WRITTEN BY SARAH LANG

WRAP UP OF NEWS AND HAPPENINGS IN OUR REGION

In September 2017, a small group of dedicated foodies embarked on a cook tour of Gascony with none other than our favourite chef and writer, Annie Smithers. It was the Insiders Tour of Gascony with the gregarious Kate Hill who runs the cooking school and retreat, Camont. Kate and Annie had hosted a few masterclasses at du Fermier in Trentham and it was on one of these that the two of them hatched a plan to run a dual tour. Set amongst a backdrop of tiny exquisite French villages, markets bursting at the seams with local produce, and magnificent century old Chateaus, Annie has penned a little book about the seven days spent in the South West of France, cooking, eating, exploring and making new friends. I was thrilled to have been asked to design and publish the book which is filled with beautiful photographs by the talented Patricia Niven and includes all the recipes from the masterclasses held on the tour. Its only 88 pages but packs a punch and is a wonderful little gift at only $20. You can purchase directly from Annie at
du Fermier or online at lostmagazine.com.au. But be quick. It is a very limited edition print run. 

Our local distilleries continue to punch well above their weight with both Terra Australis Distillery, Daylesford with their Lady Susanne Gin and Animus Distillery, Kyneton with two of their gins all picking up silver medals at the recent 2018 World Spirit Competition in San Francisco. Both distilleries have only been producing fine gins for less than a year and these medals are added to the hauls they have received over the past several months.

Also going from strength to strength is the Ballarat International Foto Biennale (BIFB). They recently acquired the former Union Bank in Lydiard Street, Ballarat which will become home to the new National Centre for
Photography, Australia’s only regional art gallery dedicated exclusively to the art of photography. The NCFP will house two permanent gallery spaces, a contemporary gallery for rotating curated exhibitions, and a community gallery. Alongside this will be a dedicated photobook library, a traditional darkroom, artist in residence studios, accommodation and educational workshops facilities.

BIFB are a not-for-profit organisation, which has hosted the internationally recognised photography festival biennially since 2009. Last year’s 2017 event included exhibitions across more than 100 buildings and laneways and attracted a record audience of 26,000 people. In its four-week period, the festival had an economic impact of $3.89 million to the City of Ballarat. For more details visit
ballaratfoto.org

Another building getting a new lease on life is the former National Bank of Australasia in Trentham. This striking, albeit austere building has housed a myriad of businesses in its lifetime but most recently was the very popular Trentham Collective which closed suddenly earlier this year much to the dismay of locals and visitors alike. One of those who was concerned about the closure, was supremely talented designer Lynda Gardener and her partner, Mark Smith, former Marketing Director for Queen Victoria Markets. “We didn’t have any intention of opening a food business”, laughs Lynda, “but we simply had to make sure this building didn’t fall into the wrong hands!”. 

Lynda has a knack for creating drop-dead gorgeous spaces including The White House Daylesford, The Estate Trentham and The Apartments St Kilda. So it was no surprise that, after a couple of short months, this old building has emerged as the Trentham General Store and is a truly beautiful environment. Lynda has collaborated with iconic paint brand Bauwerk to create her own colour palette. Known as the “Queen of White”, it was inevitable that there would be more than one shade of white in this range, but it is the dramatic 'General' (named after Trentham General Store) that makes this interior fit out something entirely unique and special. It’s not brown, it’s not olive, it is just sexy as hell. Combined with a razor-sharp edge where the dark walls meet the bright white, there are pops of colour from a vintage magazine rack and the light is broken up by gigantic boston ferns hanging from the ceiling. The result is utterly contemporary and inviting – but the history and patina of the building is celebrated and you can almost hear the walls softly sighing. The café also offers a large room filled with provisions, homewares and goods that allow you to take a little bit of Lynda magic home with you. Further back is a delightful library and quirky reading nook to escape on those days when the world is too noisy. A private dining room at the very rear will give locals a sweet little space to hold meetings or a lunch for 8-12 people. The menu is, as expected, filled with organic local produce, an all-day breakfast menu, larger lunch staples with Supreme coffee beans on the grinder. Trentham General Store will be open Thursday-Monday 7am-4pm. Follow them on social media @trentham.general

If you have some great news to share, let us know by sending us an email to
editor@lostmagazine.com.au