🍂Saffron, Steel & Storytelling

Good morning, Hills lovers!

First up, a huge thank you to everyone who’s joined the puzzle waitlist! The response has been incredible, and I’m so grateful for your enthusiasm. If you haven’t signed up yet and would like to be added, just send me an email and I’ll pop you on the list.

This week’s edition is packed with stories worth slowing down for. You’ll meet the women who once walked all the way from Forest Range to the East End Adelaide Markets, now honoured in steel by the side of the road. You’ll be welcomed to An Iranian Food Journey, a joy-filled dinner where saffron-scented rice, shared plates, and heartfelt stories bring people together. And you’ll meet Jess from Rustic Wren, whose hand-stitched journals reflect the care of a true maker, and a story you’ll want to know.

Let’s get into it.

AN IRANIAN FEAST
Flavour, Stories, Shared Tables

Step into a night of flavour, culture, and connection with An Iranian Food Journey—a two-night dinner experience at the Olive Branch Café in Balhannah. The first night sold out in under a week. Now, a second evening—Friday 15 August—has been added.

For just $56, you’ll enjoy a generous three-course Persian feast—entrée, main, and dessert—crafted entirely from beloved Iranian cookbooks including Salamati by Hamed Allahyari and Dani Valent, and Saraban by Greg and Lucy Malouf. Expect fragrant saffron rice, rich stews, herbed dips, fresh flatbread and beautifully spiced desserts—each dish telling a story, served to share around your table.

The Olive Branch Café owner donates both the venue and her time as chef, supported by a team of Hills locals volunteering front of house. It’s a warm, welcoming experience whether you book with friends or come solo—tables are arranged to suit, and you’ll be seated with people who are simply there for a good night and a great cause.

I went to the last dinner, which featured Ukrainian food, and it was honestly one of the loveliest evenings I’ve had out. The food was incredible, the vibe was relaxed and kind, and you could feel the purpose behind it all.

BYO wine or purchase on the night. Dietary needs catered for. All proceeds go to Circle of Friends Australia, a 100% volunteer refugee support group. Book your tickets here.

STEPS THROUGH TIME
A Silhouette on Stafford Road

Before sunrise, long before the roads were sealed or the towns named, they set out. Women from Forest Range, Basket Range, Ashton, Lobethal. With baskets full of fruit, preserves, and whatever they could spare, they walked to the East End Market in Adelaide—week after week, season after season.

Now, a silhouette on Stafford Road tells part of their story. It’s not just one woman frozen in steel—it’s a tribute to them all. Installed by the Forest Range and Lenswood History Group, the Corten steel figure stands where countless footsteps once fell.

You might be familiar with the Pioneer Women’s Trail from Hahndorf to Beaumont. This is a different journey—lesser-known, but no less powerful. A route carved out through use and necessity.

The Forest Range and Lenswood History Group has spent months piecing together the old paths, consulting maps, stories, and local knowledge. Now we can all share in this history and the wonderful story of the women who walked, traded, and did their part in sustaining entire communities.

Built to last, the 6mm steel silhouette will outlive us all; an enduring marker of movement, strength, and memory.

So next time you take the easy drive, spare a thought for the women who walked. And keep an eye out—you’ll see her. And through her, them.

THE LEATHER ARCHITECT
Crafted slowly in the Hills

Jess Boyle has been sewing since she could reach the pedal. Raised in her mum’s patchwork shop, she was surrounded by fabric, colour and creativity from the start.

Today, in a quiet corner of Lenswood, Jess is the maker behind Rustic Wren. Her leather journals are stitched by hand, designed to be treasured, and full of thoughtful details that speak to her background in design and her deep love of paper.

Rustic Wren began in 2016, sparked by a travel notebook Jess found on Pinterest. When she couldn’t find anything like it in Australia, she made her own. That turned into a business built on quality, care and slow, soulful craft.

Every journal is made from full-grain leather sourced in Australia and New Zealand. The result is timeless and tactile, designed to age beautifully and hold your ideas for years to come.

Jess calls herself a leather architect, and it fits. She’s part maker, part memory keeper, and fully devoted to creating objects that last.

You can find her work online or join one of her hands-on workshops at FABRIK in Lobethal. 🖤 Explore more at rusticwren.com.au

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Winter Reds 25-27 July - All Access Pass
Why choose when you can do it all? The Winter Reds All Access Pass is your golden ticket to the weekend—just $40 gets you into all participating venues across both Saturday and Sunday. No extra entry fees, no last-minute stress. Just show your pass, stroll on in, and soak up the wine, firesides, tunes and good vibes. One ticket. Two days. Endless reasons to raise a glass. Get tickets here.

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

🌸 Floral Art Club Mount Barker
| CLUB MEETING | Mount Barker
📅 Thursday, 17 July | 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Connect with fellow flower lovers over tea, workshops, and garden-inspired creativity at this monthly floral gathering. INFO

🗣️ Mount Barker Toastmasters Club
| CLUB MEETING | Mount Barker
📅 Thursday, 17 July | 6:45 PM – 8:30 PM
Boost your confidence and communication skills in a supportive, friendly environment at this twice-monthly Toastmasters meeting. INFO

📚 Signing Storytime
| FAMILY | Stirling
📅 Thursday, 17 July | 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Sing, sign and read along with Claire and special guest Linda as they introduce AUSLAN through stories, songs and a fun craft to finish. A perfect holiday experience for curious young minds! INFO

🎭 Shakespeare After Dark
| THEATRE | Lower Hermitage
📅 Saturday, 19 July | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Step into a moody night of Shakespearean drama, music, and magic in the historic Pulpshed with Butterfly Theatre. INFO

🎉 Hills Collide Turns 1
| CELEBRATION | Summertown
📅 Saturday, 19 July | 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Join the party as Hills Collide celebrates one year with beats, bites, and brews in the heart of Summertown. INFO

🎶 Sjaella at UKARIA
| MUSIC | Mount Barker Summit
📅 Saturday, 19 July | 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Experience the soul-stirring harmony of vocal sextet Sjaella as they explore the timeless tension between head and heart through music. INFO

🧘‍♀️ Ground in Place: A Winter Morning of Yoga, Nourishment & Connection
| WELLNESS | Verdun
📅 Sunday, 20 July | 9:00 AM
Slow down with a gentle yoga flow, seasonal brunch, and wine tasting set on the beautiful lands of Peramangk Country. INFO

🐾 Pinot and Pooch
| FOOD & WINE | Woodside
📅 Sunday, 20 July | 11:00 AM – 5:00  PM
Enjoy a dog-friendly day with vineyard walks, warming jaffles, lawn games, and treats for every pooch. INFO

🍷 Pinnacle Winter Reds Tasting
| WINE TASTING | Woodside
📅 Monday, 21 July – Sunday, 3 August | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sip your way through six premium reds by the fire in the Barrel Hall during this limited-time tasting experience. INFO

🍷 Uncork and Indulge: Wine and Chocolate Tasting
| FOOD & WINE | Stirling
📅 Wednesday, 23 July | 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Sip and savour a delicious evening of Adelaide Hills wines from Howard Vineyard paired with handcrafted local chocolates from Red Cacao. INFO

📚 Book Club at The Summit Community Centre
| COMMUNITY | Norton Summit
📅 Wednesday, 23 July | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Join a welcoming circle of readers for thoughtful discussion, curated library picks, and a shared love of stories—open to all with just a gold coin donation. INFO

ON LATER, BOOK NOW

🎨 Madeleine Wright’s 5 o’clock somewhere at Hills Collide
| SALA EXHIBITION | Summertown
📅 Friday, 1 August - Saturday, 30 August | Opening Night, 1 August 6:30 PM
Hills Collide presents 5 o’clock somewhere, a playful and evocative exhibition by Madeleine Wright for SALA. Celebrate opening night on Friday, August 1 with drinks, art, and community. INFO

🌿 Home as Habitat: Nature Poems That Explore the Ecosystems in Our Own Backyards
| WRITING WORKSHOP | Stirling
📅 Sunday, 17 August | 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Join poet Rachael Mead for a creative nature writing workshop exploring how our homes and gardens reflect the ecosystems of the Adelaide Hills. INFO

🍽️ An Iranian Food Journey - Refugee Support Fundraiser
| FOOD & CULTURE | Balhannah
📅 Friday, 15 August | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Due to popular demand after a sell out an extra night has been added on Friday 15th. Enjoy a shared feast of authentic Iranian dishes inspired by traditional cookbooks and cultural storytelling. INFO

📚 The Nuts and Bolts of Writing Historical Fiction
| WRITING WORKSHOP | Gumeracha
📅 Wednesday, 16 August | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Join Rachael Mead for a hands-on workshop that explores how to craft compelling and historically authentic fiction through research, character building, and vivid storytelling. INFO

📖 Fleeced – A Winter Words in Conversation Event
| AUTHOR TALK | Lobethal
📅 Wednesday, 13 August | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Join Prudence Black in conversation with Trish Fitzsimons and Madelyn Shaw as they discuss Fleeced: Unraveling the History of Wool and War, exploring the wartime demand for wool and its lasting impact on fashion, industry, and the environment. INFO

📚 Meet the Author: Gavin McCormack
| BOOK TALK | Stirling
📅 Tuesday, 12 August | 7:00 PM
Join acclaimed educator Gavin McCormack for the launch of Raising Resilient Children, a must-read for parents and teachers seeking practical tools to support confident, lifelong learners. INFO

🥂 Bottomless Brunch at Barristers Block
| FOOD & WINE | Woodside
📅 Sunday, 10 August | 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Indulge in a decadent brunch with endless wine, local drinks, and a mouth-watering hot and sweet course set among the vines. INFO

🎻 Michael Collins with the Australian String Quartet at UKARIA
| CLASSICAL MUSIC | Mount Barker Summit
📅 Sunday, 10 August | 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
British clarinettist Michael Collins joins the Australian String Quartet for a rich, alchemical program weaving Shakespeare, Tudor melodies, Viennese romance, and Mozart’s iconic Clarinet Quintet in a performance of musical transformation. INFO

🎨 Watercolour and Pen Nature Sketching
| WORKSHOP | Norton Summit
📅 Saturday, 9 August | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Slow down and reconnect with your creativity in this mindful sketching session with artist Rebecca Prince, featuring watercolour techniques, journaling prompts, and inspiration from nature’s treasures. INFO

🍾 The Art of Gin & Wine
| FOOD & DRINK | Lower Hermitage
📅 Saturday, 9 August | 4:00 PM
Sip, savour, and indulge in a flavour-filled night as Glen Ewin Estate and Paracombe Wines present a multi-course dining experience paired with handcrafted gin cocktails and premium wines. INFO

🎨 Provenance – Exhibition Opening
| ART & CULTURE | Piccadilly
📅 Saturday, 9 August | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Celebrate the opening of Provenance with art, live music, and local wine in a stunning Adelaide Hills setting as part of the SALA Festival. INFO

✂️ Paper, Poet, Scissors
| WORKSHOP | Bridgewater
📅 Saturday, 2 August | 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Create playful poetry through collage, blackout, and cut-up techniques in this hands-on workshop for all ages. INFO

🧀 Home Cheesemaking Class at Woodside Cheese Wrights
| WORKSHOP | Woodside
📅 Saturday, 2 August | 10:00 AM
Learn how to craft your own feta and watch a halloumi demo in this hands-on class with expert cheesemaker Mitch Lloyd, complete with tastings and wine. INFO

🧵 Enduring Embroidered Words at Fabrik
| WORKSHOP | Lobethal
📅 Saturday, 2 August | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Preserve your family’s stories by stitching cherished sayings onto vintage linen in this creative embroidery workshop with artist Fiona Connell. INFO

🎭 Much Ado About Nothing
| THEATRE | Stirling
📅 Friday, 1 August – Saturday, 9 August | Times Vary
Hills Youth Theatre brings a roaring 1920s twist to Shakespeare’s "Much Ado About Nothing" in a witty, Gatsby-inspired production packed with love, lies, and laughter. INFO

🎶 Graham Brown and Steve Ashley
| LIVE MUSIC | Bridgewater
📅 Sunday, 27 July | 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Enjoy an afternoon of acoustic storytelling with celebrated musicians Graham Brown and Steve Ashley as they blend blues, folk, and roots in a soulful mix of solo sets and on-stage collaborations. INFO

📝 I Am
| WORKSHOP | Lobethal
📅 Sunday, 27 July | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Join Dave Chapple for a reflective writing workshop blending poetry and prose to explore identity, values, and personal storytelling. INFO

📝 Stop Making Sense
| WORKSHOP | Lobethal
📅 Sunday, 27 July | 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Embrace poetic chaos in this playful workshop where language and creativity collide to spark unexpected new writing. INFO

🍷 Winter Reds: The Shiraz Social
| FOOD & WINE | Nairne
📅 Saturday, 26 July  – Sunday, 27 Jul | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Warm up at Adelaide Hills’ signature winter festival with live music, great vibes, and bold reds. From long lunches to marquee parties and family-friendly Sunday fun, there’s something for everyone. INFO

🥂 Winter Reds: Deviation Road x Lost Phoenix Farm
| FOOD & WINE | Longwood
📅 Saturday, 26 July – Sunday, 27 July | All Day
Settle in for a cosy long lunch with soulful live music, open braziers, and a three-course winter menu paired with Deviation Road wines. INFO

🍷 Simon's Pinot Party: a Winter Reds event
| WINE & MUSIC | Woodside
📅 Saturday, 26 July – Sunday, 27 July | Times Vary
Sip mulled wine by the fire, dance to DJ Ruby Chew’s epic party set, and feast on smoky BBQ while soaking up the Winter Reds vibes at this lively cellar door celebration. INFO

🔥 Flames and Fine Wines at Cobbs Hill Estate
| FOOD & WINE | Oakbank
📅 Saturday, 26 July – Sunday, 27 July | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sip estate wines by the fire with DJ tunes, hearty food, and cosy vibes at this scenic Winter Reds celebration. INFO

🎭 Garage Girls: A Night of Storytelling Magic
| THEATRE | Birdwood
📅 Saturday, 26 July | 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Step into 1920s Melbourne and meet Alice Anderson, the trailblazing female mechanic whose life inspires this lively mix of history, mystery, and theatre. Includes a special curator talk and a radio play performance inside the museum. INFO

🎨 Paint and Cake at Echunga Trading Co
| WORKSHOP | Echunga
📅 Saturday, 26 July | 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Unleash your creativity in a relaxed afternoon of painting, coffee, and cake at Echunga Trading Co's beloved art workshop. INFO

🍹 Winter Reds Saturday: Crêpes & Cabernet at Tapanappa Wines
| FOOD & WINE | Piccadilly
📅 Saturday, 26 July | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Sip your way through a mini Cabernet tasting paired with fresh crêpes in this cosy Winter Reds celebration. INFO

🎶 Jauma Winter Fest
| MUSIC & WINE | Lenswood
📅 Friday, 25 July – Saturday, 26 July | Times vary
Celebrate Winter Reds with live music, DJs, organic wine, wood-fired pizza, art, fire pits and inclusive vibes at Jauma’s vibrant 2-day festival. INFO

MARKETS

🍓 Adelaide Hills Farmers' Market
| MARKET | Mount Barker
📅 Saturday, 19 July | 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Shop fresh and local at this weekly market featuring South Australian farmers and producers. Free entry and held every Saturday morning.

🛍️ Woodside Market
| MARKET | Woodside
📅 Saturday, 19 July | 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Discover fresh food, unique finds, and garden treasures at this lively monthly market in the heart of town.

🌽 Uraidla Market
| MARKET | Uraidla
📅 Sunday, 20 July | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Browse local produce, handmade crafts, plants, and art while connecting with growers and makers at this vibrant community market.

_{Thanks for reading Adelaide Hills Pantry. I hope it added a moment of enjoyment to your day.}

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the traditional custodians of our land. We recognise Peramangk and Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the place where the content in this newsletter is featured and where the newsletter is created. We pay respect to Elders past, present and future and to the cultural authority of First Nations Peoples from other areas of this country.