In this update
- News from Yackandandah Visitor Information Centre
- What's On in Yack
Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements Info Session
Surreal McCoys at Star Hotel
Just A Farmer screening
19-Twenty at the Star Hotel
Yackandandah Lions Club Market
Cultural Conversations: Fire In The Landscape
- News from Beechworth Visitor Information Centre
- What's On in Beechworth
- Beechworth Family Album exhibition
- Lex on Decks at TINY
- Beechworth Farmers Market
- Paint and Sip at The Benev
- Paranormal Investigation at Old Beechworth Gaol
- Kelly Gang Extended Tour at Old Beechworth Gaol
- Industry News and Support
- Indigo Quarterly Tourism Snapshot
- Tourism North East June Industry Forum
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) Forum Wangaratta
- Regional Events Fund applications now open
From Yackandandah Visitor Information Centre
Hello everyone,
Winners are grinners – and we’re raising a glass to Backwoods Distilling Co! Big cheers to our local legends who’ve taken home a stellar set of medals at the 2025 International Wine & Spirits Competition:
🥇 Rye Whisky, Shiraz Barrel – Gold, 95 pts
🥈 Single Malt, White Oak Barrel – Silver, 93 pts
🥉 High Country Gin – Bronze, 88 pts
🥉 Salted Lime Gin – Bronze, 88 pts
Just in time for World Gin Day (second Saturday 14 June)! A perfect excuse to sip and celebrate.
We’re also thrilled to see the Yack Hotel gearing up for its grand return. The team is currently recruiting for kitchen, bar, and front-of-house roles – so if you (or someone you know) loves great food, good vibes, and being part of something fresh and exciting, this is your moment. Contact the team via direct message on their Instagram channel or send resumes to hello@theyackhotel.com.au
Stonehill View has a new home! You can now find David creating and making fantastic Australian country lifestyle products right in the heart of town. Pop in and say hello at 9 High St.
Two Sisters on High is taking a short break from 9 June to 3 July. Enjoy the well-deserved rest – we’ll be counting down the days till you're back. There’s still time to enjoy their hospitality this long weekend!
Applications are now open for volunteer positions at the Yackandandah Visitor Information Centre. Join the team, share your local knowledge, and help us warmly welcome visitors to our beautiful town. Please email info@exploreyackandandah.com.au if you're interested in applying.
Feature your business on the Yackandandah website – for free! Thanks to Indigo Shire Council, tourism operators can list their business on the official Explore Yackandandah site free of charge for 12 months. It’s a great way to boost your visibility and connect with more visitors. To get involved, email info@exploreyackandandah.com.au or call (02) 6027 1988. And while you're at it, make sure you've downloaded the Victoria's High Country App to stay up to date.
Have a wonderful fortnight.
The Yackandandah Visitor Information Centre Team
What's On in Yack
Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements Info Session
Yackandandah Library
34 High Street, Yackandandah
Thursday 5 June
5:00pm - 6:30pm
As part of the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements Project, new artworks are planned for in and around the Yackandandah Roundabout.
Come along to a drop-in info session tonight at the Yackandandah Library to hear more about the project and to discuss future projects for Yackandandah.
These installations will be part of a fun, trail-wide ‘i-Spy’ project, connecting larger installations in numerous locations along the trail, giving visitors even more reasons to explore the region
Surreal McCoys
Star Hotel
30 High Street, Yackandandah
Sunday 8 June
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Relax this long weekend with the authentic honky-tonk sounds of the Surreal McCoys, a talented trio of Golden Guitar winners. Pete Denahy, Dave Patterson, and Jeff Mercer bring decades of country music experience, playing classics from Ernest Tubb to Buck Owens alongside original compositions.
Just A Farmer screening
Yackandandah Public Hall
36 High Street, Yackandandah
Friday 13 June
6:00pm
Join Yackandandah Landcare for a community film screening of the Australian award-winning film Just A Farmer.
Tickets are just $10 per person and include entry into the lucky door prize - two $500 vouchers to Yenda Producers are up for grabs! All ticket proceeds go to AgBiz Care.
19-Twenty
Star Hotel
30 High Street, Yackandandah
Friday 13 June
7:00pm - 11:00pm
19-Twenty is a high-energy blues and roots band who storm the stage like a freight train. With a sound that blends foot-stomping rhythms, raw energy, and an undeniable sense of fun, 19-Twenty has quickly earned a reputation as one of the country's most exhilarating live acts.
Yackandandah Lions Club Market
13 Wellsford Street, Yackandandah
Sunday 15 June
9:00am - 1:00pm
Come and enjoy a selection of the region's finest produce and products ranging from olives, handcrafted soaps and candles to wines, plants, clothing, jewellery and more.
Proudly facilitated by the Yackandandah Lions Club, be sure to grab a bacon and egg roll from their volunteer-run barbeque while you are there.
Cultural Conversations: Fire In The Landscape
Yackandandah Public Hall
36 High Street, Yackandandah
Friday 20 June
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Join Duduroa Elders Uncle Allan Murray and Uncle Phil Murray together with Luritja/Aranda Elder Uncle Vince Forrester, Bill Gammage, author of the Biggest Estate on Earth, and landholder Bridget Doyle for a fire forum Q&A.
Come along and learn firsthand about traditional fire practices and their importance in the landscape for the healing of Culture and Country as well as contemporary land management in a changing climate.
This is a free event, but registration is required.
Events in Yackandandah
Please consider putting your events on our events calendar. It is free to do so via www.atdw.com.au. If you need any help please contact the Yackandandah Visitor Information Centre.
- Thursday 5 June - Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements Info Session
- Sunday 8 June - Surreal McCoys at Star Hotel
- Friday 13 June - Just A Farmer screening at Yackandandah Public Hall
- Friday 13 June - 19-Twenty at the Star Hotel
- Sunday 15 June - Yackandandah Lions Club Market
- Friday 20 June - Cultural Conversations: Fire In The Landscape
- Saturday 8 August - The Big Bike Film Night
From Beechworth Visitor Information Centre
Hello everyone,
Great news for history lovers! The Burke Museum's beloved taxidermy collection is back on display following an extensive conservation project. When pest activity was discovered in 2024, the Burke Collections Management team worked with taxidermy expert Rudolph Pleschutschnig to implement a comprehensive treatment program including freezing, fumigation, and careful restoration work.
Thanks to funding from the Victorian Government's Regional Collections Access Program, local specialists, Period Building Conservation, have created beautiful new display cabinets that faithfully recreate James Kyle's original 1865 designs. The Burke Museum welcomes visitors daily from 10:00am to 4:30pm, with FREE entry for all local residents.
The Bike Hire Company is taking a well-earned winter break, parking the pedals for the season. They'll be back in spring, ready to gear you up for more two-wheeled adventures around our beautiful region.
If your tourism business is not featured on the official Beechworth website, please reach out and speak to us about getting listed; it’s free of charge! Contact us at the Visitor Information Centre on info@explorebeechworth.com.au 1300 366 321 and don’t forget to download the Victoria's High Country App
Warm regards,
The Beechworth Visitor Information Centre Team
What's On in Beechworth
Beechworth Family Album
Sub Treasury Building
Ford Street, Beechworth
Friday 6 - Monday 9 June
10:00am - 4:00pm
The Beechworth Family Album's 5th Chapter showcases "Portraits of Creative Beechworth" through Marc Bongers' striking black and white photography.
The exhibition launches on Thursday 5 June at 6:00pm with an opening by Dr. Helen Haines, MP for Indi, and is proudly sponsored by Bankwest and Indigo Shire Council.
Pictured photograph from the Beechworth Family Album 1994 exhibition.
Lex on Decks
TINY
14A Camp Street, Beechworth
Friday 6 June
5:00pm - 8:00pm
Lex on Decks is spinning classic tunes and grooves at TINY this Friday night with free entry for music lovers looking to kick off their weekend. Get there early to catch happy hour from 4:00pm-6:00pm for discounted cocktails before the DJ set begins.
Paint and Sip at The Benev
The Benev
9 Warner Road, Beechworth
Friday 6 June
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Doubting your inner Picasso? Let The Benev team turn “I can’t paint” into “I paint like a rockstar!” Grab your ‘Art Party Box’ - packed with everything you need to create your masterpiece (canvas, brushes, paints, and easy instructions). Then, kick back with a quiet tipple and an artisan tasting board.
Beechworth Farmers Market
Christ Church
Corner of Ford and Church Streets, Beechworth
Saturday 7 June
8:00am - 12:00pm
The Beechworth Farmers Market is held on the first Saturday of every month and specialises in a great variety of fresh, local produce.
Come by and have a chat with passionate growers and producers of the region, pick up some fresh local produce or grab a bite to eat from one of the many food stalls.
Paranormal Investigation at Old Beechworth Gaol
Old Beechworth Gaol
3 Outlaws Court, Beechworth
Saturday 7 June
9:00pm - midnight
Join the Paranormal Prospectors for a night of paranormal investigations through the Old Beechworth Gaol. Walk the halls of this amazing historic building with over 140 years of tales to tell.
This tour is for 18 years and over only.
Kelly Gang Extended Tour
Old Beechworth Gaol
3 Outlaws Court, Beechworth
Every Saturday night in July
5:00pm - 6:30pm
Every Saturday night in July, walk the line between legend and law, and discover the Kelly story at Old Beechworth Goal. From teenage Ned Kelly's first fall, to the arrests of Kelly sympathisers – this after-hours tour takes you deep into the raw and rebellious heart of Australian history. Suitable for ages 12+.
Bookings are essential and tickets come with a warm mug of non-alcoholic mulled wine.
Events in Beechworth
Please consider putting your events on our events calendar. It is free to do so via www.atdw.com.au. If you need any help please contact the Beechworth Visitor Information Centre.
- Friday 6 - Monday 9 June - Beechworth Family Album exhibition
- Friday 6 June - Lex on Decks at TINY
- Friday 6 June - Torpedoes at Tanswells
- Friday 6 June - Paint and Sip at The Benev
- Saturday 7 June - Beechworth Farmers Market
- Saturday 7 June - Autobahns and Elvis 2 at Tanswells
- Saturday 7 June - Paranormal Investigation at Old Beechworth Gaol
- Tuesday 10 June - Ned Collette, Thalia Zedek and Ryan Davies at Tanswells
Industry News and Support
Quarterly Tourism Snapshot
We are pleased to share the first edition of a new Quarterly Tourism Snapshot.
The Quarterly Tourism Snapshot – Q1 2025 provides a detailed look at tourism performance across Indigo Shire from January to March 2025. Highlights include visitor spend across Beechworth, Chiltern, Rutherglen, and Yackandandah, updates on key projects like the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, and recent marketing campaigns and industry development initiatives.
Tourism North East June Industry Forum
Join the team from Tourism North East for their June Industry Forum for a jam-packed hour of updates from Victoria’s High Country.
Hear from Project Manager Charlie Webster about the completed Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements Project.
Get an update on the current social-led marketing campaign from Head of Marketing Christina Harris, and Content Producer James Davidson.
Plus, compare Summer Trade Data between 2024 and 2025, and find out about what’s coming up with Tourism North East.
When: 10:00am – 11:00am, Tuesday 17 June via Zoom
Leveraging AI to grow business
In collaboration with the Rural City of Wangaratta and the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, Regional Development Australia Melbourne is bringing the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Forum to Wangaratta. The forum is a chance to hear from industry leaders as they explore the opportunities and practical applications for AI in regional Victoria.
Focusing on regional priorities for businesses and SMEs, the forum will be a space to explore the benefits and risks of AI, highlighting the importance of understanding and harnessing these emerging technologies while showcasing regional businesses that have transformed how they work through innovative AI solutions.
Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre
Wednesday June 11
10:30am - 3:00pm
Regional Events Fund - Event Growth and Development
The Regional Events Fund (REF) has been established to attract and support events held in regional Victoria that bring visitors from outside the region, create job opportunities and contribute to the local visitor economy.
Funding of up to $500,000 is available in Stream 2 - Event Growth and Development to grow the impact of medium to large scale events in the regions.
Applications will be considered from private and public sector groups. Applications close on 30 June 2025.
If you’re interested in applying, get in touch with Council's Tourism Team about your application to discuss how they can support you: tourism@indigoshire.vic.gov.au
