By Dongyun Kwon
Gulf Station is hosting a fun event as part of the Australian Heritage Festival.
The National Trust is inviting community members to explore Fleece, Fibre and Fancywork on Sunday 28 April.
National Trust Gulf Station coordinator Fiona Leadbeater said it’s a showcase of all things about sheep.
“We’re going to celebrate the history of sheep at Gulf Station but also to introduce a new breed of sheep that is new to Australia which is originally from Switzerland,” she said.
“They’re known as the cutest sheep in the world. They’re called Valais Blacknose sheep and they’ve been gaining popularity in Australia.
“As well as those, we’re gonna have black and coloured sheep and some Babydoll sheep, all different rare and unusual breeds of sheep.”
There’ll be a shearing demonstration, working dog demonstration, market stalls and traditional handcrafts.
“The shearing demonstrations are actually going to be traditional blade shearings, so that should be very interesting to people,” Ms Leadbeater said.
“The lace guild and the embroidery guild are coming for the handcrafts.
“We’ve got people who will be selling fleece and wool. There’ll be food trucks and some activities for children as well.”
Gulf Station is a historic property which was originally part of a 25,000-acre piece of land from Yarra Glen to Toolangi.
It was established in the 1850s and farmed for nearly 100 years by the Bell family.
Gulf Station is one of the oldest and most intact examples of a pioneer farm complex in Australia which supplied produce to gold miners of the district.
The National Trust acquired stewardship of the property in 1976 and restored its buildings and cottage garden.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to join the festival and invite people along to learn about this property and the new breeds of sheep,” Ms Leadbeater said.
Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office on the day or online anytime at the National Trust website, nationaltrust.org.au/ahf_event/fleece-fibre-fancywork
