CRAIG’S Royal Hotel on Lydiard Street is used to having guests wearing the finest of natural fibres.
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But even that establishment hasn’t seen anything like the visitors who partook in high tea on Tuesday.
The rugged-up pair were alpacas Tin Tin and Merlin, and the special occasion was Australian Alpaca Week.
Fortunately, their manners were impeccable – no droppings at all on the floor as the two fine gentlemen are both car- and house-trained.
Tin Tin, with a very fluffy coat, is a huacaya alpaca. Merlin, sporting an outfit looking vaguely like dreadlocks but much softer, is a rarer suri alpaca.
Both were brought to Ballarat by Barbara Linley, owner of Ambleside Alpacas in Cressy.
“It’s a bit of fun but it was also to get a bit of attention,” Ms Linley said. “Jennifer McDougall, who does some work with Craig’s Royal Hotel, used to do some work with me as well, so there’s the connection.
“We’re highlighting these superb animals, and where better in Ballarat to do that?”
Australian Alpaca Week 2015 began on May 2 and will wind up on Sunday.
Alpacas are not related to sheep, being from the camel family. They are bred for wool and meat, although Ambleside concentrates on wool production.
Breeders are celebrating the silver anniversary of alpacas in Australia, although technically it is 25 years since the domestic species’ return to Australia after those introduced originally in the 1850s died out.
Tin Tin and Merlin didn’t seem fazed by the attention, nor with having to wait for Ms Linley and Amanda Hibbert to complete a nice warm cuppa. At least they weren’t cold.