Denman: History, Wine and Art

Denman brings together local history, wine, art and river landscapes. The Denman and District Heritage Village showcases unusual historical objects; Two Rivers Wines combines wine tasting with regional food and sandstone sculptures. Small Forest Wines adds another artistic touch with its gallery. The town offers several distinct themes to shape your trip around.

The Denman and District Heritage Village

The Denman and District Heritage Village presents an extensive and unique collection of objects and artefacts. A large part of it was donated by local resident Jeff Wolfgang. Notable exhibits include a shearing machine said to be Australia’s first, an exhibit said to be Australia’s oldest internal combustion engine, and a very rare children’s penny-farthing. The contrast between the large machine, the engine and the unusual bicycle brings the history of technology to life through tangible objects.

Volunteer staff can guide you through the exhibitions and demonstrate working exhibits. A guided tour can place the individual pieces in context as part of a walk through the collection; seeing a working exhibit demonstrated also offers a glimpse of how it was used. For travellers interested in technological developments and unusual everyday objects, the Heritage Village is a distinct focus in Denman.

Wine, rivers and sandstone art

At Two Rivers Wines, landscape and enjoyment go hand in hand: the cellar door offers sweeping views across the vineyards. Visitors can taste estate-grown wines there with local cheese and antipasti from the Upper Hunter. The vineyard lies on the banks of the Hunter River and the Goulburn River. This makes the tasting experience part of a distinctive river landscape that helps shape the character of the winery.

Art is also part of Two Rivers. International artist Ben Dearnley created the sandstone sculptures “Custodians of the Landscape” on site in winter 2015. Eight sculptures are located around the cellar door and the entrance to the vineyard. Their setting connects the artworks with the vineyard and cellar door; their date also gives them a clear historical context.

A changing artistic perspective

Small Forest Wines offers a different touch. Its cellar door serves as an art gallery, where the exhibiting artist changes every three months. The winery is located on the Merton vineyard and offers views across the town of Denman. The two wineries therefore present contrasting connections with art: a group of sandstone sculptures created on site in 2015, and a gallery featuring regularly changing artists.

If you’re travelling with a range of interests, this contrast can help with your planning: one art form is rooted in the setting around the cellar door and vineyard as a sculptural ensemble, while the other is shaped by the changing artists on display. In Denman, wine can be paired not only with tastings but also with two different artistic approaches.

Putting Denman in context for your trip

The Heritage Village and the wineries offer different ways to shape your stay: historical exhibits and possible demonstrations on one hand, wine, river landscapes and art on the other. If you’re looking for a hotel in Denman, you can first consider which of these sides of the town interests you most. This gives your trip planning a specific focus without blending the different visitor experiences together.

Discover more destinations: Whian Whian, Ryde, Ulmarra, Jeremadra, Joadja, Vincentia, Sandy Hollow, Millthorpe.

For the broader travel overview: New South Wales.