The Griffith Springfest
26 October 2024 / Author & Photos: Mike Lawless and Jo Blackburn
An early start from Hall on Friday, 11 October for 10 cars off to the Griffith Springfest. By 8:30 a.m., the convoy was on its way, bound for coffee at Barnes Emporium and Cafe in Harden. The Emporium building is one of the earliest in the region and was built in the gold rush to serve the miners and farmers. It still has a great selection of olive oils, spices and hand made lollies and chocolates to stock up on.
After the coffee break, the group hit the road again, reaching the Temora Rural Museum by noon. We enjoyed lunch at the Temora Visitors Centre and had the chance to explore the exhibits at the Temora Rural Museum. For those who hadn’t visited before, it was a fascinating glimpse into Australia’s heritage. It houses an impressive range of tractors and farm machinery, fire and rescue vehicles and the largest collection of ambulances in the southern hemisphere. Many of the vehicles are on historic plates and are still driven. It is well worth a visit by car enthusiasts. It also has Don Bradman’s early house and other old buildings that show the hard life of a century or so ago.
Griffith was busy for the opening weekend of Springfest. So for dinner we split the group in two. Half the group dined at Limone, (a fine dining venue, which was opened just for the group), indulging in a chef’s sharing menu, while the other half enjoyed the cozy ambiance of the Victoria Hotel Bistro.
On Saturday morning, some chose to remain in Griffith for the multicultural festival.
The rest went on a drive. First to the Toganmain Woolshed, taking in the scenic route via Darlington Point. We were met at Toganmain by Bruce Dalgleish who organised our entry to this historic site which is not yet open to the public. Chris, our guide for the morning, took us through the Woolshed and its place in the history of Australias wool industry (including the identification of arse grass!). This is a link to the ANC landline story about Toganmain. It’s an Australian icon.
Another drive on the long flat roads of this region to Yarrow Park for a tasting session and lunch. Bruce and his family treated us to tastings of very fine olive oil, olives and wine followed by a delicious lunch under the trees. A excellent experience of rural hospitality and learning about the local produce. There were quite a few purchases made as well! Some great produce can be bought on line from him.
And then some more driving. For some, a diversion to the Whitton Malthouse at Darlington point for beers and coffee. For others, Noble One had to be bought at the de Bortoli winery. And then there were the delicious roadside oranges for $1 a kilo Room just had to be made in the MX5 boot for these.
We split up again for dinner - some back to the Vic Hotel Bistro and the others to a local Italian restaurant, Zecca. Good food at both venues.
The Griffith Springfest, an annual celebration known for its vibrant citrus displays and sense of community spirit, got underway on Sunday morning. From dawn community groups and family groups were working on putting up their individual displays of citrus. Each sculpture is a metal frame covered in wire to which are attached the requisite number of elastic bands required to attach the oranges, lemons and grapefruits.
The members of the Griffith community, representing a rich tapestry of cultures, worked side by side to create these displays. Each group brought its own traditions and styles, from bright floral motifs inspired by Italian heritage to patterns reflecting the colors and symbols of Pacific Island cultures. It was inspiring to watch people of all ages and backgrounds contribute their creativity and energy to this shared event.
Watching the making of the sculptures was even better than seeing the final product.
After that, nothing to be done except to make our way home. The weekend was a perfect blend of history, local flavours, and camaraderie.
