Castlemaine

  • Castlemaine radio’s night of nights

    Castlemaine radio’s night of nights

    MAINfm is rolling out the green carpet for its inaugural Rogies – like the Logies but for radio, it’s an event to celebrate the talented and dedicated volunteer presenters at Castlemaine’s own radio station, 94.9 MAINfm. Awards in various categories including The Chatterati Award for ‘Best Talk Show’, The Rex Watts Music Award for ‘Best…

  • Brigades battle burn-offs

    Brigades battle burn-offs

    Fire brigades across the region have been kept busy bringing escaped fires under control over the past fortnight. In one incident last Friday morning, a contract slasher working to create a fire break sparked a grassfire at Baringhup when the equipment struck granite. Baringhup Fire Brigade captain Brendan McKnight said striking granite was almost 100…

  • Fanny Finch grave to be marked

    Fanny Finch grave to be marked

    For many long years the grave of Fanny Finch, first woman ever known to have voted in Australia, has lain unmarked at Castlemaine Cemetery following her untimely death in 1863. But now, thanks to a state government grant, the resting site of this fascinating local figure in Australia’s political history is soon to be marked…

  • Flag raising celebrates diversity in Castlemaine

    Flag raising celebrates diversity in Castlemaine

    The rainbow flag and the Aboriginal flag will fly alongside Castlemaine’s Community House 365 days a year from now – following a special flag-raising ceremony held on site last Thursday. The two new flags were hoisted with fanfare following a Welcome to Country by local indigenous elder Uncle Rick Nelson at the event attended by…

  • A dash of Latin passion catches hold in Castlemaine

    A dash of Latin passion catches hold in Castlemaine

    A dash of Latin passion is catching hold in Castlemaine and surrounds. The distinctly Spanish flavour fomenting in some unexpected local hotspots follows a happy convergence of events and people. Take Jose Baena, for example. Jose hails from Andalusia, Spanish Granada and came to Australia in his mid-30s about 15 years ago. Those who know…

  • Tourism locos on the move

    Tourism locos on the move

    The state’s minister for regional development was in Castlemaine on Friday to try her hand at driving a loco before turning the sod on a project that’s poised to significantly boost tourism for both Castlemaine and Maldon. The Victorian Goldfields Railway’s service reorientation project has secured $500,000 in state government funding with VGR chipping in…

  • The road to change: Castlemaine youth speaks on climate change

    The road to change: Castlemaine youth speaks on climate change

    Recently returned from participating in the worlds’ very first United Nations Youth Climate summit in New York, Castlemaine’s Harriet O’Shea Carre will be among speakers at tomorrow evening’s public climate information session in the Castlemaine Town Hall. Alongside Castlemaine’s Milou Albrecht and Callum Neilson-Bridgfoot, Harriet, 15, is one of the original instigators of the youth…

  • Castlemaine branch of ANZ bank to close

    Castlemaine branch of ANZ bank to close

    A local business operator has slammed a decision by the ANZ bank to close its Castlemaine branch next March. Stephen Cross of Castlemaine Central Wine Store fears the move – part of wider branch closures flagged by the ANZ – will be detrimental for the town. “It is very disappointing and yet another example of…

  • Ready, set … Run The Maine

    Ready, set … Run The Maine

    This Friday public holiday is a big one for Castlemaine as the town hosts hundreds of runners for the annual Run The Maine. Event director Gavin Krasner says the half marathon course has been particularly hitting the mark with strong registrations from runners keen to tackle the 21km distance that will follow the Maldon to…

  • Castlemaine cries out for climate action

    Castlemaine cries out for climate action

    A crowd estimated at upwards of 2000 turned out in Castlemaine’s CBD on Friday demonstrating support for the day’s global Strike 4 Climate with rally numbers across the nation recorded in the hundreds of thousands. Castlemaine’s Victory Park rally drew entertainers, school children, local business and community leaders alike and coincided with far larger events…

  • Climate rally for Castlemaine

    Climate rally for Castlemaine

    A climate rally is planned for Castlemaine’s CBD on Friday afternoon to coincide with the Strike 4 Climate taking place at Melbourne’s Treasury Gardens at the same time. “Hundreds of young people and their families and friends from Mount Alexander Shire will be travelling to Melbourne and they’re calling for as many people as possible…

  • Grounds for celebration at Buda House

    Grounds for celebration at Buda House

    Sometimes it’s what lies beneath the surface that counts. This is the case with much of the significant ground works project now completed at Castlemaine’s Buda House. Over recent months a $50,000 state grant has enabled the local tourism attraction to complete the project that includes harvesting rainfall that had previously been going to waste,…