The grand lady of Trentham

by Catriona Rowntree Tuesday, April 23, 2019

One of the JTC team members has stayed at Maggies so we can, hand-on-heart, swear by Maggies being delightfully impressive! This heritage-listed Federation-style accommodation is situated right in the heart of the small village of Trentham, on the edge of the Wombat State Forest. Sleeping eight people across four, beautifully-adorned bedrooms, the building dates back to the late 19th Century. Apart from being the perfect pad for just lounging with a book, cooking up a storm, or drinking good wine among friends in the parlour, Maggies is five minutes’ walk from the centre of one of the prettiest and most authentic country towns in Victoria. And did you know, it’s a 70-minute drive from Melbourne? Girls’ weekend, here we come! Proprietor Trevor Salmon answered our questions about this perfect, weekend-escape destination…

Where he takes his own guests when they visit

For a town of its size, Trentham offers an abundance of fine food and local produce. We have a few favourite local spots, including Frank and Connie’s Kitchen in Hepburn Springs for dinner, and Red Beard Historic Bakery in Trentham for beautiful bread and wonderful, cooked breakfasts.

Located just a few minutes’ drive from town is Trentham Falls – Victoria’s highest, single-drop waterfall. And there are many walking tracks in the surrounding forest. Nearby are Blue Mount and McLaughlins lookouts, in Wombat State forest, with impressive, panoramic views of Mount Macedon, the You Yangs and the Dandenong Ranges.

Maggies appeared on “Postcards” on Channel 9 in 2018.

It’s a rainy day but we want to explore, what we should do

Stay inside and enjoy Maggies! Sumptuously decorated and beautifully styled in quality fabrics and furnishings, each bedroom is uniquely themed.

From Maggies’ splendid entrance, complete with ruby Murano glass chandelier, to the luxurious and magnificent formal living room with sumptuous sofas and seating. There are wall hangings, antiques and fabulous collections of objects d’art. A large screen television is provided for entertainment, and a gas fire, plus central heating throughout the house.

The kitchen is expansive, modern, and fully equipped with all the basics, including crockery and glassware to cater for all dining requirements. With modern appliances and enough room for everyone to get involved, the kitchen will delight guests who love to create culinary masterpieces whilst chatting together. Or, why not book a caterer to do the work for you. We have just the person, ready to respond to all your dietary needs.

Enjoy the formal, stylish dining room, where the rectangular table offers seating for eight and an intimacy not found in many restaurants. There is a chic ambience to this room, which is sure to provide a backdrop for close friends to enjoy great food, fabulous wine and wonderful company.

There are two bathrooms, one at each end of the house, offering separate shower, and a bath. The wellness room or study gives one the opportunity to sit quietly, relax and read – away from the bustle – or utilise the room for catching up on some business. Mobile massage options are available in Trentham, where a masseur will come to the property and bring all that is required – so book the room for rejuvenation therapy.

Not only is the inside an inspiration, but outdoors you can enjoy seating around the extensive and beautiful terracotta and brick veranda which circles the house. The landscaped gardens, quietly dormant in the winter months, will bloom and blossom in spring and give a wonderful display of colour and texture adding to the beauty of this grand lady of style.

The grandness of the high ceilings, the large rooms, the beautiful antiques, interesting bric-a-brac and collections of objects grouped everywhere, plus the colours and fabrics provide a unique and very comfortable venue for a luxurious and restful stay.

So, as you can read, there’s literally a different spot for everyone to retreat to, if desired.

Trevor’s recommendations as night-time entertainment

Trentham has the iconic Cosmopolitan Hotel showcasing the finest local and regional produce, wine, craft beer and cider. The public bar is perfect for sitting and enjoying a drink or dinner. Out the back, in the leafy beer garden, there’s a wood-fired pizza oven and more seating.

There’s also du Fermier, a French farmhouse-style kitchen created by chef Annie Smithers (book in advance!).

There is also a handful of other options just a five-minute walk from Maggies but if you feel like exploring the Daylesford and Macedon Ranges area, take a drive to Daylesford, Hepburn Springs, Kyneton, Woodend, Macedon, Lancefield, Creswick, Clunes, or Malmsbury. There are charming pubs and small, local cafes and restaurants dotted all over the district.

Where to find the best shopping and souvenirs

We like High-Street local stores Philip & Lea for homewares, Jargon for handmade goods, and the Trentham Farmers Market for a wander among craft, art, soap, body care products, jam, sauces, baked goods, bric-à-brac, second hand clothing, plants and woodwork.

If you like wine, particularly collecting wine, we suggest a boutique cellar door experience of local wineries tailored to suit your taste buds. We can even arrange for you to be picked up and dropped off at Maggies. There is a range of tours and packages available, including private tours, that are half-day or full-day.

A child-friendly thing to do or place to go

Trentham Falls is just a short drive, 3.5km from the centre of town, and well worth the effort. The Falls reserve is ideal for picnics with BBQs and amenities available. It also is the best place to see remnants of original vegetation in the area, with stands of manna gum, messmate, stringybark and narrow-leaved peppermint.

The Farmers Market is held 9am – 2pm on the 4th Sunday of the month and if there are five Sundays, it it is held on both the 4th & 5th Sundays.

There’s also a pleasant, eight-kilometre (two hour) easy bush walk called the Wombat Trail which is mainly flat with some undulating sections, which goes beside creek beds and through stands of gumtrees. A two-hour loop of Trentham leads the walker through the forest and small reserves surrounding the town. Parking is available at the Quarry Street Reserve and this is a walk best enjoyed early in the morning while the town is quiet.

Best-kept secret or favourite hidden treasure

If you really like bush walking, try the Domino Rail Trail, a 1.5-hour, six-kilometre easy, flat walk along the old railway line between Lyonville and Trentham. The trail can easily be walked in either direction, as a 12km-return journey or a one-way trip. For a shorter walk, there are numerous landmarks along the route that make good stopping points before heading back the way you came.

Best time of the year to visit

Any time but especially in the cooler months so you can stretch your legs on the local bush walks and then enjoy coffee and cake or a decadent lunch or dinner, guilt-free.

Anything else we should know when visiting

The house is full to the brim with fine furnishings and trinkets and such so we’d love you to come but perhaps leave little people and pets at home. We look forward to welcoming you soon.