So you’re moving to the Macedon Ranges or maybe you are new to the area. You might be wondering, ‘What is there to do? What are the schools like? Are there supermarkets here or only a general store in these country towns? Is it always this cold?’.
Great questions. Firstly, welcome to our beautiful shire. You have chosen a truly special place to live. Secondly, let me help put your mind at ease by telling you what you need to know about living here.
Photo by Wild Little Swallows Photography
Small town
The Macedon Ranges was indeed classified as being out of the Greater Melbourne area during lockdowns. While the urban sprawl meets our back door, there is still a small town feel, despite recent growth. One of the things I love most about the area is the close-knit vibe and the kindness of the people. Walk through the gardens in town and you get a nod or ‘hello’ from every person you meet. Letting someone reverse out of a car park in the main street? Most times you will get an appreciative wave. I’ve even get them from local teenagers when I stop my car to let them walk across at intersections. Frequent the same shop regularly? The staff will learn your name, or your coffee order, or have a friendly chat. After a while you will bump into people you’ve met everywhere. Next thing you know you’ll be having deep and meaningfuls in the shopping centre aisle. I mean, only if you really want to.
Schools
I don’t believe there are any ‘bad’ schools in the area. Facebook groups are often flooded with questions from newcomers seeking answers but the response is always the same. They are all good schools, just choose one that suits your family’s needs. Whether that be the one walking distance from your house; with an open plan learning style; a school with plenty of sporting facilities; or a tiny school in one of the smaller towns, you’ll find one that fits the bill.
Childcare
I’m not going to lie. There were waitlists when I enrolled my children ten years ago and I don’t think it has gotten any easier. However, there are many more centres popping up across the shire. Get your child’s name on a list as soon as possible. Other options include hiring an au pair or nanny. Once again, it is a matter of finding what works for your family.
Family fun
What is there to do out here in the sticks? I’m glad you asked. We are spoilt for choice with brilliant playgrounds, bushwalks, storytimes and kids activities. We have a blog on some great ideas for when the weather is hot, (yes, it can get warm!). And for when it is wet. You can expect the full gamut of Melbourne weather and even snow in the Ranges.
What to wear
It won’t take long for you to discover there is a reason for the sea of puffer jackets in winter. The weather can get quite chilly in the Ranges. If you feel the cold, I recommend stocking up on warm clothes. Think snuggly jumpers, polar fleece hoodies, woolen socks, an epic pair of waterproof gumboots, beanies and scarves. Summer can bring very hot dry weather, so you’ll need clothes for warmer weather too. The only weather we don’t get often is humid heat. And always, always expect rain at school pick up time. I recommend keeping a few items in your car for inclement weather. Pop in an umbrella, jacket, and spare clothes for little ones. I also found an old towel to dry down play equipment at a playground was handy.
Grocery shopping
Despite being a regional area, there is plenty of choice when it comes to supermarkets in the bigger towns. As for the little villages, there is usually a general store nearby. We also have the luxury of farmers’ markets on each Saturday in the Ranges. (Woodend, Kyneton, Riddells Creek, Lancefield, in that order, and if there is a fifth Saturday, Macedon). There is also a market in Trentham each third Saturday. The Malmsbury Market on the third Sunday of the month. Gisborne Market on the first Sunday of the month. And just out of the Ranges, the Daylesford Market on every Sunday. While some greengrocers have closed, there is the incredible Watts Fresh in Kyneton. There are also many local businesses who deliver produce to your door. The town centres become quite busy when their markets is on, so be aware of when your local market is.
Fire and other emergency information
No matter where you are in the Ranges, you should have a Fire plan for your home. I recommend following your local CFA Facebook page. Also check out their website for information, and arm yourself with plenty of knowledge. I’m sure you are aware of the Ash Wednesday fires experienced in our region, and other fires since. You can never be too vigilant. Download the Vic Emergency app on your phone. Chat to your neighbours about their how they prepare for the fire season.
When you live in an area like the Ranges, the towns (despite increased growth) have a strong sense of community. Get to know your local neighbourhood house. Join some clubs. Volunteer for a local organisation. Get out and about around town if you can. We have a page called Meet Other Locals with some great suggestions for families. These include: playgroups, local libraries, and toy libraries. These are great places to start if you want to meet other people with children.
Online groups
While I recommend getting out in your town ion person, joining Facebook groups can have their place. We list some of our favourites for families on our website. Locals are welcome to join our Macedon Ranges Mumma – Mums and Dads one. Introduce yourself, find like-minded families in their area, and to ask questions. There are also some great Foodie groups, Buy Nothing groups, Walking Groups and much more.
Country style
Some things out our way are a little different compared to when you were living closer to the city. Dogs and cats seem to go wandering a lot (you’ll see this across the online groups). Sometimes sheep and alpacas escape out of their paddocks. There are resident geese in Riddell’s Creek, so take care when you are driving through the town. Gisborne also has some ducks who have taken a liking to the fountain on the roundabout. There is obviously more wildlife around, so be aware of this when driving, biking or walking. (These include kangaroos, wombats, echnidnas, koalas and snakes). A good number to put in your phone is Wildlife Rescue and Rehab (0434 714 104). Call them if you find a injured wildlife. Ice on the roads is another thing to be aware of in the colder months.
Shopping locally
When you live in a regional area, many of your local community members own stores and businesses there. At first it can be a little more effort in finding where to source a product or service. (You can ask in those online groups!). But if you can try and buy local first, you are keeping your town and its people thriving. This can be a more costly at times but often better quality and you save on petrol. Shopping locally does the region a world of good. Macedon Ranges Mumma loves to support local businesses. You can share about your local business in our Facebook group for free, or contact us to advertise with us.
The Sweet Spot: The Macedon Ranges is happily situated between some amazing cities. These include: Bendigo, Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat. How lucky are we? We can have the best of every world! Feel like heading out for a road trip? We have a list of day trip ideas.
Food and drink: But do you really need to go anywhere? No, not really. The Ranges is known for its outstanding restaurants, wineries, distilleries and fresh produce. We list some of our favourite kid-friendly cafes on our website for your information.
Entertainment: We also have our share of music venues, theatres, concerts and festivals. I saw an international comedian at the Kyneton Town Hall and can tell you the experience was wonderful. The drive was less than half the distance to the city and we parked within 50 metres of the venue. The hall, while still holding plenty of people, was more intimate than most city venues. We have also had many amazing musicians play at Hanging Rock/Ngannelong and the Macedon Ranges Music Festival is held there. Many local pubs and cafes feature singers and bands from near and far. If you are into racing, there are races in the Ranges too. There are annual races at Hanging Rock and the Kyneton Cup is the day after the Melbourne Cup.
Stunning seasons
Just as the market days attract visitors to our beautiful town, so do our picturesque streets, parks and gardens during Autumn and our breathtaking Mount Macedon when snow falls in the cooler months. Macedon and Mount Macedon in particular can be inundated during this time so be aware that traffic may affect your usual movements. However, we are fortunate we can enjoy these seasons up close every day of the week!
First Nation information
The Macedon Ranges covers the lands of the Wurundjeri, Taungurung and Dja Dja Wurrung Peoples of the Kulin Nation. When you are visiting some of our beautiful natural icons, such as Mount Macedon/Geboor, Hanging Rock/Ngaannelong, and Black Hill Reserve, (to name a few), you may come across more detailed information about how the traditional owners of the land lived in these areas. I highly recommend attending local events run in conjunction with our local elders and reading the book Black Emu if you would like to learn more about our First Nations People in our region and state.
Welcome! Again, welcome to the Macedon Ranges. I hope you love living here as much as I do. Please let me know if I have missed anything important which you would like to know about. Enjoy discovering the beauty of our spectacular area and country living.
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