Home to a broad and rapidly growing range of classes and workshops, the Daylesford Macedon region provides those wanting to explore their creative side with plenty of options to choose from.
Whether it’s a cooking class, learning the skills of dry stone walling or making your own chair, there is literally something for everyone!
Keep in mind that many of these classes book out quickly, so be sure to book well in advance.
Mushroom Foraging
Multiple Locations
May - June
Learn a thing or two about mushrooms with Alison Pouliot, who will be holding a range of different (and fascinating) workshops in Creswick, Woodend, Blackwood and Ballan over the winter months. More info..
Tools Of The Trade With Glen Rundell Pork Pie Workshop
Rundell & Rundell & Piper Street Food Co. Kyneton
Saturday, 28 July
A Traditional Pork Pie Workshop joint venture! Create your very own bespoke wooden ‘dolly’ and rolling pin then use your handcrafted tools in a hands-on Pork Pie workshop. Limited availability. More info..
Words In Winter Writers’ Festival
Daylesford
17 – 26 August
For anyone interested in writing, the workshops scheduled for this year’s Words in Winter Writers’ Festival, over two weekends from August 17 to 26, should not be missed! More info..
YEAR ROUND
Pom-me-granite Studios – Pastoria East
Lose yourself as you play with clay! Master the art of plaster and porcelain and delve into the world of ceramic surface design and decoration. Come with little or lots of experience and let your creativity be nurtured in this stunning working studio and surrounds.
Gold Street Studios – Trentham East
Offering a range of workshops which attract local, interstate and international participants wishing to understand and enjoy the art, craft and science of creating handmade photographs from professional instructors.
Garden of St Erth – Blackwood
Sharpen your skills at Diggers monthly workshops, which focus on a wide range of essential gardening topics, techniques and skills, as well as specific plants and tasks to suit the season.
Visit Garden St Erth
Dyeing to Weave SAORI Studio – Clunes
Learn the art of Japanese SAORI - an easy, freestyle and meditative weaving technique with passionate SAORI teacher Prue Simmons, one of only 3 SAORI teachers in Australia. Find your zen and create a gorgeous woven piece to take home.
Visit Dyeing To Weave
Said with Love – Daylesford
The Said With Love Quilt Barn is an idyllic place for a day with friends learning some new skills and taking home an almost completed project! Lunch and afternoon tea are included.
Visit Said With Love
Castlemaine Bee Sanctuary – various locations
Learn everything you need to begin your journey with these fascinating creatures and become a registered beekeeper yourself. Call for available course dates and locations.
Manteau Noir – Daylesford
Create your own tea blend with local Herbalist Caroline Parker Rolls (The Cottage Herbalist) and learn about the spring herbs that can be found growing in your garden and wild in the hedgerows of the Central Highlands.
Visit The Cottage Herbalist
Visit Manteau Noir
Milkwood – Hepburn
Gourmet mushroom cultivation, two jam-packed days of hands-on skills in edible mushroom propagation. Or an introduction to permaculture, two days of design, theory and action. The choice is yours!
The Brainery – Daylesford
Practical workshops and courses in traditional skills for a modern world. Learn how to grow your own vegetables, raise your own animals such as chickens and bees and indulge in the delights of home cured, baked and fermented foods.
Agave Print Studio - Trentham
Workshops and weekly classes with professional printmaking facilities for intaglio and relief printmaking and photopolymer letterpress printing. For beginners or experienced printmakers. Studio hire, residencies, editioning services and one-to-one tuition.
St Claire Country House – Trentham East
For lovers of all things French! Join in on spring time workshops, including “French up your Life”, by Caroline Vosse and “Francophilia” by Jane Webster (chateau owner and author).
Pheobe Everill Furniture Maker - Drummond
Classes are available for absolute beginners through to advanced students. A flexible and personalised approach to woodworking, set in a spectacular location halfway between Daylesford and Kyneton.
Millrose Quilting & Gallery, Ballan
Located in an old masonic hall, just an hour west of Melbourne, classes are held with many exciting, talented and inspiring teachers to provide education and a fun day of stitching.
Visit Millrose Quilting & Gallery
Hollyburton Farm, Bolinda
This organic farm in the Macedon Ranges holds workshops throughout the year, from pizza oven building to tiny house building.
Fibrefaerie Knitting & Crochet, Castlemaine
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to knit or crochet, or would like to improve your skills and challenge yourself with new techniques, then Fibrefaerie Tuition can help you!
The Fermentary, Daylesford
Take a workshop at The Fermentary and learn how to have your own crocks and jars of ferments in your kitchen.
Lake House, Daylesford
Learn from some of Australia’s best and most interesting chefs, producers, growers and winemakers. Classes are held in the purpose built Cooking School kitchen at Lake House.
Le Yoga, Daylesford
With a focus on breathwork and the fluidity of the asanas, Adrian encourages his students to gain an awareness of their joints‘ movements as well muscle strength and flexibility.
Jonai Farms & Meatsmiths, Eganstown
Jonai Farms’ popular range of workshops teach the art and craft of butchery, sausage-making, air-curing and charcuterie.
Gisborne French Provincial, Gisborne
Passionate about recycling old wares, Gisborne French Provincial are stockists of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and run regular workshops on how to paint, dye fabrics and more.
Visit Gisborne French Provincial
Bress, Harcourt
Discuss the latest vintage, learn how to forage for mushrooms, or perhaps dine with Bress winemaker, Adam Marks.
Piper St Food Company, Kyneton
Maker of the region’s iconic terrines, rillettes and parfaits, chef Damian Sandercock will give you a hands-on experience in the arts of sausage-making, hot cross bun baking or perhaps whole pig butchering.
Pod Jewellery, Kyneton
So many fabulous workshops to choose from! Previous experience isn’t necessary. These jewellery making workshops are also suitable for beginners & students with some experience.
Rundell & Rundell, Kyneton
Learn from one of Australia’s leading chairmakers and at the end of your workshop, take home your own beautifully handcrafted, heirloom quality chair.
Lauriston Press, Kyneton
Here you’ll find a range of workshops from drawing to printmaking on offer throughout the year.
Robert & Hassett, Kyneton
Learn the art of shoemaking through comprehensive one on one classes with bespoke maker James Roberts. Beginners and advanced classes available.
Wildwood Instruments, Mount Franklin
With over 25 years’ experience in making instruments, luthier Nick Carpenter offers two-day electric guitar or bass guitar making workshops for the musically gifted!
Waterfalls Studio, Mount Macedon
Classes offered in Silk Painting, Shibori and Nuno Felting. Suitable for beginners and anyone wanting to increase their skills whilst enjoying a day in the studio with others.
HipCat Printery, Newbury
Linocut, wood engraving, woodcut, etching, drypoint, collography, handsetting monotype, drawing tuition and compositional theory, typesetting, photopolymer plate-making, introductory book binding, book creation, poster and card making and much more...
Homestead Hill, Romsey
Educational and fun workshops in cheese making, home preserves, sausage and salami making, along with wood fired smoking. All you need to bring is your enthusiasm!
Simply d’Vine Cooking Classes, Shepherd’s Flat
Cooking classes cover a wide range of cuisines from around the world in a casual and fun environment.
Oak & Monkey Puzzle, Spargo Creek
Join owner Natasha Morgan for a range of design workshops such as garden design, growing, harvesting and cooking from the kitchen garden and orchard, preserve-making and flower-arranging.
RedBeard Bakery, Trentham
RedBeard’s founder, John Reid, will take you inside the historic bakery where you’ll have a hands-on chance to learn about the science and art of bread making.
Flowers in a Vase, Woodend
Master the art of table-scaping for your next dinner party, vine wreath weaving workshops, how to dress your Christmas tree, and more!
Woodend Art Group Inc, Woodend
The Woodend Art Group is an outstanding venue for a wide range of classes and workshops by well-known local and internationally acclaimed artists.
