009.

The tradition continues after Christmas, kick back and enjoy a leisurely day with good friends, food, music and racing at everyone's favourite recovery day, the Penshurst Races on Boxing Day at the beautiful Penshurst racecourse Hillside Street Penshurst. A great day out for the whole family to recover! We will see you there

Positioned on the biggest long weekend of the year the Great Western Cup is the perfect place to be. Sun, fun, friends, drinks and a flutter on the horses, what else could you ask for. If you preferred to be a little covered up book a marquee, there s something for everyone. Or try out the new Umbrella package- complete with table and chairs. The kids can have heaps of fun with Krackers and jump around all day in the jumping castle. For more information please visit our website.

The Haven Market and Mobile Garage Sale provides a variety of stalls and not just handmade products. A very social market with plenty of entertainment for the kids, craft and produce and food and drink. Free off-road parking available and all proceeds go towards improvements and developments at Haven.


Market occurs the first Saturday of each month.

2010 will be the third year of the Horsham Country Music Festival and will be extended to a 4 day event. The Festival will include a Dance Evening, a Tributes Night, some free community Concerts, a Little Bit of Country and a Little Bit of Comedy, a Country Music Spectaclar, and a Gospel Music Marathon. The event will accommodate many different sides of country music appealing to a wide range of people and tastes.


The Festival Committee is committed to providing only the best quality Country Music performers from around Australia, for your entertainment.


The Festival will be held on the banks of the beautiful Wimmera River at the Horsham Sound Shell in Hocking Street. The venue has excellent acoustics with top quality sound systems and the lighting for the event is of the highest quality.


The Festival also provides a bar, coffee van, and many options for quality food, provided by our local service clubs.


People who have come to our previous Festivals have all returned bringing friends and family back to enjoy a fabulous weekend of fun and great Country Music.

Victorias most western racecourse, the picturesque Edenhope racecourse is ideally located on the Apsley Road only 1km from the township. Established in 1935 The Edenhope Race Clubs hosts one major race meeting each year, the James H Greenhill Edenhope Cup on the Saturday of the March Labour day long weekend . The Cup meeting draws crowds in excess of 1000 people every year and has become the annual event for the local community.





The Edenhope Cup provides all that is expected of a 'country cup race meeting". The racecourse is compact and offers excellent facilities including air-conditioned bar/luncheon room, plenty of shade and seating and good toilet facilities There are full TAB facilities, a full program of eight races including the James H Greenhill Edenhope Cup, bookmakers, Fashions on the Field, live music and children's entertainment. There are umbrella and marquee packages available, dining room meals, outdoor BBQ and marquee catering. The course has a no BYO policy but alcohol on course is available and reasonably priced and pre ordered alcohol packages are available for marquee holders.

The Nhill Cup is run every year on Boxing Day, giving everyone in town a chance to wind down after their Christmas celebrations. The day attracts a large and festive crowd with all the atmosphere that Australian country race meetings are famous for. Put the Christmas clean up on hold for one more day and gather up all of the leftovers in to a picnic hamper and enjoy a great day out at the Jim s Butchery Nhill Cup. If you couldn t get the family together on Christmas, you could even have belated celebrations in one of our Mini or Entertainer marquees. Or you could be up close and personal to the action of the races from underneath our new Umbrella package. The kids will be entertained for the day with Strawberry and the jumping castle. While you listen to some live music, have a wager on the gg s and enjoy a great day out. For more information please visit our website.

Monthly market with local and Melbourne traders, selling clothes, crafts, fruit and vegetables, nuts, lollies, honey, plants and much more.


Last Saturday of the month (except December - third Saturday of December), 9am - 1pm. This outdoor market is located right on the Yarriambiack Creek. Approximately 80 stalls comprising clothes, jewellery, plants, woodwork, pottery, art & craft, cakes, nuts, jams, honey, vegies, flowers, home made toys etc.

The Lake Bolac Eel Festival is a community Art and Music Festival held each autumn on the banks of Lake Bolac in south-western Victoria, and inspired by the fact that Lake Bolac was a traditional gathering place for indigenous people before white settlement.


Lake Boloke is the most celebrated place in the Western District for the fine quality and abundance of its eels, and, when the autumn rains induce these fish to leave the lake and to go down the river to the sea, the Aborigines gather there from great distances James Dawson, Australian Aborigines 1881.


The Festival is a gathering place for people who care for the environment and respect Aboriginal cultural heritage. This is reflected in the indigenous dancing and ceremony, the environmental forum, indigenous, environmental and historical displays, and the Healing Walk held prior to the Festival, all adding up to a unique Festival experience.


In 2009 the Twilight Celebration saw a spectacular community performance combining traditional ceremony and dance, story telling and giant puppets created by the community to tell the story of "The Return of the Rainbow Serpent and Mother Eel".


Music from the Festival Stage features a diversity of blues, roots and acoustic performance, with young and emerging musicians encouraged. Recent headline acts have included Carus Thompson, Declan O'Rourke (Ireland), Neil Murray, Shane Howard, Liz Stringer, Rose Bygrave, Jordie Lane, The Little Stevies and Tonchi McIntosh. Earth Hour is recognised with an acoustic session around the campfire.


This welcoming and family friendly festival has something for everyone, with plenty to see and do including the Art Exhibition with works for sale, the recycled art competition, workshops, roving entertainers, a climbing wall for the adventurous, a touch tank of live eels, plenty of children s activities, and a craft and produce market.

The 28th consecutive Pomonal Native Flower Show will be held again this spring on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd October 2010. One of the first and still one of the best, the show never ceases to delight and amaze visitors.


The show features flowers from all over Australia, from the spectacular to the small and pretty. See a huge range of Grevilleas and Hakeas, Eucalypts, Darwineas and Waratahs.


Over 400 named species will be on display and all flowers will be picked from member's gardens. Come and be inspired!


There will be light refreshments for sale, plant, book, craft and cut flower sales. The show is held at the Pomonal Hall on the Ararat Rd, just ten minutes from Halls Gap. Visit the Halls Gap Wildflower Show on the same weekend.

Held the last Sunday of each month from 10am to 3pm, the village market features local craft, plants, produce and bric-a-brac. This picturesque village, is close to Lake Fyans and below Mt Cassell, Famous in the 1900s for its apple orchards and then tobacco crops, Pomonal's present hallmark is its variety of spectacular wildflowers. A pleasant walk around Wildflower Drive will enable you to view some beautiful wildflower gardens.

Every April the historic churches of Hamilton and surrounds are transformed into concert halls for the annual Southern Grampians Promenade of Sacred Music festival.


Running over four days, this festival of fine music presents a first class line up of locally, nationally and internationally acclaimed musicians performing a mix of early and contemporary, instrumental and choral music. Artistic Direction is by renowned organist and conductor Douglas Lawrence OAM.

Gourmet foods, organic produce, farm fresh produce, livestock, quality crafts, garden needs, farm produce and more. 9-am 1pm


Held on the last Sunday of the Month

The Australia Post Stawell Gift is a professional athletics meeting with sixty-six events over three days, with athletes running off handicaps. It is a true carnival atmosphere with plenty of action off the track for all the family, including a betting ring, fashion parade, live music and children's entertainment.

Stawell Gold Cup Day, held every year on Easter Sunday, the day before the Easter Gift final, is fast becoming one of Victorian country racing's biggest days, with attendances approaching 4000. This is by far the biggest day on the Wimmera Racing Club's calendar. If you only make it to one race meeting this year, make sure it's the Wolsey Harp & Dublin Stawell Gold Cup!

The two day Halls Gap Summer Orchid show is considered to be the largest orchid show held in country Victoria and features orchids of all different genera arranged in large individual displays. A spectacular and colourful display. Open 10 am till 5 pm on Saturday and 10 am till 4 pm on Sunday

A fantastic Trash and Treasure fundraiser market for the Stawell Victorian State Emergency Service unit. Held on the first Sunday of each month with the exception of April as there is an Easter market on both the Saturday and Sunday of the Easter weekend.


Would love to see you there

Two days of the Hamilton Cup Carnival held in April. Day one is the Tabcorp Hamilton Cup Ladies Day. The Second day is the Hamilton Cup.

The second day of the Hamilton Cup Carnival. Enjoy on track the Hamilton Cup and off-track in the Fashions on the Field, it's just as competitive, with big prizes in one of Country Racing's most coveted fashion events.

Hamilton Beef Expo promotes and features displays, seminars and competitions relating to beef, prime lamb, fodder and grain industries and their associated products and equipment. This is an important commercially orientated agricultural field day promoting these rural industries. Producers are able to view and compare cattle crushes, yards and equipment and see the latest innovative technology. A domestic-market carcase competition and interbreed show cattle competition are held on the first day along with a Pen of 3 Ram Lamb competition. The unique Pen of 3 Bulls competition held on the Friday, is based on commercial guidelines with the cattle judged using both visual assessment and objective measurements.

Held the second Saturday of each month (except November), Uncle Bobs Club raises money for the sick children of Victoria with majority of the proceeds going towards the Royal Chidren's Hospital and towards the local hospital. Visitors can buy bric-a-brac, garden plants, cleaning products, material, hot bread baked on site, cakes, jams, pickles, garden ornaments, tools and books. No live stock is sold at the market.

What a way to finish summer racing around the Wimmera than at the Warracknabeal Cup.


With entertainment for every age, it's the perfect day to book a package option and get out of the house and enjoy a great country summers day out, with friends and family.

The Wimmera Machinery Field Days is Victoria's premier broad acre field day. Each year approximately 600 exhibitors showcase the latest in agricultural technology and equipment, information and services for the farming and rural sector.



Leisure. lifestyle, arts, crafts, and regional food and wine are also showcased to providing something for everyone.

The Easter Y-Fest is in its 12th year and continues to grow with the support of the Yarriambiack Shire and major Y-Fest sponsors John Deere and Emmetts.


The feature activities include the Easter Parade and free entertainment in Warracknabeal's main street on Easter Saturday morning followed by the commencement of 'Wheatlands' Agricultural Machinery Museum's Annual 3 day Vintage Rally. Much of the Museum's unique collection of vintage tractors, agricultural machinery, stationary engines and other equipment used by farmers over the past 150 years, will be on display and operational plus restoration enthusiasts from many parts of Australia exhibit their own collections of vintage cars, engines and machinery.


The Warracknabeal Arts Council will present an exhibition of paintings by local artists and is to be held in the Yarriambiack Shire Offices Meeting Room from Easter Saturday to Easter Monday.


The Wimmera Racing Club's Easter Cup Race meeting is held at Warracknabeal Racecourse on the Saturday afternoon and includes the MIXX FM 'Dash for Cash' footballers and netballers relay race offering huge cash and prizes.


The Warracknmabeal Golf Club's 4 Day Easter Tournament is another feature of the Y-Fest weekend with men s and ladies events each day and a special 'Seafood Spectacular' dinner on the Friday night.