By JESSE GRAHAM
Steavenson Falls …
Take a walk and visit one of the tallest waterfalls in Victoria. With a total height of 122 metres, Steavenson Falls is a captivating sight night or day, with lights installed around the area, powered by the waterfall itself.
Named after an assistant commissioner of Roads and Bridges John Steavenson, the falls are illuminated until 11pm by floodlights. Take a drive down Falls Road from Murchison Street and continue until the road ends with a car park and public toilets. There are paths that lead to scenic spots at the bottom and the top of the falls, with the latter taking around half an hour each direction.
Gallipoli Park …
Looking for a place to let the kids loose?
Gallipoli Park, which underwent a $1.8 million redevelopment after the 2009 bushfires, is the perfect place for kids to explore and play, with a state-of-the-art children’s playground.
Slides, a sandpit, roundabout, rope-climbing net and flying foxes are just some of the treats that will be found at the park, which also includes a reflective garden for those after a quieter day out.
A gazebo is available for some shade away from the summer sun and the New Life Sculpture, created by artist Bruno Torfs, is a sight all of its own.
Fragas Café …
No visit to Marysville, or any town for that matter, would be complete without a good cup of coffee.
Fragas Cafe make use of Great Divide Coffee beans, which is roasted in Buxton, for that timeless beverage, which will set you back $3.80 a cup.
Heavily involved in the town in recent years, Fragas Cafe was badly damaged in the 2009 bushfires and has been rebuilt to provide a colourful, warm and friendly environment.
James Fraga, who owns the cafe with his wife Jane, said the cafe makes all food fresh on-premises from scratch, using local produce where possible.
The cafe is at 19 Murchison Street, Marysville, and is open from 9am-4pm weekdays and 9am-4.30pm weekends. Call 5963 3216.
Bruno’s Art and Sculpture Garden …
For a sensory feast and an arty experience, visitors to Marysville would be wise to stop in at Bruno’s Art and Sculpture Garden.
Starting out with 15 terracotta sculptures, the garden, based on Falls Road, today features over 115 pieces by Bruno Torfs, set among gardens that accentuate each piece’s beauty.
The garden is open from 10am-5pm every day, with entry to the gardens during the week costing $5 for visitors over the age of 10, $10 for entry to the garden and the gallery for those over 16 years old and $5 for under-16s on weekends. Children under 10 receive free entry.
For more information, visit www.brunosart.com.
Marysville and District Historical Society …
See Marysville in a different way to the current day – the Marysville and District Historical Society has a thousands of items donated from around the world, that tell the story of the town’s 150-year history.
The Historical Society’s new home at 39 Darwin Street houses the historical items, which includes numerous photographs, pieces of furniture and even the original clock from Keppel’s Hotel, which measures the time, the day of the week and the date.
Mary Kenealy, who helped to gather items after the collection’s destruction in 2009 with her husband Reg, said the motto of the historical society is “we are here and the story will still be told”.
For opening hours, email regken@bigpond.com or call 0417 596 433.
