Leisure
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Bringing 80s synth-pop back to Castlemaine
Celebrating the music of 80s Synth Pop, New Wave and New Romantic era, the Blitz Kids will perform at the Theatre Royal in Castlemaine on Friday, July 10. Before the charts… before the world caught on…there was The Blitz Club in London—the birthplace of a movement. A scene of style, rebellion, and sound that ignited…
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Len Fox Prize launches
Castlemaine Art Museum has announced that entries are now open for the 2026 Len Fox Painting Award. This a biennial acquisitive painting prize and is awarded to a living Australian artist to commemorate the life and work of Emanuel Phillips Fox (1865–1915), the uncle of Len Fox, partner of benefactor Mona Fox. The Len Fox…
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Take a walk on the wild side
Families across the Macedon Ranges are invited to rug up, get curious and come face-to-face with some of Australia’s most extraordinary wildlife these winter school holidays, as TV Zoologist Chris Humfrey and the Wild Action Team bring their unforgettable live wildlife workshops to Jubilee Hall, Macedon. Running from Tuesday July 7 to 10, with sessions…
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Let’s rock for a reason!
Two of Castlemaine’s community groups are joining together for the first time to present a fundraising event – Rock for a Reason. Castlemaine Safe Space (CaSS) is a non-clinical drop-in space for anyone in emotional distress or experiencing loneliness or suicidal thoughts. Community designed and led, and staffed by trained peer volunteers with lived experience,…
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Move Ya Body at Cdoc!
We are just two days out from the 2026 Castlemaine Documentary Festival June 26-28 at the Theatre Royal Castlemaine and tickets are selling fast. Saturday night will once again be a highlight with the screening of Move Ya Body – The Birth of House at 8pm, and a chance to try out some of those…
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Creative couple make mixed media show
Local Macedon Ranges creatives, Darcy Prendergast and Josie Mackerras, have long been tinkering away on a gentle kids show concept, but now that dream takes one step closer to our screens, securing production funding from both Screen Australia and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation. Pit Pats is a gentle mixed media show, combining the duo’s…
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Build yourself a banjo
Renowned luthier Nick Carpenter, founder of Wildwood Instruments, is introducing a brand-new Banjo Making Course, adding to the range of popular instrument-making workshops he has on offer. Based in the foothills of Mount Franklin, Wildwood Instruments is a boutique workshop dedicated to the craft of instrument making. Nick’s hands-on courses are designed to introduce people…
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Castlemaine Documentary Festival: Three top picks
It’s midwinter. The nights are long. So the Castlemaine Documentary Festival has filled them with films that nourish, challenge and bring us together. Running from Friday June 26 to Sunday June 28 at the Theatre Royal, this year’s festival is built around a simple idea: Love – the antidote. Across three days and nights, the…
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Genesis Baroque returns to Castlemaine
Following a sold-out opening night performance at this year’s Castlemaine State Festival, acclaimed early music ensemble Genesis Baroque will return to Castlemaine this week with an intimate new concert, The Directors’ Cut. Founded in 2018, Genesis Baroque brings together some of Australia’s leading historically informed musicians, performing dynamic and engaging programs on period instruments across…
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The Goddess comes to the Theatre Royal
After 40 years composing for films and television, including The Truman Show, The Secret River and Wolf Creek, Burkhard Dallwitz was interested to take on the challenge of a live performance score. And not just co-composing it, but performing it too. “Getting out of my studio and performing again made me nervous but also excited,”…
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The Sunset Six do Broadway
Local Macedon Ranges singers, Tasha Luke, Rexine Perry, Lucy Watson, Erin Haberecht, Kate Kennedy and Katy Somerville, will this month present a cavalcade of songs from an array of musical theatre shows including 42nd Street, Les Miserables, Funny Girl, Company, Waitress and more, accompanied by pianist Dan Rigby. Tasha, Rex and Lucy have been performing…
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Washington joins Jazz Festival lineup
The Castlemaine Jazz Festival returns this King’s Birthday weekend and once again promises an incredible lineup with more than 40 bands and performers set to feature across six local venues. Castlemaine Jazz Festival director Lyndal McClure said this year’s lineup was incredibly diverse and truly offered something for everyone. “Opening night at The Goods Shed…