By Richard Cornish
Fire Fest
With the year's shortest day approaching, Warragul in West Gippsland is preparing to celebrate the winter solstice. Locals will gather in the town's Eastern Park Community Gardens for Warragul Winter. Fire-twirlers and musicians will perform, hot food and drinks will be served and hundreds of children will parade with handmade lanterns. At the heart of the festival is a large bonfire to warm the throng. It's a community event where all are welcome.
Cambridge Parade, June 24, 4.30pm-9pm
Fire-twirlers and musicians will perform at Warragul's annual Fire Fest, celebrating the winter solstice.
Black-and-white history
A statue of boxer Lionel Rose stands outside the Warragul train station. He was born in an Aboriginal settlement at Jackson's Track, outside Warragul. The book Jackson's Track by Daryl Tonkin and Carolyn Landon was researched using the extensive archives of the Warragul and District Historical Society, housed in the former shire building next to the station. It is now a compact but impressive museum with displays of black-and-white photographs that show early Warragul as collection of brick and weatherboard buildings surrounded by a towering forest. One photograph depicts a family living inside the hollow of a gigantic mountain ash tree.
72 Queens St, open Thu 10am-2pm, second and fourth Sunday each month, 2pm-4pm, entry $2 (thrown into the tuba) warragulhistory.org.au
Local on-road bike riders love the pleasure and pain of the 140-kilometre Warragul-Inverloch return ride through the Strzelecki RangesCredit: Pat Scala
Mount Worth
When explorer Paul Strzelecki came through this region in the 1840s he spent 22 days fighting through dense forest and was on the verge of starvation save for the odd raw possum or koala. You can gain an idea of what he endured when you walk through the forest at Mount Worth State Park, 15 kilometres south of Warragul. Longer walks take about three hours, during which you'll find trees more than 90 metres high and 300 years old. Tread softly at this time of year as you may come across lyrebirds in full mating ritual, feathers extended and performing their repertoire of impersonations.
Ride
Local on-road bike riders love the pleasure and pain of the 140-kilometre Warragul-Inverloch return ride. Climb the lung-busting 700 metres up the Strzelecki Ranges through Ranceby on the C425. From here it's mostly downhill to Korumburra. Off the main street, take the C437 south. At the Kongwak turnoff take the C441 down the coastal flats to Inverloch. Lunch. Return. This also makes a splendid Sunday drive.
Check out the cycling pages on visitvictoria.com.au
The mushroom risotto at Hogget Kitchen.Credit: Richard Cornish
Say cheese
Gippsland used to be home to more than 20 butter and cheese factories. With its high rainfall and glorious chocolate brown soil, this is one of the most fertile places in the nation and home to a great dairy industry. Warragul is also home to Gippsland Jersey, the dairy committed to paying a fair return to dairy farmers. Then there is Maffra Cheese Co, making reliably good cheddar for more than 25 years; Prom Country Cheese (whose Venus Bay blue is outstanding); and Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese at Fish Creek, which makes a remarkable washed-rind cheese using buffalo milk. These are all served on the cheese platter ($22) at a very good deli called Stella's Pantry.
5/12 Victoria St, Mon-Fri 8am-5.30pm, Sat 8am-2pm, (03) 5611 0869
Try the local cheese at Stella's Pantry.Credit: Richard Cornish
Hogget Kitchen
You are advised to book if you want to dine at Hogget Kitchen on a weekend. This modern restaurant, surrounded by farm trees and overlooking a dam, is very popular. When we dined there recently the resident magpies were torn between harassing the kookaburras and the wedge-tailed eagles. Chef Trevor Perkins lets the local produce take centre stage. Start with house-made charcuterie, move to roast beef croquettes, try some wild mushroom risotto then move on to a slow-roasted hogget chop served with kidneys and superb seasonal vegetables. These, along with excellent local wines, will persuade you to stay for a long lunch. Catch the train to Warragul then order an Uber or call West Gippsland Taxis (03) 5623 2318.
Farrington Close, Fri-Sun breakfast from 8am, Wed-Sun lunch and dinner, (03) 5623 2211, hogget.com.au
In Mount Worth State Park at this time of year, you may come across lyrebirds in full mating ritual.Credit: ANU
Next week: Williamstown
6reasons@richardcornish.com.au; Twitter and Insta @Foodcornish
The statue of boxer Lionel Rose outside Warragul train station.Credit: Richard Cornish