Waratah Weddings

• 1875 St Thomas Chapel
• Original Timber Pews
• Banquet Hall
• Raked Timber Ceiling
• Fountain Courtyard
• Walled Gardens
• Brick Ceremony Archway
• Festoon Lighting
• Wrought Iron Entrance Gate
• Licensed Venue
• All Weather Venue
• Generator Backup Power
• Large Parking
• 50 White Chairs And Tables Included
• Wine Barrels For Hire
• Self Catering Permitted
• External Caterers Permitted
• Bar Service With Glassware And Ice
• Recommended Caterer Menus Published
• Accommodation Opposite
• Photo Opportunity Areas
• Fifteen Minutes From Bendigo

• chapel
• garden
• lawn
• courtyard
• outdoor
• indoor

No details available.

• Huntly – The township the venue sits in
• Bendigo – Fifteen minutes south
• Bendigo Botanic Gardens – At White Hills, between Huntly and the city
• Sacred Heart Cathedral – Bendigo's landmark church
• Rosalind Park – Bendigo's central park and lookout
• Epsom – Neighbouring suburb on the Midland Highway
• Greater Bendigo National Park – Box-ironbark forest around the city

• Red Waratah Accommodation – directly opposite the venue, booked separately

• Venue hire is published: 'Venue Hire. Full Hire: $4,500 (+GST). Deposits are non-refundable. For wedding and reception - includes 50 white wedding chairs and tables, either round or rectangle. 6 wine barrels are also available for hire for drinks or a stand for your wedding cake at $30.00 per barrel.' The page ends 'All prices are subject to change without notice.'
• Drinks are priced both ways, which is unusual and useful: 'Drinks Package. We provide: $60 (incl. GST) per head for champagne, wine, beer, soft drinks (includes glasses, ice and full service). You provide: $1,500 (+GST). Includes glasses, ice and full service. Any number above 75 people is $20 per person extra.' So a couple supplying their own alcohol pays a flat $1,500 for glassware, ice and bar service rather than a per-head rate - and the $20 step above 75 guests applies to the package.
• Catering is external, with a penalty for going outside the list: "If you are having food trucks or caterers other than Waratah's there is a fee of $1000." Two caterers are recommended, Two Sisters Catering of Bendigo and Debbie Gill of Food, Function and Fun, and their menus are hosted by the venue.
• Both caterers price on a minimum of 70 guests ('Price based on minimum of 70 Guests'), and Debbie Gill's menus add 'Our Wait Staff are available for $38 +GST per hr, per staff member' plus platters at '$350 + GST per platter (serves 25-30 guests)' for cold seafood and '$220 +GST each (serves 30-35 guests)' for cheese. Her menus carry the caveat 'Please use menus as a guide, items subject to change due to seasonal availability & price fluctuation.'
• Accommodation is opposite, not on site, and is a separate booking: 'Waratah Weddings is pleased to announce accommodation is now available which is directly opposite the wedding venue. To book Red Waratah Accommodation please head to www.redwaratahaccommodation.com'. No room rate appears on the Waratah site.
• The venue publishes a recommended supplier list but is explicit that catering is the only area with a fee attached to going elsewhere. Named vendors are Whites & Woods, Daisy and Pine, Sophie O'Keefe Photography and Justin & Jim Photographers. Inspections are 'obligation free ... by appointment'.
• The venue is also a general function centre: 'Waratah Wedding & Function Venue is also available for all events including: birthday functions, engagement parties, baby showers, corporate functions and funerals.' Worth knowing if exclusivity matters.

• From $68 p/head