Bacchus Marsh: Just A Skip And A Jump From The City
There are Safeway stores in most districts where one can buy apples, oranges, cherries and other fruits in season. Vegetables too can be bought there for use in one's day-to-day cooking or food preparation. And, because there is a Coles store wherever there is a Safeway outlet, availability is not a problem. Supply can meet the demand for any given product for any given period.
But on weekends, when there is ample time, some city dwellers prefer to drive to a place some 50 kilometers away to buy fresh farm produce. I am referring to Bacchus Marsh which is west of Melbourne and can be reached via the Western Highway. There are market gardens selling fruits and vegetables and other agricultural products in this old town of Bacchus Marsh. Bacchus Marsh is situated on a very fertile valley and encompassed by two rivers.
These fruit and vegetable stalls are mostly located along the stretch of The Avenue of Honor which is the entry point to the town. The Avenue of Honor is lined with big elm trees with each tree dedicated to the memory of a fallen World War I soldier who lived in the locality. Thus, aside from doing some shopping, one is actually doing a historic tour. He gets double his money's worth and his time is well spent.
What adds excitement is that one can choose to do the picking. He may, for instance, drive through the gates of Natureripe Fruits, negotiate with the farmhand manning the counter and start to do the actual picking. It is an unusual experience when picking big, ripe strawberries and arranging them in a basket. He then presents this basket at the counter for weighing, after which, he pays and leaves. These fruits, glad to tell you, are not sprayed with harmful chemicals.
And if there is still time, a visitor can walk leisurely through the town's principal streets and see for himself historic houses, buildings and churches that have been there since the 1800s. He may choose to sit on a wooden bench at Maddingley Park to watch a football game. Or a tennis match between young kids. Or he may want to go on an exciting adventure as he follows the narrow trail that takes him to the Werribee River. And, come to think of it, he does not have to worry about the time. Going back to the city is only a thirty- minute travel time. Just a skip and a jump. So why hurry?
-Konted
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| The Avenue of Honor is the entry point to the town of Bacchus Marsh |
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| Avenue of Honor is lined with big elm trees dedicated to the memory of fallen WW I soldiers |
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| A nice farm house in Bacchus Marsh. Perhaps the best shot for the day. |
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| Peaches in season |
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| Do your own picking |
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| A big farm in Bacchus Marsh |
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| Prevailing prices at the farm markets |
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| Reliable farm machinery |
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| Lovely flowers seen at The Avenue of Honor |
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| Selling apples |
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| Free entry |
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| Also available at the stores |
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| Pastizzi is a pastry from Malta |
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| One of the bigger orchards in Bacchus Marsh |
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| Goods are prominently displayed outside the store |
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| Big Squash |
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| A squash variety |
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| Freshly harvested apples |
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| It says: Use tongs |
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| Fruits placed in big drums |
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| Onions of different sizes |
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| More inside the store |
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| No preservatives added |
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| The Jonathan variety of apples |
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| The Royal Gala variety |
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| More varieties |
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| Honey in plastic containers |
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| Bottled marmalades and jams |
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| Big sign |
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| Jeff Jones store uses old parts of farm machines as props |
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| Sure to attract motorists |
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| At the parking lot of Jeff Jones Orchard |
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| Dilapidated truck used as prop near the store |
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| Souvenir shot |
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| Jeff Jones' stall |
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| Nashi Pears are also called Asian Pears |
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| Gala Apples are the 2nd most popular apples. Red Delicious apples are ranked 1st. |
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| Shorter eggplants |
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| More fruits inside the store |
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| From Jonesy Farns |
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| Peaches, pears and bananas |
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| Brown, red and green pears |
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| Apples, Quinces, Avocados and Navel Oranges |
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| A European Heritage variety |
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| Available in slices |
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| Bottled products also for sale |
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| Green grapes as advertised outside |
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| Seedless watermelons |
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| Butter nut pumpkins |
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| Fresh cauliflowers |
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| Also at Jeff Jones store |
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| Where to pick your own strawberries |
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| Naturipe Fruits farm in Bacchus Marsh |
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| Only strawberries in season |
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| Valuable to Aussie farmers |
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| A common sight at Bacchus Marsh |
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| Systematically arranged |
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| Ready for picking |
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| No spraying of harmful chemicals |
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| Some are still unripe |
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| Still part of Naturipe Fruits Farm |
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| A good source of Folate and Potassium |
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| Melbourne old-timer Armin S. frequents Bacchus Marsh for his supply of fruits and vegetables |
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| At the town center of Bacchus Marsh |
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| Herbs for sale |
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| Freshly baked |
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| Bacchus Marsh is one of the older towns of Victoria |
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| The playground at Maddingley Park |
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| For the needs of the farmers |
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| Old truck still in good running condition |
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| Historic Blacksmith's Cottage built in the 1800s |
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| One of two old churches in Bacchus Marsh |
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| Old Express Cottage |
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| The Express printing press established in 1866 |
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| The Courthouse Hotel |
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| Old, old Court House of Bacchus Marsh |
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| Border Inn built during the Gold Rush in the 1800s |
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| Classic toys for sale |
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| A fine restaurant at the town proper |
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| Having a nice day |
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| Stormwater Trail near the Werribee River |
