Sunday 4 October
Bendigo-Dingee-Mitiamo-Mysia-Calivil
This Sunday bus trip takes you to dots on the map in the East Loddon plains, where you’ll visit heritage buildings hosting all kinds of exhibitions, from woodworks in the corrugated iron Memorial Hall in Dingee to an exhibition by printmaker Helen Timbury in the unique and haunting Mysia War Memorial School. Meet irrepressible Jill at the unique general store in little Mitiamo in the shadow of Terrick Terrick National Park, then your bus heads to the big marvelous exhibition, The Look of Loddon, in the cared-for Hall at Calivil, where there’s food and wine stalls too for the Festival Finale.
Cost $70
Itinerary
9.30am Depart Bendigo Railway Station
10.15am Arrive Dingee
Pretty as a picture, the little railway station in Dingee is pride of place for the locals, with its tended garden and library. For Loddon Valley Arts Trail, the corrugated iron Memorial Hall spruces up, to welcome the enterprising Bendigo Woodturners, who take over the hall to show off their skills. The historic Dingee Hotel is also open for the Trail, well worth a visit in this friendly little town.
11.30am Depart Dingee
12pm Arrive Mitiamo
Agriculture and industry workers, along with keen nature walkers, love the Mitiamo Store. It’s a cliché to call something an “oasis” but when you step into Jill Ramskill’s domain, well, there’s enough going on to give even a camel pause. There’s art, for starters (including the lovely little paintings of local artist Spoony Joe). And food, and a beer garden and all kinds of interesting nooks and crannies. Put your feet up, or stroll a few doors down to Steve’s metal artworks in the corner shed.
12.45pm Depart Mitiamo
1.30pm Arrive Mysia
Not much is left of what was once a thriving rural centre with a school ringing with the voices of children. When it closed after the Second World War, the local community resolved not to lose this art-deco building which holds so many memories. Restored, and with ongoing maintenance, it is now an important meeting place, and for Loddon Valley Arts Trail, it is a beautiful exhibition space, this year welcoming artist designer Helen Timbury, whose work is inspired by the Australian bush and her own memories of growing up on a farm.
2pm Depart Mysia
2.30pm Arrive Calivil
You don’t get straighter roads than Prairie Road West – and it runs straight to Calivil’s recreation reserve and Memorial Hall. Loddon Valley Arts Trail’s signature exhibition this year is The Look of Loddon, a big sweeping show of photographs taken by the Image Chasers, who have headed out far and wide in Loddon to record people, places, moments and meaning in the Loddon shire. The Festival Finale, on Sunday afternoon, offers food from Madame Cue and Eddington Asian Street Food, and Newbridge Wines and Lake Meran Brewery and Distillery will also be there. It’s the perfect venue to spend a relaxing hour among friends.
3.30pm Depart Calivil
4.30pm Arrive Bendigo
Please note: this is non-hosted bus tour. Loddon Valley Arts Trail accepts no responsibility except when you are inside each of the programmed venues. Information on the places you visit and the exhibitions will be provided prior to the trip and also will be available from the bus driver.