Page 15 - The Outdoor Showman April-June 2024

Children’s Art and Craft Table in the Tom Ford Pavilion
The beautiful town of Daylesford nestled in the beautiful Wombat Range section of the Great Dividing Range in Central Victoria at 620 metres above sea level has been one of that state’s favourite
tourist destinations for over a hundred and thirty-five years.
With regular snow and reliable rainfall in winter, long warm summers and rich red volcanic soil, the Daylesford area was one of
the first parts of Victoria farmed by white settlers following the Major Mitchell southward lines in 1835 and 1836. These new farmers and graziers thought this land reminded them of home and set about not only
to develop prosperous farms but also to recreate the farming practices and the scenery of Europe, usually the British Isles.
There are still several rural locations around the town that bear a distinct resemblance
to Yorkshire, Northern Italy
or Southern France.
Like much of this part of Victoria the massive population increase after the discovery and extraction of gold led to the development of smaller scale farms and cropping of grain to feed the townsfolk.
Within eleven years of gold
being found in the area there were also enough interested farmers to form an agricultural society and begin the process of promoting and improving grain production and animal husbandry by annual competitions.
This fledgling Agricultural Society in the new land held its first crop trials in 1864 and except for the World Wars and the two-year Covid break, has held a show of ever evolving varieties every year since. The show has changed location several times but since 1946 has been held in the beautiful grounds of Victoria Park on the Ballan Road immediately South
of the town centre and it is a fine example of the early settlers’ desire to plant the trees and recreate the style of Britain.
On Saturday November 23rd this year the Daylesford and District Agricultural Society will present
Annual Daylesford Dog Championship Show
THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN 13