Lethbridge: Wine, Railway Heritage and Scenic Flights

Lethbridge has several distinctive facets: wine tastings, historic railway buildings and scenic flights are among the things that make the town an interesting place to visit. There are also buildings with very different histories – from a homestead in the early Australian colonial style to a water tank from the steam railway era. When choosing your holiday rental, consider which of these discoveries you’d like to shape your stay.

Discover railway history through its buildings

Lethbridge station once served passengers, farmers and local industries. It enabled wool, grain and livestock to be transported to regional markets. The station has closed, but remains an important part of Lethbridge’s heritage. Its history also tells us about the role rail transport played in the lives of people and the local economy.

Another relic from this era is the Lethbridge Railway Water Tank. During the steam railway era, it served as an important water stop for locomotives. The tank was supplied with water from local reserves and the Moorabool River. The former water tank was built in the 1860s from riveted cast-iron plates. It stands on a rectangular basalt base that housed the pumping station. Those interested in the history of technology will find several tangible details here: the facility’s purpose, its water supply and its construction.

Architecture and wine with a history of their own

Moranghurk Homestead is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. It is considered an outstanding and rare example of the early Australian colonial style. Its distinctive feature is vertical timber slab construction with cover strips, a method not found elsewhere in Victoria. This architectural feature makes the homestead more than just a historic address and gives it particular interest for architecture enthusiasts. St Mary’s Catholic Church is also listed as a heritage site in Lethbridge.

Another historic thread leads to Flagship Vineyard in Lethbridge: Swiss immigrants established it in 1874. Maree and Ray replanted it in 1996. The two dates mark different chapters in its history and should not be confused: the vineyard dates back to 1874, while the replanting took place in 1996.

Tastings and flying experiences

At Lethbridge Wines, the Cellar Door offers three different tasting experiences. The tastings have a relaxed atmosphere and often take place with the winemaker. If you’d like to discover wine in different ways, you can consider the three tasting experiences on offer. The tasting room at Moorabool Ridge Vineyard & Cafe has a different historic setting: it is housed in a shepherd’s hut built in 1856.

Aviation is also part of what’s on offer at Lethbridge Airport, where scenic flights and a flight school are available. Joy Flights Melbourne operates at the airport and offers scenic flights in restored Tiger Moths and a CT4 RAAF Airtrainer. This adds a very different perspective on your stay to the themes of wine and railway history. If you’re travelling as a group, you can weigh up whether historic buildings, tastings or a flying experience would be of particular interest to your group when choosing your destination.

More places to explore: Marengo, East Warburton, Marnoo, King Valley, Redesdale, Mount Clear, Port Albert, Alphington.

For the wider travel overview: Victoria.