 
|
Meredith is held on a spectacularly beautiful part of a functioning
farm – it’s in the country, miles from the nearest town (about
nine miles actually), with the stage nestled in a grove of trees, a natural
amphitheatre bowling up around it, crowned by an arc of GIGANTIC pine
trees. There a feeling of spaciousness – it’s a huge site
surrounded by even huger farms and bushland –you can easily find
some peace and quiet if you choose. You can also easily see and hear
the artists on stage from anywhere in the Supernatural Amphitheatre.
It’s a magic set-up.
Team Meredith is delighted with the response to the Supernatural Amphitheatre.
If you have just joined us, we should let you know that in 2002 the festival
was held for the first time on a new site. Prior to that, it had lived
for eleven years in another part of the farm that was Crown Land. The
Queen decided she didn't want a festival on the estate anymore. So it
was move or not have any more Meredith Music Festivals. The festival
moved about one mile to the South, basically in the same grove of trees,
but this time on private land.
The new site proved to be a winner. So we’ll stay there. The soil is really sandy so it never gets muddy or boggy. Which is good.
There have also been hundreds of native trees planted on the site, to form sheltered areas, to provide windbreaks, and to look pretty. In the Amphitheatre itself, eight transplanted four metre high eucalypts now live, expertly selected by the Meredith Nursery, that are indigenous to the district. Over time they will grow to provide shelter and shade for Meredith-goers as well as to the land itself and its usual inhabitants.
A lot of the pesty weeds that had choked the site for decades have met their match, this has allowed the light to get to the ground beneath them and as such the existing indigenous grasses are coming back. Especially in the Bushl Camping.
The site will be better than last year, no probs. More grass, more trees, more beautiful.
The Meredith Music Festival Customised Melway Site Map, thanks to our friends at Melway.
CAMPING GROUNDS
There are three main camping grounds.
Bush Camping
Bush Camping is located North of the stage area, and is a secluded and
unbelievably pretty camping ground. Gum trees, she-oaks, ferns and other
indigenous flora have existed untouched for as long as anyone can remember,
and we have carefully laid down a track through this land, with minimum
disruption to the eco-structure. This will be quiet, sheltered camping.
You are basically in the bush. It will be hard for large groups to stake
out large sites in this area due to the vegetation and the single ring-road.
This area is also a fair distance from the Amphitheatre, although it
is fairly close to both the Food area, Pink Flamingo and of course toilets,
First Aid and other services. Around 30% of Meredith-goers will be able
to camp in The Bush before it is full, so it is likely to be popular
with the early arrivals.
The Top Paddock.
The Top Paddock is the camping ground closest to the action; closest
to the amphitheatre and stage, closest to the food area, toilets, Pink
Flamingo and The Meredith Eye. The Top Paddock is also the largest camping
ground on the site; it is a massive green field with gentle dips and
hills; a few rock piles, trees, ring roads, native planting areas, and
is governed by a Blue Gum crop to the East and Cypress rows to the South.
The Top Paddock is so big you should be able to camp well away from
your neighbours (if you choose to). It is divided into suburbs - Ringwood,
Eltham etc - so you can find your tent easily enough. The native plantings
- gums, acacias, she-oaks - have thrived since they were put in a year
ago and as such there’s more greenery and windbreaks up there.
The
Pines (North Pines, South Pines)
The Pines are on the South boundary of the Top Paddock. They are two
perpendicular rows of Pine Trees which intersect to form a giant "T",
thus creating two pockets of sheltered camping. The North pocket (North
Pines) was open to campers last year, whereas the South pocket (South
Pines) is new this year. These campsites are the furthest away from
the action and will be pretty quiet and peaceful. Both are protected
on two sides by thick rows of Cypress Pines, so they provide excellent
shelter, depending on the direction of the wind. The coldest wind is
the southwester, North Pines and South Pines provide good shelter from
it.
The other aspect of Pine Tree Corner that many will find appealing is the panoramic vista. Man! From the other side of the trees, you sit high on a ridge, looking West to wide open plains that extend for miles and miles, a huge pine plantation, a disused gold mine, and stunning sunsets. It's a great spot, and those Meredith-goers who liked sitting in a quiet field watching the sunset are in for a total treat.
The campgrounds are populated similarly to any city – the inner city is the most densely populated, with most campsites being smaller. The further away you go, the more land you have, and the closer to the wide open spaces of the countryside you get. South Pines, for instance, seems like its furthest from the action, but like so many outer suburbs, its got a direct arterial road and footpath to the inner city, and as such its easy to get to. And the blocks are bigger. And the views are amazing.
) |
 |
 |
 |
) |
|
|
|
) |
|
|
|
) |
|
|
|
)
)
) |
|
|
|
Photos by David Quick & Mia McDonald
