Hello from Bello+Beyond…
Big month. Big week. Big Letter… Yes, big things are happening in the Shire, as is tradition: A week-old Bellingen apothecary already has people planning stopovers just to see it, Ann Rosewood shares forty years running Emporium Bellingen under one name and one roof, and the whole Shire - from the mountain to the sea - flings its studio doors wide open for the Arts Trail Weekend. Plenty to love and to read below…
This Week's Journal Stories
Folk Herbals: Bellingen's New Apothecary
A week into trading, Folk Herbals already has people planning Bellingen stopovers just to see it. Herbalist Rachel and her partner Elijah dispense tinctures, syrups and blends made upstairs from the counter they sell them at — and they're working on sourcing the herbs from right here in the Bellingen Shire.
Forty Years Under One Roof and One Name
Ann Rosewood’s surname is also the name of a local native rainforest timber — and, by sheer coincidence, that same timber was used in the original joinery of the heritage-listed building where she’s run Emporium Bellingen for almost forty years. She calls her decision to stay in Bellingen “unemployable.” Her word, delivered dry, no explanation offered. Find out why.
The Whole Shire Opens Its Doors to Art
Clear the weekend: the Bellingen Shire Arts Trail is back, 7–8 November, over 40 venues strong, from Urunga to Dorrigo. Buy a pastry at Peaches, then seek out Rudy Kistler's painting of it in Dorrigo. Chat to potters at the wheel, follow the maps, and see how far you get.
What's On
Is it really, nearly November already?! The Taranta Festival gets underway this weekend wandering musically into the new month, and from there the calendar barely lets up — here's a few suggestions worth adding to your calendar:
Bellingen Taranta Festival — 30 Oct–1 Nov, Bellingen Memorial Hall and venues around town.
Bellingen Shire Arts Trail Weekend — 7–8 November, 40+ venues shire-wide.
Permaculture Design Course — 8–15 November, Levenvale Farm.
Urunga Riverside Markets — 9 November, Morgo Street Reserve.
Dorrigo Show 2026 — 27–28 November, Dorrigo Showground.
Full Moon Dance II — 28–29 November, Thora Hall.
Freshly Added
The Dusty Traders opened its doors in Dorrigo last weekend — vintage curios, oddities and reworked finds under the banner "Dust Merchants... collectors of the old, the abstract and the discarded." Why not hit the dusty trail to The Dusty Traders this weekend?
Good to Know
A Chef Hat for Bruno's — the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide has awarded Bruno's a Chef Hat this year, proving Bellingen’s food scene is world class, even when it comes from a little weatherboard restaurant on Oak Street.
Five councils, one road trip campaign — Bellingen Shire has joined four neighbouring councils on "The Ways", a new regional tourism push built around five road trips, including Waterfall Way through the heart of our Shire.
Taranta Festival is on this weekend — don't forget: 30 October to 1 November, Bellingen Memorial Hall and venues around town.
One Last Thing
If you've been enjoying these letters, the easiest way to help is to forward this one to someone who'd get something out of it — word of mouth is still how something like this finds its feet. We've also gratefully secured two Founding Partners so far, with only three spots left; if that sounds like your business, get in touch.
Got something coming up you want the Shire to know about? Submit your event and we'll help spread the word. And if there's something we're missing, getting wrong, or could be doing better, we'd genuinely like to hear it — drop us a line any time at [email protected].
Thank you for reading. See you in the Shire…
Bello+Beyond