The Festival is being held on another part of the farm, about two
fields over (1 km) from where it has been held in the past. The
first thing we will say is that the new site is better than the
old site. Like many Meredith-goers, we have a lot of love for the
old site - it is a very special place and holds many memories for
us; however we are simply not permitted to hold the festival there
any more. The reason for this is that last year's site is on a paddock
leased by the farm from the Department of Natural Resources and
Environment (DNRE); in other words, it's Crown Land. The DNRE are
bound by zoning laws that clearly state the land is not meant to
have a festival or any other sort of development on it and have
told us we can never have it there again. The land next door is
owned wholly by the farmer and therefore we are able to have the
festival there. Jack Nolan is that farmer, he is the man who Found
the old site, and he is the one who has found the new one. It is
literally just down the road, so it"s still the Meredith Music
Festival, you still get there exactly the same way, and it will
still be an amazing event.
The new site is more spectacular, more beautiful, has better camping
grounds and better stage and crowd area, including an awesome natural
amphitheatre. It has a few things the old site did not - for one,
incredible views of the sunsets from the amphitheatre, and magnificent
panoramic views for miles and miles and miles from the top of the
amphitheatre. It will not be crowded there; everyone can camp and
watch the acts perform in comfort. We are also able to build permanent
facilities on the new site -e.g. decent roads using local gravel,
a permanent stage etc. - so everyone will get in quicker - there
will be shorter queues and more space for everyone.
So, to cut a long story short, it will still be the Meredith Music
Festival, it will still be great, it will retain all the essential
ingredients that Meredith is infamous for, and it will be better.
We have no intentions of diluting the character and reputation of
Meredith which have been intact for 12 years.
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THINGS THE SAME ABOUT THE NEW SITE
- It"s on the same farm in Meredith.
- Same group of people running the event.
- Same great stage and viewing area set-up; a big stage, tent-shaped
roof, bowl-shaped amphitheatre with lots of large trees providing
shelter and shade close to camping grounds, food, toilets, bars,
and other facilities.
- It"s a beautiful spot; big old trees, a dam or two, creeks,
rolling hills; just beautiful.
- We will have Meredith's own cocktail lounge The
Pink Flamingo Bar .
- Same value for money.
THINGS BETTER ABOUT THE
NEW SITE
- More room. More space in the amphitheatre, more space in the
camping grounds.
- Less queues to get in, less queues for food, toilets etc. etc.
- Sunset can be seen from the amphitheatre.
- You can camp further away from the action if you choose. You
can camp further away from the next tent if you choose.
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CAMPING GROUNDS
There are three fairly distinct camping grounds:
The Bush.
The Bush 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. 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 grounds closest to the action; closest
to the amphitheatre and stage, closest to the food area, toilets,
Pink Flamingo and the Meredith eye (a 60 ft Ferris Wheel with twenty
mile views). The Top Paddock is also the largest camping ground
on the new site; it is a massive green field with gentle dips and
hills; a few rock piles, trees, ring roads 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).
Pine Tree Corner.
Pine Tree Corner is, funnily enough, a corner of the Top Paddock
that is walled by two perpendicular rows of Pine Trees which form
a giant "L". This corner is slightly lower than most of
the Top Paddock, and considering two of it's edges are protected
by thick, tall rows of Pine trees, it"s sheltered, still campsites
will be much sought after. These campsites are the furthest away
from the action and it should be pretty quiet and peaceful there,
depending on which direction the wind is blowing. The other aspect
of Pine Tree Corner that many will find appealing is the views.
From the other side of the trees, you sit high on the banks of the
Leigh River, with wonderful views down into the snaking waters with
the occasional sandy beach. Across the river there is a huge pine
plantation, and in the near distance you can see a disused gold
mine. It's a great spot, and those Meredith-goers who liked sitting
in a quiet filed watching the sunset are in for a total treat; Pine
Tree Corner has views of the evening sky that far exceed any from
the old site.
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