The Dandenong Ranges has long been famous for tea, scones and B&Bs but there’s more beneath the sky-scraping mountain ash than just teashops.
A small group of locals have decided to part the leaves to reveal a lesser known side to the Hills: its thriving community of writers.
The Autumn Authors festival, running throughout May, is showcasing local talent, as well as writers from around Australia.
Events range from talks, to writing workshops and slam poetry readings, all set in some of the best Hills’ restaurants, gardens and arts centres, and including food and drinks.
The organisers aim to make the festival an annual event that will explore the areas historical connection with writing and the arts community.
“A lot of people don’t know the Dandenong Ranges has always inspired and produced great writers and artists,” Valerie Wemyss, one of the festival’s founders says.
“Round the Twist author Paul Jennings lived in the area and Arthur Upfield used Mount Dandenong as the setting for some of his novels, to name a few.”
“There’s certainly more to the Hills than just tea and scones!”
The organisers hope to get the community involved in the festival, including the social media community. Anyone interested in being a part of next year’s festival should get in touch via Facebook.
This year’s festival features: award-winning writer Cate Kennedy, poet Emilie Zoey Baker, SBS’s Letters and Numbers star David Astle, children’s writer Andy Griffiths, Vue de Monde chef Shannon Bennett, crime writer Michael Robotham, Kinglake 350 author Adrian Hyland, and chair of the Literature Board of the Australian Council Sophie Cunningham.
For more information on events and to book visit the website.
