The name Mudgee is said to be derived from the Wiradjuri word ‘mou-gee’- which means ‘contented’ and it’s hard not to feel content when seeing what Mudgee has to offer the weary traveller or inquisitive tourist. Child-hood home of one of Australia’s most recognised poets; Henry Lawson, we took a walk around Mudgee’s streets and chatted to business owners to get a feel of the town on the edge of the Sydney Basin…
Owner of Alby & Esthers, Lara, believes something special happens when people break bread together. Named after two of her four grandparents who loved family meals around the table, this coffee house and wine bar has been built on a base of nostalgic warmth and love. The menu is seasonally dictated so is forever changing with the weather, the coffee is delicious and locally roasted by Mark Newman of Yarrabin Road Roasters and the wines are chosen from across the local region to complement and enhance your experience. The philosophy at Alby & Esther’s is simple, ‘make everything uncomplicated but delicious’. If this sounds like your style of dining, Lara and Duncan look forward to seeing you soon down the Alley at 61 Market Street.
Wild Oats Pavilion is one of Mudgee’s premier cafés and function spaces. Set among the vines of the iconic Robert Oatley vineyard, Wild Oats Pavilion showcases the best of what the Mudgee region has to offer with a premium experience to match. Specialised menus promoting regional and seasonal produce complement wines produced on site. Wild Oats Pavilion provides just the right space for an intimate gathering, wedding bonanza, business function or a relaxed weekend meal while buzzing with the personality and charm of the region’s oldest winery. Wild Oats Pavilion creates modern cuisine with exceptional care, served in impeccable style surrounded by an unbeaten view. Described as ‘the jewel in Mudgee’s crown’ this is the obvious choice for an event destination.
As the third largest grape producing region in NSW, Mudgee is a popular destination for wine enthusiasts. Gooree Park Wine’s origins date back some 34 years when Filipino businessman, Eduardo Cojuangco, realised his agricultural dreams by purchasing three historic properties in Australia, forming what is now known as ‘Goree Park’. Today the estate has the enviable reputation as one of the country’s leading thoroughbred breeding grounds and with one of the largest vineyards in Mudgee Goree is growing in skill and standing at crafting thoroughbred wines. Just ten minutes from the town centre, the property boasts a cellar door on-site within the iconic white fences and hosts wine tours, a wine club and events such as Stud Tours and Bubbly Breakfast at the Track and Wine & Wagyu BBQ, the next one being on the 5th April.
Deer Mudgee boutique is regarded by many as a destination in its own right due to the beautiful mix of designer clothing, accessories, and shoes inside its walls. With a gorgeous country setting, just off the main street in Mudgee, it’s easy to understand why this locations is such a popular spot to visit. Deer Mudgee showcases some of the best Australian and International designers including Sass & Bide, Jac & Jack, Camilla, Bassike, Camilla and Marc, Bec & Bridge, Malene Birger and the much loved and popular HUNTER boots. Make your way down to Lewis Street and experience it for yourself!
The store reflects the local lifestyle but with a measure of style not found elsewhere, something that has appealed to locals, tourists and surrounding country town. This is why customers travel near and far, coming back to discover this unique shopping experience. The staff at Deer Mudgee hope you can make the journey and visit us in store to experience it for yourself but in the meantime how about shopping with them on their online boutique, www.deermudgee.com
Well known in Sydney for their chic French Country style, the latest addition to the fast expanding Loft family is Loft Furniture Mudgee, their first ever franchised store. Elegantly fusing modern vintage with industrial pieces, Loft Furniture was a perfect fit for the Mudgee customer, the unique pieces working for both the modern home and more traditional country style houses. Mudgee owner Kellie Carlos was inspired by the shop and the furniture collection for its ability to adapt to customer’s individual style, allowing them to create a home which captured the true essence of themselves. Tucked slightly off the beaten track of the quaint tree-lined main street of the country town, Kellie has created a beautiful, welcoming environment that immediately makes you feel at home. Soft scarves, cushions and throw rugs add warmth to the industrial furniture pieces while stylish and practical home wares from white marble cheeseboards to vintage glassware, fill every corner of the shop. Why not pop in and see how Kellie can spruce up your style at 13a Lewis Street.
Mudgee, the contented town, is a modern metropolis condensed into a countryside hamlet. We will leave you with the words from a poem by Henry Lawson about Eurunderee, a locality of the Mudgee region…
‘On the knolls where the vineyards and fruit-gardens are
There’s a beauty that even the drought cannot mar;
For I noticed it oft, in the days that are lost,
As I trod on the siding where lingered the frost,
When the shadows of night from the gullies were gone
And the hills in the background were flushed by the dawn.’