HARVEST DAY OUT 2025 - LANYON HOMESTEAD

Grow – Preserve – Sustain

Saturday 22nd March, 10am – 3pm

Immerse yourself in all things Autumn at Harvest Day Out. This year, we celebrate time-honoured traditions that have sustained and nourished our communities for generations. Discover the art of preserving, pickling, growing, and harvesting your own food through hands-on workshops, engaging demonstrations, insightful talks, and immersive tours. Learn how to embrace these practices in your own life.

Harvest Day Out offers something for everyone. Enjoy live music, browse vibrant market stalls, and keep the whole family entertained with activities designed for all ages.
Witness the changing of the seasons against the breathtaking backdrop of the Brindabellas. Join us for this unforgettable celebration at Lanyon Homestead, one day only, Saturday 22 March.

Register for Harvest Day Out & sign-up for updates for your chance to win a $200 Canberra Theatre Centre gift voucher.

Full Program

👩‍🌾 Workshops and Talks 🍅

• WORKSHOP: Build a Beneficial Bee and Insect Hotel | Learn to craft a bee hotel with local horticulturist Tracey Bool | 1pm - 3pm | Adults $45 - Conc $40
• WORKSHOP: Cultural Weaving with Jessika Spencer | Create a traditional woven basket with Wiradjuri artist Jessika Spencer | 1pm - 3pm | Adults $95 - Conc $90
• TALK: Meet the Robots Revolutionizing Agriculture | Dive into the future of sustainable farming with experts from the Collaborative Robotics Lab, University of Canberra | 12pm - 1pm | Pay What You Want
• TALK: Indigenous Plants Use and Traditional Tools | Discover the edible, practical, and medicinal uses of native plants with Aaron Chatfield of Dreamtime Connections | 11am - 12:30pm | Adults $30 - Conc $25
• WORKSHOP: Vegetable Garden Planning | Gain practical advice for growing a productive garden year-round with Margaret Bonner from Canberra City Farms | 1:30pm - 3pm | Adults $30 - Conc $25
• DEMO: Making Mrs Calthorpe's Marmalade and Other Preserves | Dr Anna Wong demonstrates the art of jam making using the historic Calthorpes House family recipe | 10.15am - 11.15am | Pay What You Want
• CURATOR TALK: Who's Who at Lanyon? | Step into the past with Dr Hannah Paddon, Senior Curator at ACT Historic Places, as she unpacks the fascinating stories of the people who have shaped, preserved, and sustained Lanyon Homestead over the past two centuries | 11am - 11:30am & 1pm - 1:30pm & 2pm - 2:30pm | Pay What You Want

🏡 Tours and Demonstrations 🌳

• TOUR: Lanyon Homestead Gardens | Explore the rich history of Lanyon Homestead’s gardens with James Marshall | 11.00am - 11.45am & 1.30pm - 2.15pm | Pay What You Want
• TOUR: Lanyon Homestead Mini House Tours | Step into the colonial interiors of the 1850’s homestead and hear captivating tales of its past | 10.30am - 1pm & 1.30pm - 3pm | Free Drop-In
• DEMO: Whip Cracking | Learn about traditional whip making and cracking, enjoy live whip-cracking demonstrations | 1pm - 1.15pm & 1.30pm - 1.45pm | Free Drop-In

🧒 Family Friendly Fun 🎨

• KIDS WORKSHOP: Weaving the Landscape | Hands-on weaving workshop for kids aged 8-12 | 10.30am - 12pm & 1 - 2.30pm | Child $35 (materials supplied)
• KIDS CRAFTING: Shadow Drawing and Stick Puppets | Create shadow drawings, puppets, and nature-inspired art | 10.30am - 12pm & 12.30pm - 3pm | Free Drop-In
• KIDS ACTIVITY: Lawn Games | Enjoy games, crafts, and outdoor fun on the Bunya Lawn | 10.30am - 12pm & 12.30pm - 3pm | Free Drop-In
• KIDS ACTIVITY: Fire Truck Display | Kids will love the Rural Fire Service display Fire Truck!  | 10am - 3pm

🎶 Music and Market Stalls 🎁

• MUSIC: The Fuelers | Enjoy live performances from perennial favourite The Fuelers | 12.30 - 1.15pm & 1.45 - 2.30pm | Free | Barracks Café
• COMMUNITY: Tuggeranong SEE-Change | Garden Tool Repair and sharpening with expert plant advice | 10am - 3pm

FOOD & MARKET STALLS

CWA Canberra | Baked goods, preserves and crafts
Tacontento | Tacos! Tacos! Tacos!
Mr. B Pastel | Crispy, deep-fried pastries filled with chicken, beef, or cheese
Le Cheeserie | Premium Australian Cheese, and accompaniments
Backa Gourmet Foods | A wide selection of gourmet smallgoods and salami
Boorowa Bees | Raw honey, beeswax candles, soaps, and skincare products
Pialligo Harvest | Fresh chilli, chilli honey and chilli pickles
Outback Fudge | Home-made fudge
ReUseabelle | Handmade, reusable and eco-friendly gifts
Lucky Ladybird | Reusable craft accessories, including face wipes, serviettes, rope bowls, and plant markers
Bunyip’s Hemp Farms | Hemp-based health & wellbeing products
Solid Rocks Jewellery Designs | Handmade jewellery featuring semi-precious stones and pearls
Funky Frog Boutique | Handmade children’s clothing, including duffle coats from 100% recycled wool blankets
Chameleon Icecreamery | Homemade ice creams, sorbets, and dairy-free treats
Tuggeranong SEE-Change | Garden tool repair and sharpening with expert plant advice
Lanyon Coffee Cart | Freshly brewed coffee and cold drinks
Tuggeranong Men’s Shed | Tornado Potatoes
Rotary Club of Tuggeranong | Classic sausage Sizzle
Rural Fire Service | Fire Truck display
Funny Fantasy Entertainment | Face painting 
Bukiyou Designs | Handmade jewellery and eco-resin homewares
Garry Reid's Rare Bulbs | Unusual bulbs, plants, cards
Bentshed Produce | Easy-so-use blends of Australian native herbs and spices
Tiny Farm CBR | Local organically grown seedlings
Carmela's Creations | Bespoke succulent and cacti arrangements, plants, garden ornaments and more
ShahBros Lemonade | Fresh Lemonade & sweets
Ross McConichie Photography | Photographs and Cards of Birds from around Canberra
Honeycomb Lane | A range of handmade bee themed items and honey
Canberra Seed Savers | Information and seeds for sale
Aylwen’s Four Acre Garden | Homegrown flowers & herbs and Handmade  jams, syrups & cordials. PLUS Flower bunching demos on the hour

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Getting here by car: Car parking is available onsite. The driveway entrance is on Tharwa Drive, approximately 250m south of Banks. The driveway is unsealed and limited to 40km/hr. Please reduce your speed around other vehicles, people and livestock.
• Getting here by public transport: There is no direct public transport to Lanyon Homestead. Public buses go to Lanyon Marketplace in Conder. You can then catch a taxi or Uber to Lanyon Homestead. For bus timetables, go to transport.act.gov.au/getting-around/timetables
• Need a ride? Visitors who have low mobility can ride in the people-mover from the carpark to the Homestead and Cafe. There is a radio at the carpark that connects you with our Museums Shop and Reception. Or speak to one of our friendly staff.
• Rain or Shine: We recommend wearing weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable enclosed shoes. Bring a hat and sunscreen, and rainproof clothing if necessary. If severe weather is expected, we will cancel the event. All participants who have pre-registered or booked into a program will be contacted and refunds will be provided for paid ticketed programs.
• Mobile reception & Wifi: As a rural property, there is limited mobile reception at Lanyon Homestead and sometimes the wi-fi can be unreliable. We recommend that you bring cash in case our EFTPOS goes off-line for purchases at the Museum Shop, Café and market stalls.
• Leave only footsteps & take your rubbish home: ACT City Services doesn't make it to Lanyon Homestead. This means all rubbish has to be especially trucked out. Help reduce the environmental impact of the event by taking you rubbish home. Bring your own keep cup if you're planning on getting a take-away coffee.
• Help look after our site: Lanyon Homestead is a heritage site. Please be mindful of historic plantings, gardens and buildings. Take care when walking through the property as there are uneven surfaces in the gardens, paths and homestead.
• Pets and Service Dogs: Please note that no pets, with the exception of special service dogs (ie guide dogs), are permitted on site at Lanyon Homestead. The property includes paddocks with livestock and is surrounded by working farms.
• Smoke Free Site: Smoking is not permitted at Lanyon Homestead.
• Have fun! Most importantly, we hope you enjoy your day at Lanyon Homestead.