Above: Colleen Long and Mick Rosoman get into the spirit of things at The Motorist Museum. By Sarah Schwager
A TRIP around Cardinia’s top tourist sites at first leaves very little to the imagination.
But who would have thought that attractions that bring tourists from across Australia and beyond were right here in our back yard?
Wineries, animal farms, horse riding, museums and rustic bed and breakfasts are all on offer yet the area is little known compared with other Victorian regions.
To help bring people to the area, nine tourism businesses in the Cardinia Shire have collaborated to form Cardinia Tourism, which aims to promote what’s on offer in the region.
The businesses are promoting not only their own businesses but all those in the area. The initiative is the first of its kind in Cardinia.
The group of nine began their campaign at the end of last year, when they appeared on Channel Nine’s travel program ‘Postcards’.
In the last year the group has moved slowly but surely, developing various initiatives to promote everything the region has to offer.
“People don’t realise what is out here,” Upper Beaconsfield’s Pine Grove Hotel owner Chris Wright said.
“There’s a lot to offer. No one’s promoting what the region has to offer.”
A combination of professional public relations promotion, television features, metropolitan and local newspaper and magazine articles has been mostly selffunded, with modest funding by council.
The group includes proprietors of Truleen Downs Alpaca Farm, Ranges Tailor Made Tours, Pine Grove Hotel, the Victorian Equestrian Centre, The Motorist Museum in Gembrook, Carlei Greens Vineyards, Beaconhills Country Golf Club and Warrook Cattle Farm.
Victorian Equestrian Centre proprietor Ken Aldred said they were looking at putting out a brochure for Cardinia Tourism next year and were also discussing possible funding with council.
Truleen Downs Alpaca Farm owner Colleen Long said they were promoting their farm tour to senior citizens. It includes closeup alpaca viewing, a dining area, a gift shop, a video and selfcontained bed and breakfast.
“I don’t know why anyone goes overseas looking at this,” Ms Long said as she viewed some of the area’s scenery.
Puffing Billy stop Gembrook boasts a number of notable attractions, including The Motorist Museum, which boasts the world’s only known 1925 Studebaker limousine with a handcrafted, polished brass body.
Ranges Tailor Made Tours owner Mick Rosoman also opened Pandora’s Box Antiques and Collectables in Gembrook last Sunday.
The area is also famous for Elephant Rock, a large billboard rock by the side of the road coming out of Gembrook that changes every week with messages of love, anniversaries, birthdays and the like.
“There’s never anything unpleasant. It’s like an unwritten code,” Mr Aldred said.
Just up the road in Upper Beaconsfield is the Victorian Equestrian Centre, the closest trail riding facility to the city.
The centre has an outdoor and indoor showjumping arena and about 45 horses on the property at any given time.
Beaconhills Country Golf Club in Upper Beaconsfield has two 18hole golf courses as well as a function room, bar, garden section for weddings and functions, and pro shop.
Manager Danie Myers said lessons, club fittings, kids’ club and hiring facilities were all on offer at the course.
“It’s quiet, there’s no traffic or noises. It has a rustic charm,” Ms Myers said.
Also in Upper Beaconsfield, Pine Grove Hotel and Carlei Green Vineyards lie side by side overlooking the rolling hills of Cardinia Ranges.
Pine Grove Hotel has a bar that opens onto full decking with a function room, main dining room and cosy lounge room with open fire.
It also has a public bar with a pool table , a bottle shop that includes a range of wines from local wineries, and rails out the front for people to tether their horses.
Sergio Carlei’s winery, Carlei Green Vineyards, one of 14 that he manages, is home to some of the top awardwinning wines in Australia.
The vineyard is being renovated to make it more customerfriendly, with plans to have a larger indoor space and outdoor area for people to taste wines with light food, and two bed and breakfasts in the future.
A magnificent rotunda was also built on the property with the aim of people getting married there and having their reception at Pine Grove Hotel.
“We are focusing on our own (businesses) but also trying to create awareness of the region,” Mr Wright said.
“If people go to the winery, it’s better for me at the pub. It’s attracting people to the area.”
