Canowindra offers something for everyone this Christmas.
If it’s been a while since you’ve visited Canowindra, you may not be aware of the wonderful businesses that can be found on the main street with so much to offer, not only at Christmas time, but all year round.
There has been a lot of positive energy in the decoration of Canowindra’s shops. As well as the Lion’s Club Santas adorning the awnings, most shops have splashed out the
decorations.
Perennialle Plants’ Nerida Cuddy said, “My husband and I remember being taken to the David Jones Christmas windows as kids, and thought it would be fun to come up with our own, bush version at Perennialle. It’s a lot lower key than DJs of course, but still focused on the magic of storytelling”. After drawing on the theme of “The Velveteen Rabbit” last year; this year they put together scenes from “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”.
Other Christmas displays of note in Gaskill St are at Cobwebs and Curios, the Blue Bowerbird, the Plague and I (patchwork shop), Sugarloaf Studio; and of course Montrose House, by the decoration king Tommy Jeffs! Most displays are lit up at night, so can be enjoyed whenever you’re driving through the town. This is not a competition, it is a collaboration – all the business owners contributing to a Christmas buzz.
Not only the decorations warrant a drive to Canowindra, it’s also the great range of interesting and eclectic shops. For creative and handmade, there are the excellent David Isbester and Melissa Barber galleries, along with three craft/quilting shops. A new shop, Fabulously Mad, has a mix of fine art and craft along with vintage clothing and homewares.
When it comes to quirky and collectible, there is also the new treasure trove, Cobwebs and Curios, along with the The Blue Bowerbird, holding wall to wall gifts. A beautifully curated range of quality gift and homewares, indoor and garden plants, and gardening items is available at Perennialle Plants Nursery and Emporium; even the Age of Fishes Museum, the Garden of Roses, the Pharmacy and the Post Office have great gifts available.
It’s often hard for a small town to look after your clothing needs, but once again Canowindra punches above its weight. Frock On has recently tripled in size and is a seriously excellent source of style; Fashion on Gaskill and Central West Saddlery also offer quality fashion. Of course, Canowindra Vinnies is another shop well known for its great finds.
For Christmas food, the new Canowindra Butchery produces excellent quality meats; and we have two popular supermarkets. On top of all this, in Gaskill St you can get a haircut, massage, acupuncture, chiropracter, beauty treatment, rare books, a cuppa, a meal and much more!
Many of the businesses also have online options, if you simply cannot wait to make a day to wander down Canowindra’s beautiful, heritage-listed main street.
By Nerida Cuddy
