Join Us for the 2025 ALG Conference and AGM in Beautiful McLaren Vale!
Download the 2025 McLaren Vale registration form
Download the Nomination Form 2025-2026 to nominate yourself or another member to join the ALG Committee
View the tutor profiles and workshops
We’re excited to invite you to the 2025 ALG Conference and AGM, a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow lace enthusiasts, learn new techniques, and enjoy the stunning surroundings of South Australia’s McLaren Vale. With a great mix of workshops, inspiring talks, and social events -including a fabulous tour as outlined below – you’ll come away refreshed and reinvigorated. Make sure to book your spot early and prepare for a week of creativity, camaraderie, and a touch of indulgence!
The conference will be held at the McLaren Vale Function Centre from 21st to 28th September 2025.
McLaren Vale is located about 33 kilometres south of Adelaide’s CBD, in the heart of the Southern Vales Winery area with lots of accommodation and places to visit. McLaren Vale is a tourist town and has a wide variety of different types of accommodation including at least 2 caravan parks, bed and breakfast places, apartments and even houses you can rent for the week. While I could list some of them here, most start at the similar prices of the rooms at the site and availability will vary greatly depending on when you book. The Visitor’s Centre which is just across the road from the function centre suggested looking online is the best place for people to find places to stay if they didn’t want to stay at the venue. You can also get light lunches and a glass of wine or coffee at the Visitor’s Centre or visit their art gallery with the exhibitions changing every month.
Nestled among world-famous vineyards and close to the Fleurieu Peninsula’s beautiful coastline and sandy beaches, the Function Centre offers a bright, modern space filled with natural light. Motel rooms are spacious, all featuring walk-in showers, a fridge, and a microwave – some even include full kitchens. Coffee and tea are provided in all rooms. Outside, enjoy a large patio between the function room and a heated swimming pool, complete with tables, chairs, and a barbecue area. There’s ample free parking.
See more about the facilities here: https://mclarenvalefunctioncentre.com.au/
The McLaren Vale Pub has recently been named ‘the Pub with the best Pub Meal in the state’. There are also various places to eat and two grocery stores and several take away food places which will deliver. There are wineries in town and chocolate manufacturers in the main street. South Australian members have volunteered to transport anyone who needs transportation to and from the airport and venue for a contribution to help cover fuel costs.
The Conference will be our usual week configuration from Sunday 21 to Sunday 28 of September. We will be running classes on the Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with a tour offered on the Wednesday and the AGM on Saturday with traders available.
We will offer a light welcome dinner on Sunday night for those who are around. We will have continuous coffee and tea available, lunch, morning and afternoon tea every day except Wednesday when we assume many will do the tour. Those who do not do the tour can avail themselves of the wonderful facilities of the complex and other local businesses.
There will be a Conference dinner on Saturday 27 September at the Conference Centre. For all other evening meals, during the week, there is a wide range of options available in McLaren Vale.
The classes we are offering include 4 and 2 day workshops. These classes are described in this magazine. It would be lovely to think we could run all of these classes but there is only realistically room for four classes. At the AGM last year it was decided that we should not run classes at a loss. If we get at least 8 students per class counting the two 2-day classes as one class we can have four of these classes. We will need those wishing to do classes to give at least a 1st and 2nd choice. The decision on which classes will run will be made by 21 July. Class allocations will be on a first come basis, to encourage early registration for the conference.
Social lace will also be available for members who do not wish to participate in a class but still want to enjoy the Conference atmosphere.
Wednesday Tour Cost $90
8:30 Departure Conference Centre
9:15 ALG SA Lace House
View lace display and Morning Tea
10:15 SA Embroiderer’s Guild
Talk including slide show of some of their needle lace and time in the gallery
12:15 St Augustine’s Church Unley
A short talk on the William Morris Stained Glass Windows and time to view the windows and Lunch
William Morris a designer, craftsman and decorator, is considered amongst the greatest pattern makers of all times. His highly skilled group produced superior stained glass.
St Augustine’s Unley 14 significant William Morris stained glass windows, of which 12 were made at the premises of Morris and Co, at the Merton Abbey Works, London. These windows were all donated between 1928 and 1948, many donations by founding colonists or their children. The stories in these windows depict these colonists’ endurance, commitment and passion, not only for life, but for their faith.
1:45 Carrick Hill Guided Tour at 2:00
Carrick Hill is fortunate to be one of the few period homes in Australia to survive with its original contents almost completely intact and its grounds undiminished.
Previously the private home of Sir Edward and Ursula Hayward, Carrick Hill is now for everyone to enjoy. Find out more about the estate’s unique history, its evolution from country home to national treasure, and its enduring importance today. Carrick Hill is a cultural and heritage icon, known for its historical significance. The heritage value of the site as a whole is a complex fabric of social history, family lore, land stewardship, a passion for horticulture, and a gift for doing business, all woven together. For more information: https://www.carrickhill.sa.gov.au/
4:00 Depart for the Conference Centre, arriving about 4:45
Contact the Conference Coordinator for further information.