Andersons Mill Festival 2010
The historic 5 storey bluestone mill situated in Smeaton will again be the venue for the 2010 Anderson’s Mill Festival. The festival has been conducted for the past 15 years and is a celebration of local foods, wine and music.
The Newlyn Football Netball Club and its many volunteers will be running the festival in conjunction with Parks Victoria and the Hepburn Shire Council. The club has organised the event for the past 5 years and has successfully made it family friendly and accessible to local producers and local community groups.
In addition to local wineries and food producers, the festival offers visitors a large variety of art and craft stalls, blacksmithing and sheep shearing demonstrations, wood turning, pony rides and much, much more. Workshops will again be conducted featuring cooking demonstrations, wine appreciation and organic farming. Well known TV personality Tonia Todman will also be conducting craft workshops on the day. A number of local artists will also have their skills and paintings on display on the first floor of the mill.
The Anderson’s Mill Festival has always been by music lovers and 2010 will be no exception. The day will begin with the very talented students from the Ballarat High School who always prove to be a hit. The feature band for the day will be Damian Howard and The Ploughboys. They play a mix of celtic, folk rock and country music and are a headline act at events such as the Port Fairy Folk Festival and Tamworth. Also featuring during the afternoon will be the Miidcats, an easy to listen to duo from Castlemaine.
Children are special visitors to the Anderson’s Mill Festival and again in 2010 there will be plenty for them to do and see including face painting, building with wood and pony rides.
Andersons Mill is a reminder of an industry that flourished after the goldrush of the 1850’s. Construction of the fascinating five story flour mill started in 1861 and included stables, a grain store and a blue stone office.
The mill closed in 1957 and became one of the first buildings to be included on the Historic Buildings register in 1974. Much needed repairs were made and the mill was finally purchased by the State Government in 1987.
The huge water wheel, which once drove the grain mill, may not be turning due to the dry conditions we are currently experiencing.
Entertainment kicks off at 10am and the fun continues through the day till 5pm. in the picturesque township of Smeaton. Follow the signs from the Midland Highway to a relaxing fun filled day for the whole family.
