A Tasty History

Victoria's Central Highlands and Mt Macedon regions greet conference groups
with heritage and indulgence galore.

Follow this link to conference venues in >> Macedon Ranges, Victoria >> Goldfields, Victoria.

Built on 25 hectares, Ballarat's Sovereign Hill recreates the gold-rush Ballarat of the 1860s. Sovereign Hill has a variety of venues available for conferences, functions and special events. The Theatre Retiring Room, above the United States Hotel and Victoria Theatre complex, handles up to 60 guests depending on seating arrangements, the dining room of the Charlie Napier Hotel seats up to 100 people. The Hotham Room of the Sovereign Hill Lodge can accommodate up to 30 people for cocktail parties and these are just a few of the venues available.

After-hours functions and tours are a specialty. The spectacular Blood On The Southern Cross, which recreates the Eureka Rebellion, has been completely revamped at a cost of more than $2 million. Improvements to the show, which has already been seen by more than 900,000 people, include new lighting and a host of special effects including real rain before the battle, overturning and burning wagons and a gigantic circus tent with performers.

The Gold Museum has also been refurbished at a cost of some $1 million. Red Hill Gully Creek, where miners pan for gold, is a perfect place for a cocktail party with the festivities continuing at the lively United States Hotel.

A Relaxing Venue

Located directly opposite Sovereign Hill is Ballarat Lodge, which has recently opened the Thalgo Sanctuary, a European-style hydrotherapy spa. Facilities and services include two multi-purpose wet treatment rooms, vichy shower, affusion showers, hydrotherapy baths, massage rooms, manicure and pedicure room and analytic pool.

Set on four hectares, Ballarat Lodge has 12 meeting rooms. The Adelphi Theatre seats 110 people, the Eureka Ballroom 300 people theatre-style and the Sovereign Ballroom 250 people theatre-style.

The Convent at Daylesford is situated adjacent to the Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens, looking out over the Central Highlands. This grand old mansion was originally built as a private residence for the Gold Commissioner during the Gold Rush era of the 1860s. By 1880 it had been taken over by the Catholic Church and in 1991 was opened as an art gallery and conference centre.

Artful Indulgence

St Michael's Room holds 150 people theatre or banquet style, while the St Lawrence Room can accommodate 60 people theatre-style or 100 for banquets. The 60 square metre Chapel is another popular meetings venue.

Glen Erin Vineyard Retreat, nestled into the foothills of the Macedon Ranges near Lancefield, has a range of conference facilities. The Vineyard Room can host up to 200 people theatre-style or for banquets, while the picturesque Stables seats 190 people theatre-style. Recent improvements include an expansion of the Grange Restaurant, while future plans call for an increase in accommodation rooms and the creation of a new conference room. The swimming pool will become an all-weather indoor pool, a sauna will be added and another guest lounge will feature relaxing furnishings and a billiard table.

cThe 4.5-star Glen Erin Vineyard Retreat currently has 27 guestrooms with the three-bedroom 1860s-era Glen Erin Homestead overlooks the vineyard. Wine lovers are well catered for with a range of award-winning wines. The Mystic Park Sparkling Macedon is produced in the Methode Champenoise style while the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot are well worth tasting.