In this update

• Free Tourism Business and Event Listings
• From the Rutherglen Visitor Information Centre
• What's On in Rutherglen 

  • Super Tuscan Friday at James & Co. Wines

  • Music on the Murray at St Leonards Vineyard

  • Easter Picnic at Campbells Wines

  • An Autumn Easter at Pfeiffer Wines

  • Easter Family Fun Days at Cofield Wines

  • Vintage Bike Ride

  • Sunday Series at The Victoria Hotel

  • Sourdough Basics - Bread Baking Workshop

• From the Chiltern Visitor Information Centre 
• What's On in Chiltern

  • "The Legend of Ben Hall" at the Chiltern Star Theatre

  • Chiltern Athenaeum Museum Community Open Day

• Industry News and Support
  • 2026 Telstra Connected Communities Grant

  • Regional Events Fund 

Free Tourism Business & Event Listings
Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) 

AI is now picking up information from our ATDW-fed tourism websites, so it's more important than ever to make sure your ATDW listing is up-to-date and shining.

Is your tourism business or event missing from the official Rutherglen or Chiltern website? We can help you get listed for free and significantly boost your online visibility.

Why list with ATDW? 

You only need to create one FREE listing for your business or event and it will automatically appear on multiple sites and platforms including:

• australia.com
• visitvictoria.com
• victoriashighcountry.com.au
• explorerutherglen.com.au or 
• explorechiltern.com.au
• Victoria's High Country App
• Indigo's What's On calendar

Ready to get started? Check out how to create your ATDW profile here. If you need any help, please call, or email us: 

Rutherglen Visitor Information Centre
Email: info@explorerutherglen.com.au
Phone: 1800 622 871

From the Rutherglen Visitor Information Centre

Hello everyone, 

Time flies when you’re having fun (or so the saying goes) and we must be having a great time, because we’re already halfway through March!

With Easter just around the corner, we’re gearing up for plenty of visitors coming to enjoy all that the region has to offer. We are currently putting together our Easter Hours Spreadsheet, which includes the opening hours of local wineries and eateries.

If you haven’t already shared your Easter trading hours, please email us at info@explorerutherglen.com.au with your opening times for:

• Good Friday
• Easter Saturday
• Easter Sunday
• Easter Monday

We appreciate your help and look forward to another busy and exciting Easter period.

Our staff and volunteers recently enjoyed another great afternoon out on a familiarisation tour, visiting John Gehrig Wines and Gooramadda Olives.

A big thank you to Meghan Gehrig, along with Mel and Rob from Gooramadda Olives, for generously showing our team around and sharing their knowledge and passion. These visits are a wonderful way for our team to stay connected with local producers and better support our visitors.

Have a wonderful fortnight ahead. 

The Rutherglen Visitor Information Centre team

What's On in Rutherglen

Super Tuscan Friday

James & Co. Wines
136 Main Street, Rutherglen
Friday 27 March
From 5:00pm

Pizza By Five Letters serve carefully crafted, traditional-style pizzas from the onsite oven, with thoughtful toppings and perfectly balanced dough. Guests can enjoy James & Co.’s own handcrafted wines, specialising in Sangiovese and other Italian varietals sourced from nearby Beechworth and Alpine Valleys. Not a wine drinker? Beer, gin and tonics and soft drinks are available too. 

Walk-ins only, no bookings required.

Music on the Murray

St Leonards Vineyard
201 St Leonards Road, Wahgunyah
Saturday 4 April 
12:00pm - 3:00pm

Settle in on the St Leonards lawn from 11:00am and enjoy the sunshine, with kitchen favourites available from 12:00pm and live tunes from Tubbz Mix drifting across the vineyard.⁠ Prefer to picnic? Pre-order a grazing box and claim your spot on the grass.

Bookings recommended, walk-ins welcome.

Easter Picnic at Campbells Wines

Campbells Wines
4603 Murray Valley Highway, Rutherglen
Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 April 
10:00am - 4:00pm 

Easter eggs, face painting and giant games will keep your family entertained while you enjoy live music and delicious regional fare under the shady oaks, all with a glass of Campbells wine in hand.

$15 per adult pre-purchase - includes event entry and a Campbells picnic wine glass to take home with you. (Entry on the day - $20 per adult)

Children and designated drivers (non-drinkers) receive free entry, however, please ensure a ticket is purchased.

An Autumn Easter at Pfeiffer Wines

Pfeiffer Wines
167 Distillery Road, Wahgunyah
Saturday 4 April - 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday 5 April - 10:00am - 5:00pm

The Authentic French Crêpe food van will be on site all weekend serving up savoury and sweet French crêpes. Ben Chan and the Big Bass Man will be performing both days, bringing great tunes and good vibes throughout Easter. Enjoy games for the young and the young at heart. 

There will be platters, the ‘pfabulously pfamous’ pink and blue slushies and of course all the regular award-winning wines available for tasting and sale. Free entry.

Easter Family Fun Days at Cofield Wines

Cofield Wines
341 Distillery Road, Wahgunyah
Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 April 

Join the team from Cofield Wines to celebrate Easter with fun for the whole family. Live music from 12:00pm to 4:00pm from Stop & Stare (Saturday) and RIFF (Sunday). 

Tickets are $10 for adults, including a complimentary Cofield stemless wine glass, tickets for children (3-17) are $5, children 2 years and under are free. 

Vintage Bike Ride

Start and finish at The Rutherglen Convent
50-74 High Street, Rutherglen 
Saturday 11 April
9:00am - 7:00pm 

The Vintage Bike Ride provides an opportunity to explore the beautiful Rutherglen region and support fundraising for good causes including the Country Fire Authority.

Various distance options are available. 10 kilometres to the lunch location (Cofield Wines, Wahgunyah) from The Rutherglen Convent (and 10 kilometres back); 20-40 kilometres if you are happy just rolling along on the Rutherglen Loops cycling trail, which connects many of the wineries in the district. All cycling is on the Rail Ttrail, Rutherglen Loops cycle paths or gentle roads, most with very little traffic and mostly sealed.

The day includes prizes, bike displays, a barbeque lunch, music and raffle.

Sunday Series at The Victoria Hotel

The Victoria Hotel
90 Main Street, Rutherglen
Sunday 12 April 
2:30pm - 5:30pm

Enjoy live music in The Victoria Hotel’s beer garden on selected Sundays. Relaxed music, golden light and a cold drink in hand, equals the perfect combo for a cruisy Rutherglen afternoon. Gather your crew, find a sunny spot and let the good vibes roll. 

Sourdough Basics - Bread Baking Workshop

Woodstock Flour
773 Rutherglen-Springhurst Road, Lilliput 
Saturday 25 April 
10:00am - 2:00pm 

Join Ian and Courtney at Woodstock Flour mill for an introduction to sourdough baking.

You’ll learn how to:

• Make and maintain a sourdough culture
• Understand flour, fermentation and how to bake with freshly milled wholegrain flours
• Mix and develop dough and shape and bake a simple country loaf
• Customise breads with whole grains, seeds, fruits and different flours
• Troubleshoot common sourdough problems

Also included is morning tea and lunch (in the paddock if weather allows); a sourdough starter and a dough to take home, ready to bake; a short mill tour and a simple recipe booklet.

From the Chiltern Visitor Information Centre

Hello everyone, 

The Chiltern Festival on Friday 6 March was a wonderful evening of community celebration.
More than two hundred people gathered at the Old Courthouse grounds and enjoyed an array of events, food and social connection. Thank you to Posh Plonk for co-hosting alongside Indigo Shire Council, and to all the different community groups that got involved on the night. It was a huge success. 

The long weekend also brought a bit of charm to town, with groups of horse riders passing through Chiltern and stopping near the Visitor Information Centre. It added a lovely atmosphere for visitors exploring the area. 

The Chiltern Lions Club is holding two movie nights across March and April in the historic Star Theatre. These evenings are always a treat, with dinner in the barn amongst vintage machinery and Lois Hotson’s famous scones with jam and cream after the film.

Looking ahead, here’s what’s on in Chiltern:

Saturday 21 March – “The Legend of Ben Hall” at the Chiltern Star Theatre
6:45pm · Film screening

Sunday 29 March – Chiltern Athenaeum Museum Open Day
9am - 3pm · Free entry

Friday 3 April – Monday 6 April – Creative Fusion exhibition at Chiltern Courthouse
All weekend 

Saturday 18 April – “The Mango Tree” at the Chiltern Star Theatre
Evening screening

Friday 17 – Sunday 19 April – Chiltern Art Collective Exhibition at Chiltern Courthouse
3‑day exhibition

Have a wonderful fortnight ahead. 

The Chiltern Visitor Information Centre team

What's On in Chiltern

“The Legend of Ben Hall” at the Chiltern Star Theatre

Star Theatre
105 Main Street, Chiltern 
Saturday 21 March
6:45pm

The Chiltern Lions Club (FLICS!) invites you to another classic Australian film night at the Star Theatre, Chiltern, featuring The Legend of Ben Hall (M, 2016).

Set between August 1864 and May 1865, the film tells the fascinating true story of bushranger Ben Hall and his return to a life of crime alongside John Gilbert and John Dunn.

The $35 per person ticket includes a BBQ tea, film screening, discussion and supper.

Late bookings can still be accepted where possible if you contact Lois by Friday 20 March afternoon, and some people may choose to attend just the talk, film and supper for $20.

Bookings are essential - please contact Lois Hotson on 0457 262 358 to reserve your place.

Chiltern Athenaeum Museum Community Open Day

Chiltern Athenaeum Museum
57 Conness Street, Chiltern 
Sunday 29 March
9:00am - 3:00pm

The Chiltern Athenaeum Museum will open its doors to the Chiltern Community to see the restoration works, meet the volunteers and view the displays. The official opening of the museum is to be held on Sunday 17 May - stay tuned for further details.

This is a free event. 

Industry News and Support