Glenrowan - Places to See

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This was published 15 years ago

Glenrowan - Places to See


Historic Sites
Glenrowan retains none of the buildings which Ned Kelly would have known in his lifetime. However, the community have recently constructed a replica of the original railway station around the old railway platform. There is also a replica of the Kelly homestead behind Kate's Cottage and a range of artifacts in the town's various museums cum gift shops. Plaques around town denote where some of the events surrounding the siege transpired, including the site where the Glenrowan Inn stood before it was burned down and the gully where the troopers took cover.

Kellyland
Kellyland is the main attraction in Glenrowan. This is apt as it would be an appropriate title if the town were to ever contemplate a change of name. In fact the main shopping strip in Gladstone St is largely given over to enterprises which seek to turn the mythology surrounding Kelly into cash.

Kellyland is a multi-million dollar cinematic and theatrical depiction of the Kelly gang's last stand, enacted by computerised robots in the manner of Disneyland. There are four different sets which relate different moments of the story - the waiting room of Glenrowan railway station, the shoot-out, the burning hotel and the execution at Melbourne Gaol. Visitors sit within these settings like first-hand participants. Original props include the bar of McDonell's Tavern, an authentic hand-gun owned by Ned, Sgt Kennedy's hitching post and a rare surviving copy of the findings of the Royal Commission into the Kelly manhunt.

The show lasts about 40 minutes and it commences every half-hour from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. every day (opening hours can be extended by prior arrangement). There are also two evening shows at 7.30 p.m. and 8.00 p.m. which are combined with a meal. Family tickets and coach groups bring individual prices down considerably, tel: (03) 5766 2367.

Kelly Statue
Just along the road, at the corner of Gladstone St and Kate St, is the town's dominant motif writ large in the form of a 6-metre statue which depicts Kelly as he appeared at the time of his capture at Glenrowan - clad in armour, rifle in hand.

Kate's Cottage and Kelly Museum
On the opposite corner is Kate's Cottage, named after Ned's mother. It is a gift and souvenir shop focusing on Kelly memorabilia and Australiana.

At the back of the shop is the Ned Kelly Memorial Museum with illustrative displays. Outside are a stringybark replica of the Kelly homestead fashioned in the traditional manner with broadaxe and adze and decorated with the type of furnishings which one may have expected to see in the original which was allegedly erected by Ned (the ruins of the 1877 homestead can still be seen to the south-west of town, near Greta West). There is also a coach, a blacksmith's shed, barbecue facilities and talking cockatoos. It is open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., tel: (03) 5766 2448.

Glenrowan Cobb & Co Souvenir Gift Shop and Museum
The Cobb & Co is another museum of sorts. It features photographs, memorabilia and write-ups relating to the Kelly siege and shoot-out. The display is well laid out and housed in an authentic reconstruction of the town's original Cobb & Co changing station, tel: (03) 5766 2409. It is open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. daily.

The Kelly Walk
The three establishments mentioned above can furnish you with a pamphlet outlining a walk which takes in the townsites associated with the Glenrowan siege. The railway station has changed little since Ned lay wounded in the stationmaster's office. Crowds used the station as a grandstand to watch the siege.

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Wineries
There are five wineries in the Glenrowan area and all are signposted from town.

Baileys of Glenrowan, established in 1870, is located on Taminick Gap Rd (head north for 5 km then turn right for another 2 km and it is on the right). They produce dessert wines such as muscat, full-bodied dry reds and white table wines. Other attractions include the original granite stables, a blacksmith's shop, a small museum, free electric barbecues and a picnic area. They are open weekdays from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and weekends from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., tel: (03) 5766 2392.

Auldstone Cellars is located in Booths Rd at Taminick (head north for 8 km then turn right onto Booths Rd). Originally established in 1891 it retains the original, albeit renovated, stone winery. The vineyard was reopened in 1987 and today it produces a large range including shiraz, sparkling shiraz, muscat, chardonnay, riesling and cabernet. The cellar door is open from Thursday to Sunday and every day in the school holidays. Gourmet lunches are available on weekends and there is a picnic area with barbecue facilities and playground, tel: (03) 5766 2237.

Booth's Taminick Cellars is a family-owned enterprise which was established in 1892. They are also located on Booth's Rd, just past Auldstone's and on the opposite side. Trebbiano, semillon, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon are grown to produce dry reds, dry whites and vintage port. They are open daily, tel: (03) 5766 2282.

HJT Vineyards is a small family enterprise located about 10 km west of Glenrowan on Keenan Rd, near Lake Mokoan. They produce table wines and are open Friday to Sunday and public holidays, tel: (03) 5766 2252.

Sundry Local Businesses
The White Cottage Herb Garden is at 20 Hill St and it is open from Thursday to Monday from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., tel: (03) 5766 2285. Country Garden Ornaments is on Warby Range Rd and it is open daily, tel: (03) 5766 2208. Couttie's Strawberry Farm is on the Glenrowan/Moyhu Rd at Greta West and it is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily, tel: (03) 5727 6213.

Lake Mokoan
Lake Mokoan is a large expanse of water to the west and north-west of town which is ideal for boating, fishing and waterskiing.

Warby Range State Park
Warby Range State Park (7600 ha) is a granite range which is divided in three sections stretching northwards from Glenrowan for 20 km. It is noted for its lookouts offering spectacular views over the surrounding plains, its picnic areas, springtime wildflower displays and fauna. There is a campground and the Pine Gully Nature Walk (2 km) holds out the possibility of spotting kangaroos, koalas and some beautiful parrots. Good sealed access roads head east off the Glenrowan-Boweya Rd. Ring (03) 5721 5022 or 131 963 for more information.

Couttie's Strawberry Farm
Couttie's Strawberry Farm offers the opportunity of picking your own strawberries from mid-October to December and raspberries from March-May. If you prefer you can buy them pre-packaged. There are also jams and condiments. They are 7 km south of Glenrowan on the Glenrowan-Moyhu Rd at Greta West, tel: (03) 5727 6213.


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