Regional events
There's something exciting to see and do in the Bilby district throughout the whole year.
Walking tour
Pick up a map from Bendalong District Tourism Authority, and take a walk! Visit the Memorial Town Hall (where Garrett Pietro is said to have started his career), the old primary school building, now used as a craft exhibition centre, and the Mechanics Institute library. There's also the Bilby Art Gallery with regular new works from the district. Don't miss the Museum, which has recently had a very exciting overhaul and new display on the TV show
Don't forget 3BBR the train station that now hosts the local community radio station. Or the bookshops and galleries down Main Street — with a cup of coffee afterwards at one of our streetside cafes!
Most importantly, there's the graveyard, the repository of Bilby's history. It's here that you can bump into Ben Travers, the famous outlaw — not in person of course, but at his grave. Explore the children's section of the graveyard to be sobered by the difficult conditions for early settlers — and the mystery of the three little children who disappeared — there's a special plaque where they are remembered. Listen and look for the growling grass frog, our local identity which faces extinction unless we can protect it!
Tours of Agostini's vineyard
Mike Agostini has an extensive vineyard and tasting cellar just out of town on the Bendalong-Bilby Road. (Follow the signs!) Here you can relax with a red wine or two, tapas on the table to assist your choice of wines to take home and a tour of the property. Cellar door sales are open all year (closed on Mondays).
Monthly organic farmers' market
This is held next to the oval near the Sporting Spot, early Saturday at the end of each month. Its reputation is building as part of the network of farmers' markets held throughout the state.
Come along to buy free range eggs, or organic fruit and vegetables. There's also crafts stalls providing local practitioners' work for sale.
Material Designs Special Sales — half yearly, March and September
This fabrics factory holds special events half-yearly, when there is a tour of the warehouse, and great sales of scarves, coats, wall hangings and beautifully printed materials. The sales occur in March and September each year — check here for details of dates!
Streetlife Carnival — weekly, August to October
This is a recent innovation for Bilby, and there will be more details available shortly.
To run Streetlife, the Shire Council has obtained special funding from the state Tourism Authority, part of the regional initiatives announced by the government last year to encourage greater involvement and business in country towns.
Streetlife will have a weekly theme, and will involve all the central Bilby businesses and tourism outlets, as well as the community.
The Shire Council expects that Streetlife will generate up to 50% more business in these months, generally a quieter time in our region.
Autumn Gold Festival — March long weekend
The Autumn Gold Festival is a quaint festival which helps us to celebrate the glories of autumn in Bilby. The theme for the festival changes every year and locals and visitors alike are invited to experience the unexpected, with a street parade and other carefully curated special events. Bendaby University always provides special performers, and the festival will highlight local produce and crafts. The festival showcases local talent and celebrates the cultural diversity that Bilby is so proud of.
Film locations for City Stresses Country Pleasures
It is great fun to visit the locations for the well-known TV series. Come take a walk down memory lane to see your favourite locations!
For the filming, the shopfronts down Main Street were refurbished and repainted in heritage colours, as was an old farmhouse near the Bilby Lookout. Other locations you'll likely remember include the waterhole in the catchment area, Material Designs and the Craft Cooperative, the local school and police station, the community hall, the bush nursing hospital and the graveyard. Take a walk up to Mount Owen tin mine and the Hanging rocks that featured in the final series that told more unusual storylines related to Bilby's past!
Shopping
The Bilby Mall is the modern face of Bilby, but there's also the lovely Main Street strip — lots of coffee shops, crafts and galleries, bookshops and bakeries! Try out the organic shopfront in the Mall, or the delightful Covers Bookshop/Restaurant in Main Street.
