This year's inaugural High Country Halls Music Festival brings you homegrown talent at four very special venues in the Victorian townships of Merrijig, Merton, Jamieson and Tolmie.
MERRIJIG PUBLIC HALL
1 Alpha St, Merrijig VIC 3723
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Merrijig is located nearly halfway between Mansfield and Mount Buller in the scenic Great Dividing Range - the set location for the renowned 'Man From Snowy River' film. It's Giddy-Up country with loads of trail riding options and the annual Merrijig Rodeo. Kick back at the Huntclub Hotel or indulge in a tasting at the new Gin & Whiskey Bar!
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The Delatite River passes through the town centre and there are a number of scenic picnic areas along the river on its route between Mount Buller and Lake Eildon.
The Merrijig Public Hall was built in the 1930's by the Mountain Cattleman & their families as a place to socialise. It remains a place to gather for the locals with private & community functions & local school activities.
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This historic hall has a commercial kitchen, modern wheelchair-accessible bathrooms and can accommodate up to 100 people.
It is also a registered Safer Neighbourhood place in the event of bush fires & is used as a base for Search & Rescue in the area.
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Merton is a farming community, located 10mins west of the 'serenity' of Bonnie Doon, with the landmark servo possibly making a fleeting appearance in the great Aussie drama - The Castle - as the Corrigan family sped by!
It's claimed Bushranger Ned Kelly had a beer and gunfight at the now deceased pub, and the local horse racing track dates back to 1865 with the New Years Day meet still going strong.
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The hall has recently been lovingly refurbished and redecorated and everyone is rapt with the outcome - offering all the latest facilities for over 100 guests including a new commercial kitchen and wheelchair accessibility. There's a sunny deck out front and a covered rear verandah - you could almost move in!
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The Hall is a social magnet and has been the home of Merton Balls, birthday parties, weddings, music festivals and celebrations for most of the last century.
Originally the town of Wombat in the 1880's, the Tolmie area was known for an outlaw element courtesy of the Kelly gang and bushranger antics. Renamed, it grew into a thriving centre.
While the heyday came and went, Tolmie has settled back into a small, but close knit community enjoying a clean cool climate and relaxed lifestyle. Visitors are attracted to the peace and tranquillity with wonderful camping facilities including stables & yards, access to 4WD tracks, trail riding and the King Valley winery region only 20mins away. The iconic sports day is also not to be missed!
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The Tolmie Hall was first built in 1920 and was opened with a dance on July 2nd 1920 - Admission was five shillings for gentlemen, while ladies were free! Improvements occurred over the years and then a major renovation adding the verandah and deck and other upgrades was completed in 2008.
The hall provides seating capacity for up to 100 with excellent amenities and disabled access. It is used regularly by the community for meetings, line dancing and special gatherings including the annual bush dance. It is an extremely popular venue for celebrations and makes a perfect wedding venue, positioned adjacent to the recently renovated Uniting Church.
JAMIESON MEMORIAL HALL
15 Perkins St, Jamieson VIC 3723
Nestled deep in the mountains beside the Jamieson and Goulburn rivers, this beautiful, laid back leafy town is rich with history and natural beauty.
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Wander through Jamieson's historic streets and you’ll find traces of the bustling hub that the town once was during the goldrush days of the 1860's.
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Enjoy a summer picnic on the riverbank under a shady tree, spend a quiet afternoon fishing or just relax and take in the surrounds. The Goulburn and Jamieson Rivers offer some of the finest fly fishing in Australia, complete with gorgeous scenery and unspoilt banks.
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Come autumn, the town is ablaze with colour as the tree lined streets turn gold, copper and bronze - warm up with a coffee and treat in front of the fire at the Jamieson General Store or head over to the local brewery for a cold one.
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The Memorial Hall is a community hub and meeting place, host to annual events and celebrations.
BONNIE DOON Rec reserve hall
2 Davon Street, Bonnie Doon 3720
Bonnie Doon township was established subsequent to gold discoveries in the area. It was originally named Doon after the town of that name in Ireland. The Post Office opened on 1 October 1866 and was renamed Bonnie Doon in 1891 coinciding with the arrival of the railway.
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Much of the original town of Bonnie Doon was flooded by the construction of Lake Eildon in the 1950s. When relocated, some buildings were moved on, whilst others were able to remain in their original site, such as the churches.
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Lake Eildon and the Great Victorian Rail Trail has secured the development of Bonnie Doon as a popular tourist town for water play water and cyclilng activities. This popularity was satirised in the Australian comedy, The Castle, with popular quotes such as "How's the serenity?" and its catch-phrase song "We're all going to Bonnie Doon".
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The history of the Bonnie Doon Recreation Reserve goes back some 120 years when it was created to accommodate a sports venue for the local families of the day. The Recreation Reserve Hall is a local hub that the community is very proud of.
Since it's opening in 1978, many events have been held in this iconic space, including, balls, bush dances, life celebrations, anniversary and birthday parties, and fundraising events. The hall is also utilised for election booths, public and council meetings, and by the local football club. home to the launch of the Bonnie Doon Music Festival the Hall is proud to now be a part of the High Country Halls Music Festival Trail.
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