HOTEL . RESTAURANT . SPA

Allan Wolf-Tasker

– A bit of history

Driving into Lake House it’s hard to imagine the resilience, energy and stubborn determination that was needed three decades ago, to undertake the building of a destination restaurant in rural Australia – especially on a gorse infested paddock in a down at heel and largely forgotten little town.

“Two youngsters with barely a bob between us and not being able to take no for an answer” is how Alla portrays her and husband co-owner Allan Wolf-Tasker, as they launched into their dream project that everyone told them was doomed to fail.

FROM THE GROUND UP

Alla Wolf-Tasker

The successful development of Lake House and the resurrection of Daylesford, the village that the Wolf-Taskers put on the global culinary map, has been the subject of many magazine articles, documentaries and also Alla’s book “Lake House – A Culinary Journey in Country Australia.”

Nowadays Allan frequently entertains long term guests with a tale or two over a glass of something in his studio, surrounded by whatever canvases he has on the go. An artist in great demand, his works hang in public and

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private collections all over the world. Allan also oversees development of the many new Lake House projects.

Alla remains in the thick of things, the driving force behind the house on the lake, shaping successive generations of Lake House teams with her own uncompromising ideal of hospitality and excellence in service. She still oversees the food, unwavering in her philosophy of seasonal and wherever possible – local. A mantra for many nowadays, a firm philosophy always for the kitchens at Lake House.

She is happiest these days in gumboots in a paddock with local growers or overseeing sausage making by a specialty supplier. As a food activist over issues close to her heart, she’s also a happy haranguer of politicians and bureaucrats. Alla’s efforts on behalf of the industry she loves earned her an AM in 2007.

Over the years Lake House has prospered and reinvented itself. Scarcely a year goes by without some enhancement or change. And according to Alla “It remains always, a work in progress.”

– A hotel with heart and soulFULL OF ART AND LIFE

In an increasingly hurried and impersonal world, Lake House provides an easily accessible haven of tranquillity. It nestles on the shores of Lake Daylesford – a mere 80mins from Melbourne, the cultural, style and shopping capital of Australia, and just over an hour from Melbourne airport.

The 35 rooms and suites furnished in a sophisticated country style, sit amongst 6 acres of gardens and either overlook Lake Daylesford or cluster around a series of courtyards and terraces. The stylish Retreat at Lake House, a private country house within the grounds, offers

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“A real sense of place”, “Caring service in a world where it is an ever diminishing commodity” and “An unexpected bit of magic – what a find” is how some of the guest book comments attempt to define it.

Somehow, the art one comes upon in quiet garden nooks on pergolas and on bridges, the sound of water in the spring fed fern filled gully, the honeyed scent of daphne and jasmine on a warm night, the inquisitive Lake House geese, the inlet that often turns to molten gold as the sun slips over the horizon, the cashmere wraps offered on

the lake terraces at sunset drinks, the fabulously plush cushions on the daybeds, the kookaburras flying in to be fed, the carefully conceived menus and wine list and above all the passionate and caring attention of the team of young professionals – all conspire to draw one away from the burdens of one’s everyday world, to return here time and time again.

Australia’s Best Regional Hotel, The Gourmet Traveller Hotel Guide

added seclusion and elegant country living with unique furnishings and works from the Wolf-Tasker Family’s private art collection. A full size tennis court, the airy multi-level Salus Spa of ten treatment rooms, lake paths meandering past mineral springs into the forest and the walking distance proximity of the charming village itself, provide for a myriad of diversions and activities.

At Lake House all the expected accoutrements for a relaxed and indulgent stay are provided, but there’s an additional indefinable, seductive quality to the place.

lakehouse.com.au

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– Food and WineWORTHY OF A JOURNEY

As a young woman in the seventies, with recent experiences at the great Country restaurants of France under her belt, Alla was determined to create a destination restaurant in rural Australia. A folly indeed at the time. Now 3 decades later the restaurant has won virtually every National Restaurant award and a few international ones as well. The accolades continue, but there’s no resting on laurels.

A team passionate about hospitality delivers beautiful cutting edge, seasonal food matched with an internationally

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acclaimed wine list. And Alla’s dream of a raft of excellent small scale local suppliers has finally come about – due in no small part to her own efforts. Several excellent organic farms are now located within minutes of Lake House. Produce is often hand picked for a morning delivery. Local lamb, rare breed pork, grass fed beef, fresh water fish, sheep and goat’s milk cheeses, heirloom fruit from old orchards and windfalls from local gardens arrive at the kitchen, which since the early eighties, has fostered an open door policy, mentoring and supporting small sustainable

producers and growers and developing a local food culture amongst fellow restaurateurs, chefs and residents.

Regular guests will tell you of their favourite season and of memorable dishes. Perhaps the butter poached pheasant with chestnuts and farro in autumn, the spring lamb with asparagus and wild morels. The duck with orange braised witlof; the golden roasted free range chicken of summer with corn and yabbies, or the truffled pecorino tart with artichokes Barigoule. Eel, Murray Cod and trout; rabbit and hare, speak of local waterways and fields.

Wild damsons, Winter Nealis pears, quinces and yellow crab apples feature in fabulous desserts and, in time honoured country fashion, are also made into delicious preserves for enhancing leaner seasons. Each seasonal menu takes you on a trip down country lanes, through the orchards and across the farm paddocks of the region.

2 Chefs Hats, The Age Good Food Guide Australia’s Wine List of the Year, The Gourmet Traveller Wine List Awards Hot 50, The Weekend Australian

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– A memorable spa experience

Guests at Lake House are generally a savvy lot of travellers. With their spa experiences they’re looking for the best. The award winning, multi levelled Salus Spa at Lake House regularly hums with contentment and many pleasurable sighs – the ten treatment areas providing hot mineral baths overlooking the lagoon, deep tissue massage, scrubs, polishes and wraps of every possible variety and signature Elemis facials that really work.

Frequently seen floating back to their rooms, or relaxing on the terrace daybeds white robed and positively glowing, guests bliss the day away in one of Australia’s prettiest locations – all balm for the soul – not to mention the body.

Lake House also offers bespoke wellness programs of several days duration incorporating delicious Spa Cuisine, Salus Spa treatments and a personal activity program.

The Salus Spa at Lake House is, subject to availability, also available for non-residential guests.

BLISSFUL RELAXATION

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– Chef Masterclasses, demonstrations, hands on & specialty workshops…

Interact with likeminded foodies and learn from some of Australia’s best & most interesting chefs, producers, growers & winemakers plus get hands on tuition in contemporary cooking techniques from senior chefs of the award winning Lake House kitchen team.

Classes are held in the purpose built Cooking School kitchen at Lake House.

New classes are being added all the time so visit the website regularly to see what’s on and make sure you’re on the mailing list.

THE COOKING SCHOOL

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The Lake House reputation for excellence translates seamlessly into perfectly orchestrated and managed meetings, executive retreats and special celebrations.

Parties, weddings and celebrationsWe love a party. From the romance of candles and roses for formal occasions, shared banquet tables groaning with seasonal produce, glamorously styled foreshore events or casual occasions around our wood fired oven, we individually tailor make your celebration. Lake House offers many locations, small or large, in the gardens on the lake foreshore, the cellar room, the restaurant and the Terrace Room for your special event.

Meetings, retreats, incentivesSome of Australia’s top companies choose Lake House for their executive retreats, think tanks and conferences. A state of the art event centre provides excellent facilities and a wonderful working environment. The Lake House location offers perfect team building opportunities both on site and nearby.

The Lake House incentive program of unique experiences is a fitting reward for best practise performers.

COMING TOGETHER

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– Activities at your fingertipsLOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Lake House offers an undeniable sense of getting away. Pristine landscapes, nature based activities, great food and wine, an interesting village and local community provide depth and colour for an already enticing experience. The local area boasts the largest number of naturally occurring mineral springs in Australia and since the time of the Aboriginals has been known as a centre for healing. Over the years it has attracted some of the world’s best holistic practitioners as residents. Writers, artists and musicians have also been sufficiently inspired to live and

work here. A growing critical mass of some of Australia’s best artisan food producers, growers and vignerons also call the area home.

The immediacy of the Wombat Forest offers much opportunity for sightings of native fauna. Particularly rich with birdlife, the grounds of Lake House and surrounds play host to kookaburras, gang gangs, corellas and cockatoos.

Put yourself in our hands and let us do the rest.

MELBOURNE

BENDIGO

BALLARAT

GEELONG/ GREAT OCEAN ROAD

97 MINUTES

AIRPORT

WOODEND

KYNETON

DAYLESFORD

80 MINUTES

1 HOUR

TRENTHAM

ADELAIDE8 HOURS

SYDNEY11 HOURS

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Gold List – Conde Nast Traveller

One of the 101 Best Hotels in the World – Tatler (UK)

Australia’s Best Regional Hotel – Gourmet Traveller Hotel Guide

Hot 50 – The Weekend Australian

Two Chef ’s Hats – The Age Good Food Guide

Victoria’s Best Wine List – Gourmet Traveller Wine Awards

Australia’s Wine List of the Year – Gourmet Traveller Wine Awards

The Best of Award for Excellence – New York Wine Spectator Wine Awards

LakeHouseDaylesford

LakeHouseDF

lakehousedaylesford

King St, Daylesford VIC 3460 Australia

T +61 3 5348 3329

E info@lakehouse.com.au

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HOTEL . RESTAURANT . SPA Over 30 years of creating memories