Latest news with #HepburnShireCouncil
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Locals share off-camera moments as Daylesford becomes The Block's new star
A town where you can bathe in mineral-rich water and explore a vibrant arts scene is becoming its own star on hit TV series The Block. Season 21 is based in Daylesford, Victoria, and locals, including Hepburn Shire Council mayor Don Henderson, have noticed the TV attention has brought a lot of interest to the town - particularly with more than two million people tuning in to an episode. "It's pretty good stuff," he said. Read more in The Senior This season of Channel 9's long-running show sees Scott Cam and Shelley Craft in hosting duties, while the judges are Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer, and Marty Fox. Daylesford is set in a luscious landscape just a 90-minute drive from Melbourne. It is among the few places where you can find Australia's natural mineral springs, and has become a hotspot for spas and wellness. There are several galleries and studios to explore, and it is known as the LGBTQIA+ capital of regional Victoria, hosting ChillOutFestival, Australia's longest-running regional pride festival. Its traditional owners are the Dja Dja Wurrung people, and the town experienced a population boom after gold was discovered in 1851. Today Daylesford is home to about 3400 residents, and according to Domain, the average price for a three-bedroom home is $820,000. In this series, the contestants are building homes from scratch on a block that forms part of Hygge Property's new neighbourhood, Middleton Field, on the corner of Raglan Street and Malmsbury Road. Most of the filming happened earlier this year, but the final sale is yet to come. Besides the show's entourage staying in local accommodation, Mr Henderson was excited that the cast worked on other sites, including for a bathroom challenge at the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, where visitors can bathe in natural mineral waters, and on an upcoming revived cinema. Mr Henderson said the stars he'd met, including Mr Cam, were "very good". "Mind you, I must say they've been on their best behaviour when they're talking to the mayor," he said. Mr Henderson, a former building tradesman, said the project had been of interest to him and had inspected the work with "different eyes". "The quality of the work is actually very good... but the workmanship has been very well supervised." Artists David and Yuge Bromley are among the co-owners of The Phoenix at The Rex in Daylesford, a Spanish colonial-style building opened in 1929 and home to the upcoming Phoenix Cinema. It's under renovation, and The Block's stars lent their skills to the project including working on the candy bar area, plus installing bench seating, painting, and putting up wallpaper. Mr Bromley said there was a lot less drama than what people see on-screen. "When you watch it on the TV, you're like, 'my God, they're freaking out or they're stretched'... but I thought every single one of them was delightful," he said. "It was like they were having a good time; competitive, yes, but throughout there seemed to be a great rapport and sense of teamwork." Boltons Takeaway is a street away from The Block site, and owner Leanne Bolton said many of the tradies had come through. She recalls Scott Cam ordering a cheeseburger with barbecue sauce. "I tried to leave him alone because everybody else was hounding him, but he was polite," she said. As someone born and raised in Daylesford, she recommended visitors with children go to Jubilee Lake for a picnic, while foodies were spoiled for choice with dining options. Artist Cristina Doyle has a gallery and studio at the back of her house off the main street. She'd noticed some extra foot traffic from The Block, with a group of people who'd come up for a look at the construction site wandering around and popping in. Ms Doyle has lived in Daylesford for seven years, but has visited for 35 to catch up with family. "Daylesford has got a very clear air, and it's a very good community. It's an ideal place to create; you haven't got the general buzz of a city," she said. "I've got a great group of really interesting, entrepreneurial friends that have helped to build an interesting town." Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. A town where you can bathe in mineral-rich water and explore a vibrant arts scene is becoming its own star on hit TV series The Block. Season 21 is based in Daylesford, Victoria, and locals, including Hepburn Shire Council mayor Don Henderson, have noticed the TV attention has brought a lot of interest to the town - particularly with more than two million people tuning in to an episode. "It's pretty good stuff," he said. Read more in The Senior This season of Channel 9's long-running show sees Scott Cam and Shelley Craft in hosting duties, while the judges are Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer, and Marty Fox. Daylesford is set in a luscious landscape just a 90-minute drive from Melbourne. It is among the few places where you can find Australia's natural mineral springs, and has become a hotspot for spas and wellness. There are several galleries and studios to explore, and it is known as the LGBTQIA+ capital of regional Victoria, hosting ChillOutFestival, Australia's longest-running regional pride festival. Its traditional owners are the Dja Dja Wurrung people, and the town experienced a population boom after gold was discovered in 1851. Today Daylesford is home to about 3400 residents, and according to Domain, the average price for a three-bedroom home is $820,000. In this series, the contestants are building homes from scratch on a block that forms part of Hygge Property's new neighbourhood, Middleton Field, on the corner of Raglan Street and Malmsbury Road. Most of the filming happened earlier this year, but the final sale is yet to come. Besides the show's entourage staying in local accommodation, Mr Henderson was excited that the cast worked on other sites, including for a bathroom challenge at the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, where visitors can bathe in natural mineral waters, and on an upcoming revived cinema. Mr Henderson said the stars he'd met, including Mr Cam, were "very good". "Mind you, I must say they've been on their best behaviour when they're talking to the mayor," he said. Mr Henderson, a former building tradesman, said the project had been of interest to him and had inspected the work with "different eyes". "The quality of the work is actually very good... but the workmanship has been very well supervised." Artists David and Yuge Bromley are among the co-owners of The Phoenix at The Rex in Daylesford, a Spanish colonial-style building opened in 1929 and home to the upcoming Phoenix Cinema. It's under renovation, and The Block's stars lent their skills to the project including working on the candy bar area, plus installing bench seating, painting, and putting up wallpaper. Mr Bromley said there was a lot less drama than what people see on-screen. "When you watch it on the TV, you're like, 'my God, they're freaking out or they're stretched'... but I thought every single one of them was delightful," he said. "It was like they were having a good time; competitive, yes, but throughout there seemed to be a great rapport and sense of teamwork." Boltons Takeaway is a street away from The Block site, and owner Leanne Bolton said many of the tradies had come through. She recalls Scott Cam ordering a cheeseburger with barbecue sauce. "I tried to leave him alone because everybody else was hounding him, but he was polite," she said. As someone born and raised in Daylesford, she recommended visitors with children go to Jubilee Lake for a picnic, while foodies were spoiled for choice with dining options. Artist Cristina Doyle has a gallery and studio at the back of her house off the main street. She'd noticed some extra foot traffic from The Block, with a group of people who'd come up for a look at the construction site wandering around and popping in. Ms Doyle has lived in Daylesford for seven years, but has visited for 35 to catch up with family. "Daylesford has got a very clear air, and it's a very good community. It's an ideal place to create; you haven't got the general buzz of a city," she said. "I've got a great group of really interesting, entrepreneurial friends that have helped to build an interesting town." Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. A town where you can bathe in mineral-rich water and explore a vibrant arts scene is becoming its own star on hit TV series The Block. Season 21 is based in Daylesford, Victoria, and locals, including Hepburn Shire Council mayor Don Henderson, have noticed the TV attention has brought a lot of interest to the town - particularly with more than two million people tuning in to an episode. "It's pretty good stuff," he said. Read more in The Senior This season of Channel 9's long-running show sees Scott Cam and Shelley Craft in hosting duties, while the judges are Shaynna Blaze, Darren Palmer, and Marty Fox. Daylesford is set in a luscious landscape just a 90-minute drive from Melbourne. It is among the few places where you can find Australia's natural mineral springs, and has become a hotspot for spas and wellness. There are several galleries and studios to explore, and it is known as the LGBTQIA+ capital of regional Victoria, hosting ChillOutFestival, Australia's longest-running regional pride festival. Its traditional owners are the Dja Dja Wurrung people, and the town experienced a population boom after gold was discovered in 1851. Today Daylesford is home to about 3400 residents, and according to Domain, the average price for a three-bedroom home is $820,000. In this series, the contestants are building homes from scratch on a block that forms part of Hygge Property's new neighbourhood, Middleton Field, on the corner of Raglan Street and Malmsbury Road. Most of the filming happened earlier this year, but the final sale is yet to come. Besides the show's entourage staying in local accommodation, Mr Henderson was excited that the cast worked on other sites, including for a bathroom challenge at the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa, where visitors can bathe in natural mineral waters, and on an upcoming revived cinema. Mr Henderson said the stars he'd met, including Mr Cam, were "very good". "Mind you, I must say they've been on their best behaviour when they're talking to the mayor," he said. Mr Henderson, a former building tradesman, said the project had been of interest to him and had inspected the work with "different eyes". "The quality of the work is actually very good... but the workmanship has been very well supervised." Artists David and Yuge Bromley are among the co-owners of The Phoenix at The Rex in Daylesford, a Spanish colonial-style building opened in 1929 and home to the upcoming Phoenix Cinema. It's under renovation, and The Block's stars lent their skills to the project including working on the candy bar area, plus installing bench seating, painting, and putting up wallpaper. Mr Bromley said there was a lot less drama than what people see on-screen. "When you watch it on the TV, you're like, 'my God, they're freaking out or they're stretched'... but I thought every single one of them was delightful," he said. "It was like they were having a good time; competitive, yes, but throughout there seemed to be a great rapport and sense of teamwork." Boltons Takeaway is a street away from The Block site, and owner Leanne Bolton said many of the tradies had come through. She recalls Scott Cam ordering a cheeseburger with barbecue sauce. "I tried to leave him alone because everybody else was hounding him, but he was polite," she said. As someone born and raised in Daylesford, she recommended visitors with children go to Jubilee Lake for a picnic, while foodies were spoiled for choice with dining options. Artist Cristina Doyle has a gallery and studio at the back of her house off the main street. She'd noticed some extra foot traffic from The Block, with a group of people who'd come up for a look at the construction site wandering around and popping in. Ms Doyle has lived in Daylesford for seven years, but has visited for 35 to catch up with family. "Daylesford has got a very clear air, and it's a very good community. It's an ideal place to create; you haven't got the general buzz of a city," she said. "I've got a great group of really interesting, entrepreneurial friends that have helped to build an interesting town." Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
Sydney Morning Herald
05-08-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Inquest into Daylesford hotel crash to probe safety of outdoor dining
Others, including witnesses and experts from the road safety and medical fields, were expected to be called at next year's inquest, Nathwani said. Seated in the Coroner's Court of Victoria for the hearing this week were lawyers for Swale, the Hepburn Shire Council and one of Swale's doctors. Nathwani, in addressing the coroner, also acknowledged the presence of the families of those killed in the November 5, 2023 crash, and those injured in the crash. 'I'm sorry for your loss and acknowledge your trauma and your suffering,' he said. 'The impact and scars from that day will remain.' Nathwani said as part of the future inquest, public health and safety recommendations could be made to help reduce preventable deaths in the future. Further expert material would also likely be obtained ahead of the inquest in March. He reminded the coroner that on November 5, 2023, Swale was driving a white BMW after earlier attending a target shooting competition at Clunes. Loading At 5.17pm he checked his blood glucose monitor, connected to his mobile phone, while returning a reading of 2.9. He then left his car and entered a nearby deli but left when he was told there were no spare tables. About 5.35pm he drove towards the bowling club nearby, stopping in the middle of the road and narrowly avoiding crashing into an oncoming car. At 5.43pm he then headed west, downhill, towards patrons seated below, striking several people. He stopped nearby after colliding with a metal pole. 'There were no bollards or fences separating the grass area to the road,' Nathwani said. After witnesses ran 100 metres to the nearby police station to raise the alarm, police and emergency services said they found a barely responsive Swale in the driver's seat, sweaty and experiencing a diabetic episode. Nathwani said a clear ziplock bag with dried fruit and nuts inside was in the car. No faults were found with the car. A police investigation found Swale's phone received 10 blood glucose alarms indicating his levels were low over about a 30-minute period before the fatal crash. Nathwani said the inquest was expected to examine the safety of patrons seated outside the hotel, the safety of drivers with type-1 diabetes, relevant guidelines, education and public awareness.
The Age
05-08-2025
- The Age
Inquest into Daylesford hotel crash to probe safety of outdoor dining
Others, including witnesses and experts from the road safety and medical fields, were expected to be called at next year's inquest, Nathwani said. Seated in the Coroner's Court of Victoria for the hearing this week were lawyers for Swale, the Hepburn Shire Council and one of Swale's doctors. Nathwani, in addressing the coroner, also acknowledged the presence of the families of those killed in the November 5, 2023 crash, and those injured in the crash. 'I'm sorry for your loss and acknowledge your trauma and your suffering,' he said. 'The impact and scars from that day will remain.' Nathwani said as part of the future inquest, public health and safety recommendations could be made to help reduce preventable deaths in the future. Further expert material would also likely be obtained ahead of the inquest in March. He reminded the coroner that on November 5, 2023, Swale was driving a white BMW after earlier attending a target shooting competition at Clunes. Loading At 5.17pm he checked his blood glucose monitor, connected to his mobile phone, while returning a reading of 2.9. He then left his car and entered a nearby deli but left when he was told there were no spare tables. About 5.35pm he drove towards the bowling club nearby, stopping in the middle of the road and narrowly avoiding crashing into an oncoming car. At 5.43pm he then headed west, downhill, towards patrons seated below, striking several people. He stopped nearby after colliding with a metal pole. 'There were no bollards or fences separating the grass area to the road,' Nathwani said. After witnesses ran 100 metres to the nearby police station to raise the alarm, police and emergency services said they found a barely responsive Swale in the driver's seat, sweaty and experiencing a diabetic episode. Nathwani said a clear ziplock bag with dried fruit and nuts inside was in the car. No faults were found with the car. A police investigation found Swale's phone received 10 blood glucose alarms indicating his levels were low over about a 30-minute period before the fatal crash. Nathwani said the inquest was expected to examine the safety of patrons seated outside the hotel, the safety of drivers with type-1 diabetes, relevant guidelines, education and public awareness.
