In this update

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

  • ANZAC Guest Speaker at Rutherglen Historical Society Common School 

  • The Tweed Connection opening day

  • ANZAC Day commemorative events

  • Sourdough Basics - Bread Baking Workshop

  • Roast for a Reason + Daniel Barrett at The Victoria Hotel

  • Autumn Harvest Long Lunch at The Pickled Sisters

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

  • Chiltern Art Collective Exhibition

  • "The Mango Tree" at the Chiltern Star Theatre

  • Beginner Spoon Carving Workshop with Nat Ord

  • "The Mermaid Sings" at the Chiltern Courthouse 

• Industry News and Support
  • Right On Your Doorstep marketing campaign now live
  • 40th Victorian Tourism Awards - nominations now open

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, 

We hope you all enjoyed a busy and happy Easter and school holiday period.

Throughout the school holidays plenty of families made the most of the break, with bike hires proving especially popular. Visitors and locals alike enjoyed getting out on the Rutherglen Loops, and with beautiful autumn weather, it has been wonderful to see so many people walking and cycling across the area.

The weekend showcased two fantastic community events, both drawing strong participation and support for important local causes.

On Saturday 11 April, Rutherglen Rotary once again hosted a highly successful Vintage Bike Ride, selling 240 tickets. Riders enjoyed a barbecue and salads after the ride, along with inspirational guest speakers, including medal‑winning cyclists from the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. Funds raised on the day will support the local CFA, making it a standout event for both the community and a great cause.

Running alongside this was the Rutherglen Rumble, organised by Nick and the team, which also delivered a fantastic result. The event raised funds for the SES, Rutherglen Agricultural Society and AgBiz Assist, with strong community backing throughout the weekend.

Both events were a wonderful reflection of the energy, generosity and community spirit in Rutherglen. Congratulations to everyone involved in making the weekend such a success.

Have a wonderful fortnight ahead. 

The Rutherglen Visitor Information Centre team

What's On in Rutherglen

ANZAC Guest Speaker at Rutherglen Historical Society Common School 

Rutherglen Historical Society Common School 
44 Murray Street, Rutherglen
Friday 17 April 
1:30pm

Join the Rutherglen Historical Society Common School for a special ANZAC day themed guest talk.

Major Neville Wiggins will give a presentation about his service in the Vietnam War with the Royal Australian Air Force. Neville served as a door gunner aboard Huey helicopter gunships and will share his first-hand experiences.

Bookings $5 per person and are essential for catering purposes. Please call 0448 881 670 or email rutherglenhistoricalsociety@gmail.com to book. 

The Tweed Connection opening day

The Tweed Connection
137 Main Street, Rutherglen
Saturday 18 April
9:00am - 5:00pm

You won’t be dreaming if you hear the majestic sound of bagpipes while exploring Main Street this Saturday.

The team at Hennessy Garden and Home continues to grow their much‑loved local business and will be celebrating an exciting new chapter. This Saturday, they are officially launching The Tweed Connection - a boutique store showcasing a beautiful collection of authentic Harris Tweed products.

Residents and visitors are invited to come along, enjoy the atmosphere, and help welcome this charming new addition to our town’s retail scene.

ANZAC Day commemorative events

Saturday 25 April

Join the community in commemorating Anzac Day with services held in Rutherglen, Wahgunyah, and Chiltern.

In Rutherglen, proceedings begin with the Dawn Service at 5:55am at the Cenotaph in Memorial Gardens. At 8:55am, the Anzac March will commence from the top of Main Street near the roundabout, proceeding to the Cenotaph where a Memorial Service and wreath-laying ceremony will take place at 9:00am.

Wahgunyah's commemorations start at 9:30am with the March beginning at the School of Arts Hall on Foord Street. The procession will make its way to the Memorial Garden, where attendees will gather for the Commemorative Service and wreath-laying ceremony immediately after.

Chiltern's commemorations begin with the Dawn Service at 6:00am at the War Memorial. At 11:00am, a Memorial Service and wreath-laying ceremony will be held at the War Memorial, followed by the March at 11:20am, which will proceed from the War Memorial to the Soldiers Memorial Hall.

Barnawartha will hold a memorial servie and laying of wreath at the War Memorial at 10:00am. 

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.

Roast for a Reason + Daniel Barrett at The Victoria Hotel

The Victoria Hotel
90 - 94 Main Street, Rutherglen
Sunday 26 April | Monthly through to November 
11:45am - 5:00pm

Join the team from The Victoria Hotel for the first Roast for a Reason of 2026.

Enjoy a classic $35 Sunday roast while giving back to the local community, with proceeds from every roast sold going directly to Rutherglen Auskick & Net Set Go. The roast special is available from 11:45am until sold out. Bookings recommended.

Then, Yarrawonga-based singer-songwriter Daniel Barrett will set the tone with his relaxed acoustic style from 2:00pm - 5:00pm in the Beer Garden. Walk ins welcome.

Autumn Harvest Long Lunch

The Pickled Sisters
121 Main Street, Rutherglen
Sunday 26 April 
12:00pm - 4:00pm

Enjoy a generous shared-style menu served over multiple courses, inspired by the autumn harvest, with the option to add matched wines from local producers. $98 per person for four courses. 

It’s the perfect excuse to gather friends, plan a day in Rutherglen and savour the season as it begins to slow. 

From the Chiltern Visitor Information Centre

Hello everyone, 

April has seen plenty of visitors coming to town to enjoy local events and explore the region in the beautiful autumn weather.

Crawlin’ the Hume 2026 was a huge highlight for Chiltern and Barnawartha, with locals and visitors lining the streets as an impressive convoy of historic trucks and vehicles made its way along the Old Hume Highway. The lunch stop at the Chiltern Racecourse created a fantastic atmosphere, giving spectators the chance to get up close to the trucks and chat with drivers, while entrants enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with one another. The event drew an extraordinary turnout, with around 400 vehicles involved overall, making it a memorable weekend for the town.

It was certainly a big weekend for motor enthusiasts, with the Chiltern Cancer Cruise also drawing a good crowd to Lake Anderson.

We’ve also noticed an increase in visitors getting their Australian Adventure Passports stamped, along with more geocachers and bird watchers stopping in. Many were pleasantly surprised to discover the number of geocaching locations in and around Chiltern. For a full list of all caches you can check the geocaching.com map of the Chiltern area.

Have a wonderful fortnight ahead. 

The Chiltern Visitor Information Centre team

What's On in Chiltern

Chiltern Art Collective Exhibition

Chiltern Courthouse
58-60 Main Street, Chiltern 
Friday 17 April, 7:00pm - Opening night 
Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April
10:00am - 4:00pm

The Chiltern Courthouse once again hosts a vibrant art exhibition presented by the Chiltern Art Collective, celebrating the diversity and creativity of regional artists. Visitors can browse and purchase a wide range of artworks across multiple mediums. 

Artists from Chiltern and the surrounding district are invited to exhibit and be part of this popular community showcase. A variety of mediums are welcome.

• Entries close Sunday 12 April 2026
• Artwork delivery: Wednesday 15 April, 4:00pm – 6:00pm
• Contact Lois Hotson for entry forms and full conditions
  • Email: hotson@westnet.com.au
  • Phone/Text: 0457 262 358

The Grand Opening Night on Friday 17 April. Doors open at 7:00pm for a 7:30pm start. Guests will enjoy drinks and nibbles, with $8 admission. RSVP for the Grand Opening Night is appreciated to Lois Hotson on 0457 262 358 by Wednesday 15 April. 

“The Mango Tree” at the Chiltern Star Theatre

Star Theatre
105 Main Street, Chiltern 
Saturday 18 April
6:45pm

The Chiltern Lions Club (FLICS!) invites you to another classic Australian film night at the Star Theatre, Chiltern, featuring The Mango Tree (1977, PG).

Jamie is a young man growing up in the small Australian town of Bundaberg at the time of World War 1. Jamie loves his tranquil life, surrounded by the friendly locals, and being brought up by his warm, caring grandmother. But when a local preacher goes nutty, all hell breaks loose for the community and Jamie leaves Bundaberg for the city. 

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

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

Beginner Spoon Carving Workshop 

Nat Ord Artist & Supplier
53 Conness Street, Chiltern 
Sunday 26 April
10:00am - 4:00pm

Experience the joy of crafting your own unique cooking spoon from scratch.

This full-day workshop will guide you through safe hand-carving techniques using greenwood blanks.

You'll also learn about wood selection, how to sharpen your knife and how to oil and protect your spoon so you'll have it for years.

All materials and equipment is provided plus morning tea including free barista made coffee made from a unique Ironbark roast.

“The Mermaid Sings” at the Chiltern Courthouse

Chiltern Courthouse
58 Main Street, Chiltern 
Friday 8 May, 7:30pm 
Saturday 9 May, 2:00pm

The Mermaid Sings, written by Carolyn Masson, explores a woman’s life as a three‑way battle between public image, inner self and an older, knowing voice. Thought‑provoking and deeply human, it asks what it costs to live brilliantly, love fiercely and still never feel enough. 

Tickets are $35 per person or $28 for a concession. For bookings please ring Lois Hotson on 0457 262 358.

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