A new offering by The Houses Daylesford, bringing together a curated collection of creative and wellness experiences. With retreats spanning art, writing, floristry, sourdough and more, each gathering is designed to inspire, reconnect, and open space for learning and discovery.
Crafted for guests seeking meaningful, immersive experiences in the heart of Daylesford.
A Landscape Painting Weekend with Lana Daubermann
Exclusive access · Private Estate · En plein air · A restorative & creative escape
Amongst sweeping lawns, century-old gardens, and towering specimen trees lies Wombat Park Estate — one of Daylesford’s most remarkable and rarely accessible private properties. For two soul-nourishing days, this exquisite estate becomes your creative retreat as you dive into landscape painting with artist Lana Daubermann.
Your accommodation at Lewellyn House places you in the heart of Daylesford, directly opposite the Convent Gallery and in walking distance to shops and cafes. Lewelleyn House is a beautifully restored historic home, each guestroom with its own ensuite, and the house itself is warm, elegant, and curated for creativity. It is the perfect sanctuary to return to after your days outdoor painting.
This retreat is designed to give you time to paint, wander, reflect, and settle into your own artistic rhythm. Whether you are seeking to deepen your practice or reignite your creative spark, this weekend in the central highlands offers the perfect blend of structured guidance and unhurried exploration.
Wombat Park Estate is a living artwork. Gentle lawns roll into shadowed groves; sculptural tree lines give way to long vistas and dappled pathways; the garden’s architecture shifts throughout the day as the sun travels overhead. The mood is of soft light, peaceful glades and the sense of being cocooned by nature and history.
What to expect;
This retreat best suits oil or acrylic painters. Confidence is not required… only curiosity.
DAY 1 FRIDAY 6 FEBRUARY
Arrival · Welcome Aperitivo & Wombat Park Estate Garden Tour
3:00pm —Arrive at Lewellyn House , settle into your room, and meet your fellow artists.
4:00pm-5:00pm —In the early evening, we’ll make our way to Wombat Park Estate for a welcome aperitivo beneath the Grand Arbour, overlooking the sweeping North Lawn.
5:00pm-6:00pm—A guided walk through the estate introduces you to the trees, textures, and spaces you’ll be painting over the next two days — heritage gardens framed by soft summer light.
6:30pm—Two course Dinner at Farmers Arms Hotel
DAY 2 SATURDAY 7 FEBRUARY
First Painting Day · Simplifying the Landscape – Exploring Tone & Form
7:30–8:30am — Breakfast at Lewellyn House
9:00am — Morning talk and warm-up sketches at Wombat Park
10:00am — en plein air painting session: exploring the morning light
12:30pm — Lunch in the gardens
1:30–4:00pm — Afternoon painting session (choose a new viewpoint or continue your morning work)
4:00–5:00pm — Aperitivo and work review
5:00pm—Two course Dinner at Farmers Arms Hotel
DAY 3 SUNDAY 8 FEBRUARY
Compositional Depth · Garden Architecture
7:30–8:30am — Breakfast at Lewellyn House
9:00am — Demonstration: simplifying complex garden forms
10:00am — Painting using different approaches
12:30pm — Lunch in the gardens
1:30–4:00pm — Painting
4:00–5:00pm — Glass of bubbles and work review
Evening — Farewell and travel home
