City Guide: A weekend in Daylesford with the founder of Ours Fitzroy
PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMMA MASH
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“Rise slowly, stoke the fire, make a coffee and hang out on the verandah.”
Here at Fashion Journal, we want to unearth the hidden spots in Australian cities that only the locals know about. There’s no gatekeeping here – this is a breakdown of the best bits of our cities. We want the underrated date spots, favourite restaurants, treasure trove op shops and the bars people will always want to go back to.
This week, we’re heading to Daylesford with Zane Curwen-Walker, the founder of the Fitzroy-based apartment and gallery, Ours. With a love for design and an eye for eclectic, colourful curation, Zane launched his one-man operation earlier this year – a multidisciplinary space where you can shop, sleep, stay and marvel at the work of local artists and makers.
Have a trip or move coming up? Head to our City Guides to find the best spots.
Zane’s latest project? A Hepburn Springs extension of his Fitzroy home/gallery space, designed for memorable weekends away. Born in Ballarat, Zane grew up around his dad’s office in Daylesford – making the new location a natural choice.
“The area has always held a special home-like feeling for me,” Zane says. “I love the scrap yards and secondhand stores. I love the eclectic mix of hoarders, horticulturalists and artists. But mostly I love that it’s an escape where I can switch off in front of the fire and run a bath.” Read on for his recommendations for a Daylesford weekend away.
Eat and drink
Winespeake Cellar and Deli, 4/26 Vincent Street, Daylesford
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“For an afternoon drink and a cheese board, you can’t go past Winespeake Cellar and Deli,” Zane says. “Sit in the window looking out at the main street of Daylesford. [You can] choose from a huge selection of deli meats and cheeses and a really well-curated selection of local wines.”
Beppe, 32 Raglan Street, Daylesford
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“Dinner has to be Beppe – simple and well-executed Italian from the team behind Cliffy’s. Eat in for a great dining atmosphere or treat yourself to a selection of takeaway food and wine for two.”
The Altar Bar, 7 Daly Street, Daylesford
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“The Altar Bar, fitted with the original altar from the chapel upstairs, is the perfect place to watch the sunset over Daylesford with a local beer or wine. [It’s also a great place to] make some alcohol-influenced art purchases, and I always find something special in the gift shop on the way out. The history of the building and the story of what Tina [the owner] has been able to do with the space over the last three decades makes this a truly special place to visit.”
Stay
Ours Hepburn Springs
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“At Ours Hepburn Springs, obviously,” Zane tells me. “It’s a one-bedroom cottage with a studio-style layout, an open fire and a huge bathtub. There’s also some nice greenery surrounding the patio, so you feel like you’re really away.”
“The home-away-from-home is also decked out with works from emerging Naarm-based artists, and they’re for sale if you really fall in love with them while staying with us. These pieces rotate between Hepburn Springs and our Fitzroy accommodation/gallery hybrid space, and we’re always open to new creators getting in touch.”
Shop
The Convent, 7 Daly Street, Daylesford
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“If I’m not at The Daylesford Bazaar or digging through scrap metal at the tip, I’ll more than likely be at The Convent,” Zane says. “Tina took over this magnificent old building on the hill in 1988, the year I was born, and I’ve been running around the halls since I was old enough to remember.”
“The gallery, which occupies the old rooms, bell tower and chapel from the original building, has the most amazing curation of Australian art, ceramics and furniture.”
The perfect day
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“Rise slowly, stoke the fire, make a coffee and hang out on the verandah with the local kookaburras while the sun comes up. Go for a walk through the bush to one of the local springs and fill up a water bottle. Head up to The Convent for breakfast and stroll through the gallery for a couple of hours before I hit every single junkyard, secondhand store, tip shop and garage sale within 50km. Land back in Hepburn Springs late afternoon for a wine by the fire while I run a bath.”
Plan your weekend away at Ours Hepburn Springs here.
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