News
-
Harcourt Rising comes to Castlemaine
Castlemaine’s Shedshaker Brewing is hosting a massive weekend of fundraisers for the Harcourt bushfire recovery over the weekend of February 20-22. Called Harcourt Rising, each event aims to support businesses and residents affected and bring some fun to the community. Starting on Friday February 20, the Taproom will be showcasing a range of Harcourt wineries…
-
Farming ‘unconference’ breaks new ground
Local farmers have turned to their community in a grassroots quest to position Macedon Ranges as a centre for excellence in regenerative agriculture and land stewardship. The organisers of GROW Festival went back to the drawing board to redesign the event for 2026, even after the bumper success of the first GROW in 2025. This…
-
Celebrating all Australians
In most parts of Australia, January 26 is a divisive day, one where the divide between fundamental beliefs is more pronounced than ever. In the shire of Mount Alexander, the community is able to celebrate the complexities of those two opposing ideologies side-by-side with the dual-named Australia Day Survival Day. Since 2018, the annual celebration…
-
Population fear in Riddells Creek
A Victorian Government-appointed advisory committee decision last year witnessed the Macedon Ranges Shire Council overruled once more, approving the Amess Road Precinct Structure Plan and creating the reality that Riddells Creek’s population will double in mere years to come. The fear of some is that this sets a precedent for other large blocks of land…
-
Will Kyneton be kept country?
A Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal decision that overruled Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s position on a Kyneton development will see an urban commercial precinct built on the outskirts of town. The first stage of works will soon begin on the development of a $100M service station and retail precinct at Edgecombe Road. Located 1km from…
-
Gisborne’s furore over development
A VCAT decision that overturned council’s refusal for a housing development in Gisborne, has seen nearby residents voice multiple complaints since construction work escalated in the past six months. Following proposed amendments in 2025, the Rosalia Estate is expected to provide 861 dwellings on about 85 hectares of land close to the town’s centre. But…
-
Government email confirms wildlife rescuer’s rights
Clarity surrounding the rights of wildlife rescuers has emerged since reports surfaced a week ago that many had been threatened by state government officials in fire-affected areas. Last week, the Express spoke with multiple rescuers attempting to assist burnt wildlife in the the Mount Alexander region. They all said they had been threatened by state…
-
It’s cup day at Hanging Rock
The annual Australia Day races at Hanging Rock are one of the major drawcard attractions in the district next Monday. Being a public holiday, thousands are expected to flock to The Rock for an enjoyable family day out. Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club is looking forward to the program, highlighted by the running of…
-
Logging truck tips and loses load
A logging truck with two trailers attached crashed and spilled its load at Woodend last Tuesday afternoon. The rear trailer was reportedly loose and caused the truck to tip on its side when it came to a bend on Woodend-Tylden Road at about 2.30pm. Ambulance Victoria assessed and released the driver from the scene and…
-
Rebuilding from the ashes
Taradale Fire Brigade has organised a GoFundMe appeal to assist four volunteers from the Harcourt CFA who lost their homes and a business in the Harcourt fires on January 9 while fighting fires and saving other people’s homes and businesses. One of the affected firefighters, Stephen Upton, and his wife Sam, lost the majority of…
-
Fire contained, recovery begins
The Fogartys Gap Road fire that impacted Ravenswood South, Walmer, Harcourt, Sutton Grange, Faraday and surrounds on January 9 was officially declared contained on Friday morning. CFA and Forest Fire Management crews have been working around the clock to build containment lines, back burn and black out the fire with the support of three aircraft.…
-
Fire sends shock waves through industries
Dozens of local small businesses and producers have been impacted by the Harcourt fire on January 9, which destroyed the Harcourt Cooperative Cool Stores, with the loss of stock and equipment estimated to be in the millions of dollars. Business Mount Alexander chair and Shedshaker Brewing co-owner Jacqueline Brodie-Hanns said the Harcourt fire had seriously…