Family’s legacy food, wine and art hub to open
The family behind Oakdene Wines has transformed 24-ha into an exclusive new food and art precinct, complete with an un-frog-gettable twist.
A new food, wine and arts precinct is set to open just a hop, step and leap from central Geelong, following almost a decade of development.
A second home for Oakdene, and a new destination in its own right, Quiddity Place will open its doors on November 19, offering a restaurant, cellar door, two accommodation houses and two gallery spaces – though it’s the frogs that are already stealing the spotlight.
The quirky amphibians aren’t real, of course, but appear tucked, carved and painted throughout the 24-ha property in Wallington and Mannerim.
Some are hidden in plain sight, while others demand a double-take, forming a playful thread from the vineyards to the restaurant, Hidden Frog.
The precinct’s origins date back more than two decades, when the Hooley family transformed a rural property into Oakdene.
Since 2021, Oakdene has grown into one of the Bellarine’s most distinctive wine destinations. The project that became Quiddity Place began in 2016 as an expansion of Oakdene’s vineyards before evolving into a broader visitor precinct, general manager Peta Davis said.
“Quiddity Place has been a labour of love for our family,” Ms Davis said.
“It began as the new Oakdene vineyards, but the dream quickly grew.
“My parents have spent almost forty years collecting art, and we wanted to create a gallery to share that collection.
“Now in their 80s, they see Quiddity Place as their legacy.”
At the heart of the precinct is Hidden Frog, led by award-winning chef Dwayne Bourke.
The menu will draw heavily on local produce, and the Oakdene Wines cellar door will showcase tastings from grapes grown on both the Wallington and Mannerim properties.
The precinct will also include Tin Liz Gallery, exhibiting more than 100 works from the Hooley family’s private collection of Indigenous Australian art.
The collection features artists such as Rover Thomas, Barbara Weir and Gloria Petyarre. A smaller space, Little Tin Gallery, will provide room for local artists to exhibit and run workshops.
Quiddity Place is located at 27 Banks Road, Mannerim.
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Originally published as Family’s legacy food, wine and art hub to open
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