Cottles Bridge: Wine, Art and Bushland

Wineries, an artists’ residency and the history of an artists’ circle give Cottles Bridge several facets. There are also distinctive architectural details and opportunities for tastings. When planning your trip, it’s worth checking the visiting conditions at each place.

Artists’ Residency and History

The Dunmoochin Foundation is a not-for-profit residency program for emerging and established artists and researchers. It is located in the natural bushland of Cottles Bridge, at 105 Barrenong Road, about an hour from central Melbourne. The residences and communal outdoor areas are private; access is by appointment only. If you’d like to visit Dunmoochin, plan ahead for this access requirement.

Another historical perspective comes from the purchase of a 105-acre bushland property in Cottles Bridge: in the early 1950s, a group of young artists bought it, encouraged by painter Clifton Pugh. The connection to artists therefore extends beyond today’s residency, adding a specific chapter of local history to the impressions of wine and landscape.

Wineries and Cellar Doors

Lovegrove Winery is a winery you can visit in Cottles Bridge. Hildebrand Ridge Organic Vineyard also offers an insight into the local wine culture: visitors can try organic Chardonnay, Cabernet and the winery’s latest Pinot. The cellar door opens on Saturdays at 11:30 am, except during the Christmas break. Check the details before you travel to make sure the tasting and your visit date line up.

Wedgetail Estate showcases another side of cellar-door culture: its cellar door in Cottles Bridge has rammed-earth walls and features made from recycled timber. For visitors interested in construction and materials as well as wine, it’s a tangible detail.

Nillumbik Shire as a Wider Destination

The towns in the wider destination of Nillumbik Shire lie between unspoilt bushland and scenic hills. The wider destination of Nillumbik Shire has an extensive network of trails for walking, horse riding and cycling. The Green Wedge Trail in the wider destination of Nillumbik Shire offers a way to explore Nillumbik’s rural areas; it runs from Watery Gully Road in Wattle Glen to Clintons Road in Smiths Gully.

The Panton Hill Bushland Reserve System in the wider destination of Nillumbik Shire comprises seven council-managed bushland reserves in the Panton Hill, Smiths Gully and Watsons Creek area. Together, the seven reserves in the wider destination of Nillumbik Shire cover about 140 hectares. Activities available in these reserves in the wider destination of Nillumbik Shire include bushwalking, birdwatching, horse riding and mountain biking. In the wider destination of Nillumbik Shire, these trails and reserves add to the region’s nature and recreation offerings.

Cultural highlights in the wider destination of Nillumbik Shire include the Hurstbridge Heritage Trail and Montsalvat. In the wider destination of Nillumbik Shire, the Hurstbridge Heritage Trail passes 30 historically significant sites, whose stories span from early settlement to the mid-20th century. Montsalvat in the wider destination of Nillumbik Shire is an arts centre and artists’ community established in 1934 on a 12-acre site with more than 34 buildings. Montsalvat in the wider destination of Nillumbik Shire includes three galleries, 19 studios, a pottery centre and event spaces for concerts; exhibitions, studio programs and pottery classes are offered there.

For planning your stay, it’s helpful to know that visiting conditions vary: Dunmoochin requires an appointment, while Hildebrand’s cellar door opens on Saturdays, except during the Christmas break.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Tatura, Myrtleford, Alexandra, Orbost, Raywood, Wongarra, Smeaton, Doncaster.

To the wider travel guide: Victoria.