Hepburn Walking Tour: Swiss and Italian heritage at 5pm Fridays

Heritage buildings and early settler stories in a village built by Swiss and Italian immigrants

Cammino di Hepburn is a guided walking tour of Hepburn Springs exploring Swiss and Italian heritage, culture and history through the village's architecture and sites. The tour departs at 5pm each Friday from Luccini's Old Macaroni Factory, runs about an hour, and includes access to heritage-listed buildings when available. A portion of ticket proceeds supports the Swiss Italian Fiesta.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hepburn Swiss and Italian walking tour

• Start at Luccini's Old Macaroni Factory
• Explore Old Macaroni Factory murals
• Visit first guest house, Edwardian Hotel
• See Clara and Victor Zelman cottage
• Tour Peppers Mineral Springs Hotel
• View Villa Parma Italianate masterpiece
• Finish at local watering hole

The experience

The walk starts at Luccini's Old Macaroni Factory, an 1850s Italianate building opposite the Savoia Hotel on Main Road, where you'll hear how Swiss and Italian settlers shaped this village. You'll see the oldest commercial Italian building in Australia, still bearing murals painted by the Luccini brothers in the 1850s, then move through the restored Edwardian hotel that replaced the original guest house, a 1930s cottage connected to the founder of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and the art deco Peppers Mineral Springs Hotel. The route ends at Villa Parma, an 1864 Italianate masterpiece modeled on Italian Renaissance palazzi style.

The guide walks you through pre-colonial and First Nations history alongside the European settlement story, pointing out the churches, schools, guest houses and their artwork that shaped the village's character. You'll get access to buildings that are not normally open to the public. The tour wraps at a local bar where you can order drinks at regular prices if you want to stay on.

What’s included

• Guided walk with a live English-speaking guide.
• access to heritage-listed buildings when available.
• all fees and taxes.
• $4 from each ticket sold goes to support the Swiss Italian Fiesta.

Before you book

Days and timesFridayDeparts at 17:00Last departure this season: 18 Dec

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 95 years) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (7 to 9 years) · Infant (under 7)

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Alice's Journeys Walking Tours of Daylesford

Is this one for you?The walk is steady paced over about an hour on village streets, so it suits anyone with moderate fitness who can manage a casual stroll through town. Friday evenings work well if you're staying in or near Hepburn Springs and want to end the day with a local story before heading to the bar.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years); Child (7 to 9 years); Infant (under 7).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Luccini's Old Macaroni Factory and why does the tour start there?

Luccini's Old Macaroni Factory is a heritage-listed Italianate building from the 1850s, the oldest commercial Italian building in Australia, and the meeting point for the tour. It sits opposite the Savoia Hotel at 64 Main Road Hepburn Springs and features original murals painted by the Luccini brothers, making it the natural starting point for exploring the village's Swiss and Italian heritage.

Can I visit the heritage buildings on this tour even if they're normally closed?

Yes. The tour includes access to heritage-listed buildings when available, giving you entry to sites that are not usually open to the public, such as Villa Parma and the restored Edwardian hotel.

What time does the tour run and how often?

The tour departs at 5pm every Friday, starting from Luccini's Old Macaroni Factory. The walk takes about an hour.

Will the guide talk about First Nations history as well as European settlement?

Yes. The guide covers both the pre-colonial period and First Nations culture and history of the location, alongside the stories of Swiss and Italian settlers and the architectural heritage they left behind.