As the year draws to a close, the stories most read over the past year in The Wombat Post offer a snapshot of what mattered most to our community. Taken together, they tell a story of a township with a sense of place, protective of its character but negotiating change as it contemplates its future.
Few topics captured attention quite like The Block. Hoardings surrounding the development drew curious locals and visitors alike as they sought to discern from the rooflines what was going on below. Contestant teams made a colourful addition to the ChillOut Parade in March and Network 9 teasers in print and social media built anticipation for the television series which started in August. Coverage of the 2025 season drew local and national interest and stimulated discussion about unrealistic price ranges announced for the auction climax.
Articles in The Wombat Post about property market trends drew strong readership reflecting the investment interests of the local demographic. New taxes on investment properties such as the VRLT, short stay taxes and changes to land tax were of interest because of the impact on local investors. Property values and availability also raised questions about housing affordability and about the delicate balance between attracting development versus retaining the historic and country character of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs.
A strong theme related to the retention of character was renewal of buildings and businesses that support that character. Readers were drawn to stories about familiar local landmarks restored to their former glory like Hepburn’s Macaroni Factory and Daylesford’s Town Hall. Renewal of iconic local businesses like the Bellinzona Hotel, Café Hepburn and the troubled Savoia Hotel drew wide readership. Even the reopening of the Daylesford Coles, with its new local format and emphasis on regional produce drew wide readership in spite of its many detractors on social media.
While historic buildings are current reminders of past glories, our History Files series offered glimpses, often humorous, into the lives of the philanthropists and leaders who built our community – and the criminals who took advantage.
Local government and civic life also loomed large over the past year. Articles examining council finances, community behaviour and online discourse attracted strong attention. Readers followed closely as a new council sought to dig itself out of its ongoing financial difficulties, while concerns about toxic online culture and unacceptable behaviour struck a nerve in a community that values tolerance and acceptance.
The community campaign against the Endeavour Group and the proposed Dan Murphy’s bulk liquor outlet proposed for Daylesford showed what a community united in opposition to inappropriate development can do in the face of huge corporations with a fully stocked legal armoury. Community representatives were well organised and well prepared winning an appeal firstly the LCC and again at VCAT.
Health and wellbeing were another clear priority. The announcement that Springs Medical would move to full bulk billing was one of the most widely read stories of the year, underlining the importance of accessible healthcare in a region with an ageing population and growing demand for services. Our Healthy Daylesford series about health issues and local services was always popular.
Tourism and development featured repeatedly, often accompanied by tension and debate. Readers engaged strongly with stories about Daylesford’s future as a tourist town, concerns about water mining, and the approval of the Wombat–Lerderderg National Park. These articles highlighted the recurring question of how to balance economic opportunity with environmental protection and long-term sustainability.
Arts, culture and community creativity provided a counterpoint to the heavier issues of the year. Stories about local artists, the Rotary Art Show, the Wonderful Window Wombats and Morgan Williams art series proved attractive to readers.
Articles about the many contributions of community organisations such as Rotary, the Good Grub Club, the Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre highlighted the importance of collaboration and cooperation and celebrated volunteer efforts in building a strong community.
Taken together, the most-read stories of the year reflect a readership invested in where it lives and where it is heading. The Wombat Post remains grateful for readers who not only read local news but engage with it, contribute to it and debate it to help shape the ongoing conversation about life in our region. The Wombat Post recognised the importance of community dialogue by starting the Daylesford Conversations series with support from Australia Post. Planning for continued Conversations in 2026 is well advanced.
We extend our sincere thanks to the many contributors and volunteer members of the editorial committee who give their time, skills and judgement to make the The Wombat Post possible. We gratefully acknowledge our major sponsors, the Community Bank Daylesford and District and Hepburn Shire Council as well as our many advertisers for the financial support that keeps our volunteer organisation viable.
We always welcome new contributors and volunteers. In particular, we are still searching for a new Editor for The Wombat Post and would welcome expressions of interest from community members.
Finally, we wish our readers, contributors, volunteers and sponsors the very best for a happy and successful 2026.
