Casting a Beautiful Shadow

At the end of a beaten track, a white timber building shines among fairytale gum trees. The Little Church on Spring Hill maintains a charming aura that stands the test of time.

“It was originally St Marks, Church of England, it was built in 1890 and served the locals as both a place of worship and Sunday school up until 1959 when it was deconsecrated,” explains Nicky Thomas, co-owner. “I’ve heard the Sunday school teacher used to ride their bikes from Kyneton to take their classes. That probably doesn’t seem that extreme now, but the old bikes wouldn’t have had gears and Spring Hill is atop a rather large hill.”

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The Concert of Memory

Lavandula, or lavender as it is commonly known, means to wash in Latin - referring to the use of infusions of the plants. Behind the golden hills of Shepherds Flat, Lavandula Swiss-Italian Farm cherishes our mysterious relationship to the flower of the Old World.

“I love renovating and restoring old buildings. I would travel to Europe every year because my brother lived in Italy, he was working as an artist,” explains Carol, as she walks us through the curated gardens, “My brother and I went to the south of France and I saw these little patches of lavender, around Provence.”

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Cider House Rules

Learmonth, population 438, is the kind of Victorian town that most people have never heard of. Once visited, however, it’s impossible to forget.

Around 20 minutes’ drive from Ballarat, this leafy corner of Central Victoria is as pretty as it gets. Broad streets are lined with period beauties and the imposing Lake Learmonth acts as a dramatic backdrop. And once you encounter Café Sidra on the tree-lined main avenue the town’s charm offensive is complete.

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LOST Cocktail Recipe - Mandarin Negroni

UTILISING THE BOLD FLAVOURS OR MANDARIN, KAFFIR LIME AND WHITE SESAME, ALONG WITH FRESH TUMERIC, GALANGAL AND GINGER, ANIMUS AMBROSIAN IS A BOLD REINTERPRETATION OF GIN RICH WITH BOTH AUSTRALIAN AND SOUTH EAST ASIAN INFLUENCES.

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LOST Recipe - Cauliflower Soufflés

The Farmers Arms Hotel Daylesford is not your average pub. It boasts a truly seasonal menu, focusing on highlighting local and in-season produce. We deliver dishes that re ect the best of the region, sourcing from local organic farms and produce growers to ensure not only sustainable and tasty dishes, but also generous and deliciously avoured meals. We take great pride in all of our menu and this Twice-Baked Cauli ower Sou e is one of our sta favourites. We hope you will enjoy making it at home too.

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A Conscious Goal

The origin story of Daylesford and Hepburn Mineral Springs Co is ripe for a Seachange-style mini- series treatment. It would start with protagonist, Brylie Rankin, needing a break from working in the hospitality industry in Melbourne, moving to Tasmania with her then- husband, only to discover after they arrived that she was pregnant.

Needing to be closer to her family because of the impending kid, they end up in Daylesford and, after the birth, return to working in restaurants. As she is waiting tables, Brylie notices something that plants the seed that will transform her life.

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Reason To Get Lost

LETS GET TOGETHER FOR A LITTLE BUSHFIRE RELIEF!

Leading local bands have come together to hold a Bushfire Benefit to raise money in response to Victoria’s recent bushfires. A stunning line up including the 8 piece funk and groove sensation My Flight, local Country and Western rockers Cartwheels, Melbourne singer songwriter Tartie playing her indie dream pop and a few ‘surprises’ on the night! It should be a fantastic night, listening to some of the regions finest bands put on a foot tappin’ show for the community in response to the devastating bushfires.

08 February, Savoia Hotel, Hepburn Springs $20 per person - All monies raised will be donated to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.

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A Recipe for Wine

Just over an hour outside Melbourne, towards the southernmost end of the Great Dividing Range, lies the coldest region on the Australian mainland.

A perennial tourist destination, the Macedon Ranges exemplify Victoria’s natural beauty; broad vistas of undulating hills and forests, rolling green broken by volcanic granite, and row after orderly row of grapevines. This region’s climate conditions are among the most exceptional in Australia, and so it follows that the wine produced here carries unique qualities.

“Like human beings, a wine's taste is going to depend a great deal on its origins and its upbringing.” – Linda Johnson-Bell, wine critic.

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Mostly different and always cool.

In 2018, Alexander Hancocks fled the smoke of Sydney city for Hepburn Springs. At Pancho cafe, a local favourite, he is greeted affectionately, “I love that people talk to each other and say hello in the morning,” he explains. It’s been almost a year since that warm Valentine’s Day when Alex opened the doors of his men’s clothing and retail store, Buster McGee.

“My partner's last name is McGinniss and my mum would call me Buster as a child, that's my nickname. They say that you should have an affinity to your brand.” Buster McGee is nestled in one of the most historic rows of shop fronts in Victoria, on Howe Street in Daylesford. “I just didn't want to have to go down to Melbourne to buy clothes, especially on the weekends if I needed a shirt to go out,” says Alex, “I love the look of the shops. Buster McGee is located next to the Secret Garden and DA Apothecary, then Bistro Terroir and The Donkey's Tale.”

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A Home for the Future

Winding up the back roads of Glenlyon reveals a serene landscape of happy-go-lucky wandering piglets, chickens rummaging inside a truck, pensive goats and an inquisitive dog. Catherine Farm is the life-blood of Catherine and Bohdan, Glenlyon locals who want to give back to the earth.

“We operate our farm on a scale appropriate theory...what this means is that there’s only so many animals, plants and people that one peice of land can sustain before the symbiotic relationships of nature are thrown off kilter,” explains Bohdan, with a vibrating smile that lights up the room. “If you work with nature nature will work with you. To farm this way you must have a personal relationship with the land and observe the seasons; the way water and wind move across the land.”

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LOST News - February

A blanket of smoke rolls in over the hills yet the reality of the devastation is still hard to fathom. Our region has been spared and we remain safe but the fury of mother nature perseveres and continues
to wreak havoc in other less fortunate regions of Australia. As we welcome in the warm month of February, gratitude flows for our nations heroes, our appreciation for a breath of fresh air is heightened and hearts are heavier than ever with a sense of what Australia has truly lost.

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