Sharp’s country baking excellence and their recent win in Australia’s Best Vanilla Slice competition is proving a winning recipe for Birchip’s tourism economy, with recent visitors arriving by rail, road and even by air to sample the town’s famous treat.
During the week, passengers aboard the Vinelander Slow Rail Journey made a special stop in Birchip as part of their six-day heritage tour from Melbourne to Mildura and back. The travellers were greeted with a special delivery of 160 freshly baked Sharp’s Bakery vanilla slices, a delicious highlight on their leisurely regional adventure.
The Vinelander experience, operated by Slow Rail Journeys and 707 Operations, has proven a sell-out success, offering passengers the chance to explore Victoria’s countryside at a relaxed pace.
Six days
The six-day itinerary winds through the Goldfields, the Mallee and Sunraysia, featuring scenic rail travel, regional accommodation and off-train experiences such as the Mungo National Park tour and Murray River cruises. Birchip’s inclusion as a refreshment stopover was a highlight for the guests, with many passengers promising to return for a longer visit.
Flying visit
Adding to the flurry of activity, the Bacchus Marsh Aero Club made a flying visit to Birchip over the weekend, landing at the local airstrip before heading straight to Sharp’s Bakery to sample the town’s famed slices.
Club members enjoyed morning tea and country hospitality before departing with boxes of vanilla slices packed carefully for fellow members waiting back home.
The Sharp family are always eager to serve visitors from all over the state, and as Birchip’s reputation as the home of Australia’s most celebrated vanilla slice continues to grow, they are delighted to be contributing to the growth of the local economy, whether their guests arrive on a vintage train or in a small plane.
As more visitors seek authentic regional experiences, Birchip’s street art, local businesses, shady family-friendly park with its newly installed play equipment and water feature, scenic Tchum Lake, and Sharp’s award-winning vanilla slice are making the town a must-stop destination in the heart of the Mallee.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 10 October 2025.
