Bobinawarrah: Gin, Farm History and Pelicans

Bobinawarrah combines a distinctive gin experience with the history of a former winery and opportunities to see pelicans. The StillHouse is known for distilling and tastings, while Bynong Farmstead is known for a stone winery building dating from around 1870. Pelicans, a traditional story and the lookout at Kneebones Gap add to these themes. For your stay, you can decide whether you mainly want to explore the distillery, a historic building, or nature and landscape.

Gin-making at the StillHouse

At the StillHouse, visitors can watch the still in operation, talk to the distiller about gin and take part in a curated tasting. Making and tasting are therefore part of the experience together: you see the still at work and can chat with the distiller about gin while the tasting takes place. If you are interested in how gin is made and how it tastes, this visit offers both in one setting.

The building’s history is also part of the StillHouse’s character. Originally a farm shed, it was transformed using reclaimed materials; today, it houses the distillery. So, alongside the gin itself, the transformation of the former shed is also a focus. This gives the StillHouse a different theme from a visit centred mainly on a historic winery building or watching pelicans.

Bynong Farmstead and its architectural history

The former stone winery building at Bynong Farmstead in Bobinawarrah dates from around 1870 and is of local significance. It is also of historical and aesthetic significance. Its former function as a winery and its stone construction give the site a different focus from the present-day StillHouse: here, the focus is a building with a history as a winery.

A distinctive architectural feature relates to how the land is used. Within the study area, Bynong is the only winery of its kind where the land was used to create a two-storey structure. If you are interested in historic buildings, you can therefore consider not only its approximate date but also this connection between the land and the building’s design. Bynong Farmstead thus offers a distinctive way to explore Bobinawarrah’s history, different from the gin-making experience.

Pelicans, traditional stories and a lookout

Bobinawarrah is also associated with a story in which people were transformed into pelicans and flew back to Wangaratta. This tale is distinct from seeing live pelicans: visitors can see pelicans in Bobinawarrah. The traditional account describes the surrounding lakes, ponds and rivers as places where sightings are almost guaranteed. If you are interested in animals and traditional stories, there are two distinct aspects to focus on: the pelicans themselves and the story of Bobbinaworra.

At Kneebones Gap on Bobinawarrah-Whorouly Road, there is a designated scenic lookout. This adds a tangible connection to the landscape alongside the themes of history, distilling and wildlife watching. When choosing a holiday rental, you can consider which focus matters most for your stay: the gin experience at the StillHouse, the architectural history of Bynong Farmstead, or nature-related attractions such as pelicans and the lookout.

More location pages

If you’d like to explore more location pages, you can also find Hamilton, Mccrae, Carisbrook, Cottles Bridge, Grantville, Lake Bolac, North Wangaratta and Rosewhite here.

For the main travel overview: Victoria.