Museum opens with festival of food

On Saturday 7th April 2018 Orange Regional Museum will open ‘Paddock to Plate: a history of food and wine in Orange and district’.

This major new exhibition celebrates the history of food and wine in the Orange region, revealing how growing, processing, distribution and consumption of food has changed over time.

It’s been a year in the making and it has taken 9 weeks to install but Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said the exhibition was well worth the wait.

“This exhibition has been put together by consultant curator Sandra McEwen who has over 30 years’ experience working with Sydney’s Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, popularly known as the Powerhouse Museum,” Cr Kidd said.

“Paddock to Plate: A History of food and wine in Orange and district has over 300 objects from the past to the present showing how the region’s food production has changed.

“It’s full of interactive, digital displays and it comes with a full-scale children’s education program where students can get hands-on experience with many of the tools from days gone by.”

Orange City Council’s Services Policy Committee Chair Cr Kevin Duffy said the public opening day coincided with the region’s FOOD Week and the popular daily FOOD HQ would be held within the museum.

“It’s fitting that locals and tourists alike will come into the museum to sample the products from FOOD Week while being surrounded by the region’s food history.

“The exhibition will start with Mount Canobolas, an ancient volcano, which created the soils and climate that attracted Indigenous people, then others from across the world.

“Through over 300 historic objects and photographs, ‘Paddock to Plate: a history of food and wine in Orange and district’ will take audiences on an adventure of exceptional flavours and share the stories of the innovative people that created them.”

The exhibition will open from 9am and visitors can sign on for a guided tour with Ms McEwen on the day.

A producers markets is on from 9am to 1pm in the south court while kids’ lemonade making workshops are on from 10am to 1pm.

On Sunday April 8, families are invited for apron decorating workshops from 9.30am to 11am.

FOOD HQ will begin at 11am followed by choir performances 12.30pm to 1pm.