This was published 6 years ago
Byronsvale Vineyard Bed and Breakfast, Bendigo review: Old charm set in stone
A classic ... the loftis a restored barn and hayshed dating tothe 1870s.
Paul Kalina finds a happy union of antiques and modern comforts in a restored barn.
The vineyards overlooking the paved terrace are alive with movement, though it's not the kind of activity one might expect only a couple of weeks out from harvest time.
The kangaroos have come to forage. Not that there's anything to be had. The grapes cooked on the vines on Black Saturday and all that remains are shrivelled stalks.
Looking at the stone facade and terracotta pots around the B&B, known as Byronsvale, one could easily pretend to be somewhere in Tuscany. But the wildlife and the vestiges of the cruel summer heat that's left everything brown and parched provide an immediate and unmistakable reality-check of where one is.
The double-storey Byrons Loft is a restored barn and hayshed dating to the 1870s. The interior walls are stone, the floor is smoothly worn slate and brick and the ceiling reveals the beams and timber boards of the storey above.
It's pleasantly cool inside the loft, even on this unusually warm autumn day.
Downstairs is an entry anteroom with armchairs, plenty of space to dump the bags and a staircase. It opens into a roomy open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, which has french doors leading to the terrace. There's a small television that doesn't even get turned on during our stay. This is a place more conducive to quiet reading and contemplation, which leads to the one and only quibble - a fat couch to park one's rear in place of three serviceable cane armchairs.
The new kitchen is well appointed with quality crockery, pots and utensils and is immaculately clean, as is everything else in this homely property.
The tariff includes breakfast provisions and in the fridge are juice, poached fruit, ground coffee, fresh milk, yoghurt, bread, eggs and a tray of bacon rashers, while canisters of loose-leaf tea, a bowl of crisp apples and a good supply of magazines add to the feeling of generous hospitality.
Upstairs are a bathroom and two bedrooms, one with a queen bed, the other two singles.
As you go up the stairs you notice three small "portholes" that have been stopped with what looks like the lid of a round biscuit tin. These are the old chutes down which the chaff was poured to the stables.
With its warm, neutral tones and antique furnishings, the style of Byrons Loft is understated, restrained and "un-yuppified".
Attached to the main building are two other one-bedroom units, each self-contained with kitchen and cooking facilities, making Byronsvale a handy option for small groups of friends or a large, extended family travelling together.
But the two-storey loft is the pick and well worth some forward planning to secure.
The property is a working vineyard and farm that has been in the owner's family for 60 years.
The vineyards are planted with shiraz and wines made on the estate are sold under the Knots label. The Sheepshank Shiraz, a bottle of which is available to buy ($30) in the living room, is made from grapes grown on the property.
While much of the surrounding land has been cleared, no doubt to minimise the risks of bushfire, not far from the back of the house are old forests and paddocks, where two gregarious horses quickly befriend us.
The property is a very short drive from the centre of Bendigo. It's an ideal staging post for those visiting Bendigo, as we were to see the Bendigo Art Gallery's Golden Age Of Fashion show (which has now ended), and also looking for a peaceful retreat.
The tourists love them, host Pat says referring to the family of kangaroos thrashing around the vineyard. Her tone leaves no doubt that it's only city slickers like us who could possibly find their presence novel or amusing.
VISITORS' BOOK
Byronsvale Vineyard Bed and Breakfast
Address 51 Andrews Road, Bendigo.
Bookings Phone: 03 5447 3496. Email: enquiries@byronsvale.com.au , www.byronsvale.com.au
Getting there Bendigo is a two-hour drive from Melbourne on the Calder Freeway. Byronsvale is seven kilometres from Bendigo CBD. From the fountain in the city centre, take the Mildura road towards Maiden Gully. Turn left at Edwards Road, then left into Andrews Road.
Price Byrons Loft is $180 a night for a double, additional guests $30 a night. Clydesdale and Heathersett are $160 a night for a double.
Summary Comfortable and spacious accommodation in a beautifully restored stone stable amid picturesque vineyards and farmlands. A five-minute drive from Bendigo, it's an ideal location for visiting Bendigo's thriving art gallery or nearby wineries and goldfield attractions.
Verdict 18.
The score: 19-20 excellent; 17-18 great; 15-16 good; 13-14 comfortable, well run.
All weekends away are conducted anonymously and paid for by Traveller.
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