Gales of laughter, bales of delicious woollen garments and an up-close and personal encounter with an alpaca are just some of the delights you’ll experience at Creswick Woollen Mills.

This award-winning tourist destination isn’t well-known to Melbournians. However, approximately 130,000 visitors a year come through the doors of this treasure trove of Australian style, charm and character.

Creswick Woollen Mills is Australia’s last remaining coloured spinning woollen mill. Self-guided tours are run four times a day and the interactive exhibit A Very Fine Yarn is open all day. During one, you’ll be regaled with tales from years gone by brimming with history, antics and stoic Australian spirit.

After your interactive experience, you can pat, feed or get into a staring competition with an alpaca, sheep or goat at the recently opened animal enclosure.

Be sure to make time to sit back and enjoy some locally sourced produce in the recently opened café. Within eyesight of the café, soft, sigh-worthy Creswick garments dripping in colour hang against a background of corrugated tin and industrial machinery in the factory retail store. Should the siren call of the store overwhelm you, you’ll be able to wander the aisles, surreptitiously stroking jumpers, throws and scarves while you select your booty.

By the end of your day at Creswick Woollen Mills you’ll have a sated belly, a new appreciation for the hard yakka that goes into making Australian textiles and arms laden with quality, woollen garments and blankets. All in all, a damn fine day.

creswickwool.com