Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/131994
highlight A little we can get together old shed where Michelle Hespe visits Albury Wodonga and finds, where there was once a train station and goods shed, a vibrant space with community at its heart. Today, the old station and the big old shed form a vibrant, central meeting place for the people of Albury/Wodonga and its many visitors. Its old walls, floors and ceilings have been given a lick of paint and a modern lift, and in the process, its spirit has been revived and celebrated. The festival is part of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, held every March in metro Melbourne. Now, the acclaimed epicurean festival has set aside a weekend in its chain of events to celebrate the produce of regional Victoria – and to attract visitors to the fertile hubs around which primary producers live. A couple of young boys jump up on to the stage where a band plays off to one side – guitar, double bass, saxophone and xylophone backing up the lead singer's humorous ballads about life, love and all things country. The boys dance and laugh, the band plays, and people settle in to eat at the tables facing the stage – chowing down on meals lovingly prepared from the freshest local produce available. All around the band, crowds of people mingle, tasting fine wines and cordials, stopping every few steps to sample local honey, pork and handmade sausages, cupcakes, macaroons, ice-cream, chutneys, cheeses and more. With blue autumnal skies above, it's a fine day to indulge in music, food, wine and friends at Junction Place, Wondonga. There's another good reason to celebrate at the Goods Shed Harvest Festival. The area everyone's gathered in was once a busy train station and a big old shed that had seen better days. Formerly, it was the heritage-listed Wodonga Railway Station and Goods Shed, circa 1875. After an innovative urban renewal project by Places Victoria that locals rallied behind, it's now a place for farmers' markets and other community festivals, events and activities. "All around the band, crowds of people mingle, tasting fine wines and cordials." The hawkers' market draws big crowds to the historic Goods Shed and Station Building at Junction Place, and part of the festival is the Station Cinema's screening of 'foodie' films. There are also ancillary events such as the salami-making workshop at The Bonegilla Migrant Experience site, with a light rustic lunch. The events are about community, food and fun. The historic location adds to the excitement of locals and visitors alike – and now, all year round, people from Albury and Wodonga will be able to take advantage of this large, exciting communal space flooded with light and great vibes. The kids on the stage were certainly feeling those – they danced as long as the band played. www.junctionplace.com.au XXXI