The following article about the Axedale Colonial Country Fair appeared in the community newspaper, Axedale Antics on ??? This annual event was very much looked forward to by the community during the 1990s.

From: The Axedale Antics, October 1994, Edition 79

With only a few weeks to go, the Axedale Colonial Country Fair, being held on Sunday 16 October, is shaping up to be another wonderful day once more. Many of the great attractions from previous years, and some exciting new ones, will be entertaining the public all day.

The Axedale Colonial Fair is colonial AND country, incoporating the old and the new, with interesting and entertaining exhibitions and attractions, rides and relics, dining and dancing., from past to present day. There will be a hot air balloon and helicopter, Cobb & Co coach and camels, merry-go-round and gyrobix, Harley motor bike and hay rides to delight young and old alike.

Aboriginal Corroborees, Irish, Scottish, Dutch and Australian bush dances, and the Eurofest choir will perform, as well as a one act play put on by the Bendigo Community Heralth Centre and some local school children.

The Muddyflats country music band and the Emu Creek bush band will give us some easy listening music and assist the dancers. Chinese Lions will visit and dance and prance for your enjoyment.

The Axedale Colonial Country Fair Town Crier’s competition will be bigger than ever this year, with at least ten town criers showing us how well they can raise their voices.

Rob The Swaggie and Kookie Koala will no doubt have a hard time endeavouring to keep Benjamin B. Bunyip in line as usual.

Listen in delight to the beautiful sound of bygone days that emit from the old Harkness whistles.

Artillery and defence displays, including a leopard tank, will be mingled among the various other displays of vintage cars, restored Holdens and Morris Minors, motor cross bikes and sprint cars, antique machinery, Neighbourhood Watch, Penguin Club of Australia, Bendigo Community Health Centre, and many others.

View the extensive array of collectives belonging to the Golden City Collectors and the delightful doll display. Be amazed at the skills of the chainsaw sculptures. See a real, live blacksmith, and step back in time with the Axedale and Strathfieldsaye History display.

Visit the miniature rail roads, and while there, take the opportunity to talk to someone many miles away in Australia on the Bendigo Amateur Radio equipment.

Out on the arena, watch the Nanneella Tent Peggers, and the Bendigo Polo Cross give you some exhilarating examples of their exciting talents.

Clown around with clowns, meet Billy Bottle and Captain Koala, introduce yourself to the Clydesdale with the old bakers cart, inspect the penny farthing bikes, listen to the buskers, and get Ian Glanville, the characturist, to draw a portrait for you. Have a limerick written especially for you.

While Mum and Dad take advantage of a tour of the Axedale Cemetery, leave the kids at Kids Corner, where they can have their faces painted, play Life Be In It games, and enter the Benjamin BG. Bunyip colouring competition – great prizes.

Bring along your favourite pets and enter them in the Uncles Ben’s Pets ‘n’ Pals Parade – plenty of prizes and novelty sections.

This year, the inaugural Axedale Colonial Country Fair/Bendigo Cycling Club race, will take place with approx 30 senior and 30 junior riders competing.

While you wander through the large array of art & craft stalls, which include pottery and paintings, calico arts and ceramics, wooden toys and tartan weavers, jewellery and folk art, garden accessories and wood turning, hats and teddy bears, novelties and white elephant stalls, – you certainly won’t suffer any hunger pains with the variety of foods and refreshments available. Devonshire teas, pies and hot dogs, hot potatoes and takeaway, BBQ, confectionary, cakes and coffee, ice creams and soft drinks and an alcohol bar.

The Fair will be officially opened at 10am by Commissioner Mr. Les Crofts, and the entertainment will flow all day until 6pm.

At 3pm, many of these wonderful participants will congregate to be involved in the Grande Parade around the oval, and anyone attending the fair in costume is also invited to be involved in this. Prizes are awarded on the day for a variety of categories, eg. costume, stall, display.

The Dragon City Marshalls will be in attendance to assist in ensuring that people of all ages, and from all walks of life may have a hazard free and happy day.

So come visit us at Axedale, at the Colonial Country Fair on Sunday 16th October – we’d love to see you.

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Helpers are needed to help in the preparation of the grounds, in setting up on the day, and for manning various positions on the day – if you can help, we’d be very grateful. Also if you have any knowledge on erecting marquees, we sure could use you. Please phone 397316

Also donations of scones and/or cakes for the Devonshire Tea stall will be very gratefully accepted – once again, if you can help, please phone.
Many Thanks, Doreen (Secretary)

If you recognise yourself in the photos, please let me know and I will add your name.

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