2025 Pyney’s 🥧 Reviews
Review No 49
Blumes Historic Bakehouse
(Harcourt VIC)
My time exploring the Maldon and surrounds had almost come to a end. This whole area is sensational and has so much to see and explore and I thought I had visited every 🥧 joint in the area. I was down the pub having a quiet beer and a local told me I had to visit a bakery located at Harcourt.
Harcourt is a town in the Central Highlands of the state of Victoria. It is about 8 kilometres north-east of Castlemaine and its star attraction is the recently re-opened Blumes Historic Bakery.
The bakery dates back to 1862, when gold-seekers and settlers filled the region, and a small bakery, Millar’s Bakery, was established in nearby Barkers Creek to feed the bustling community. It was here that Ernest Blume completed his apprenticeship and, in partnership with Albert Williams, purchased the bakery in 1911.
The bakery was closed for over 51 years (1967-2018) before current owners Jodie and Dave bought this bakery back to life. Then a thing called COVID put a huge dent into their business plans and once again the bakery closed. After extensive renovations and 12 months to restore the scotch fired oven the bakery reopened in February 2025.
Apart from the absolutely stunning food, the scotch fire oven for me is the main attraction. This oven
is more than just a piece of equipment, it’s a portal to a time when baking was an art, not an industry.
The bakery is only open Saturdays between 9.30am and 2pm. This place can best be described as an experience not a bakery. The renovated building and surrounds are absolutely stunning and to top it off once inside the assortment of food on display I’m is mesmerizing.
At the time of my visit, there was only one flavour on the menu and that was the plain grass fed beef 🥧. Since then, they’ve added a few more exciting new flavours to the menu board. I couldn’t wait to taste this one as this recipe had been in the family for many many years.
🥧 THE REVIEW 🥧
1. Value for Money – Yes $12.50 is 100% up there and near the top of the list for 🥧’s I’ve reviewed. This 🥧 was a decent size in depth and diameter and at that price you would want it to be. Sound value. 6/10
2. Meat/Fill Ratio – About 95% full. There was a small air pocket just under the lid, but apart from that it was fill pretty much to the top. 9.5/10
3. Flavour – The flavour in this 🥧 was really good. Slow cooked local grass fed beef, with a beautiful gravy sauce. This is a family recipe takes dates to Jodie‘s grandmother probably further. It’s really quite simple but it works and it tasted absolutely fantastic. As far as plain meat 🥧’s go this flavour was right up there. 9/10
4. Pastry – The color was incredibly golden and had a nice flaky texture. The shape was good and the stability was perfect. The top bake had great lamination but was a smidge underbaked. The bottom bake was too thick and needed more time in the oven. Like most cases this could’ve been a once off, but I needed to score it as I saw it. Despite being underbaked in patches the pastry did taste really nice. A few things to work on and nothing that cannot be tweaked or fixed. 6.5/10
5. Serving Temperature – Perfect serving temp. No issies at all. 10/10
Overall Rating
🥧🥧 41/50 🥧🥧
This was a really nice 🥧 and a great experience. The flavour in this plain 🥧 was the standout for me and whatever is in this secret recipe please don’t change it, as it works a treat. Yes the pastry needed a few things tweaked with the bake but that’s a easy fix. The $12.50 price tag won’t be everyone’s cup of tea and that’s ok. As mentioned a few times, this place is only open one day a week and it’s an experience and sometimes you pay for that experience. For me personally, I’m so glad I came to this bakery, and I wouldn’t hesitate recommending it to anyone. Great job team.
A massive thanks to Jodie, Dave, Sonia and the rest of the team for having me in and showing me around this gorgeous bakery. As I said earlier, this place is an experience and one everyone should experience at least once. I was extremely lucky to see this scotch fire oven in full flight. The money, time, effort and love Dave and Jodie I have put into this place is absolutely incredible. These guys deserve every success that comes their way. They have well and truly bought this 114 year old bakery back to life and the locals and tourists should be so grateful. All the best guys it was a pleasure meeting you and a real pleasure sharing your 🥧 journey with my followers.
As always thanks for the ongoing support and keep supporting 🇦🇺 bakeries and don’t forget to invite all your friends to the page.
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