Castlemaine
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New store to deliver big savings
Just three months after the opening of Castlemaine’s new Woolworths supermarket, the town is set to see the opening of another major retail outlet. Castlemaine’s new Reject Shop will open its doors this Thursday morning, September 11. Local residents have been keenly watching the development of the new store at 112-116 Barker Street in recent…
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Barry’s bus fulfills final wish
Barry Lacey was one of those indescribably special people who leaves a mark on you. In the last few months of his life, Barry gave one last gift to those left behind – a transport bus for the aged care residents at Dhelkaya Health. Barry and his wife, Jenny, relocated from Melbourne to Newstead in…
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Santa’s helpers fashion new bells
Billmans Foundry in Castlemaine has teamed up with a number of talented local tradespeople to craft a set of five new Christmas bells for the former Apex Club of Castlemaine’s annual Santa Run. The beloved event is a longstanding tradition in Mount Alexander Shire and celebrates its 88th anniversary on Christmas Day 2025. Former Apex…
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Underground dance-off electric!
Hot Moves No Pressure is an invite-only, underground-style dance battle, where each performer can invite one guest only, making it the hottest ticket in town! The energy at Boomtown Winery last Saturday night for the Castlemaine dance-off was electric! (In fact, the moves were so hot that the power blew halfway through the performances…) A…
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Cold case breakthrough in Castlemaine woman’s death
Homicide Squad detectives have charged a man in relation to the death of Castlemaine woman and mother of two, Samantha Mizzi, in St Kilda 31 years ago. Colin George McKane, 67, was arrested in Ararat early Thursday. He has been charged with murder and two counts of rape and appeared at Melbourne Magistrates Court late…
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The Invisible Architecture of Compassion
The violinist sits focused on some unseen inner realm. Intuitively he lets forth a myriad of notes from the stretched gut strings on the electric baroque violin, evoking sounds not heard since before the industrial revolution. As the notes bounce and find rest around the walls, our attention is drawn to the other-worldly sounds of…
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Wear it purple with craftivism
Dhelkaya Health is calling on community members to grab their knitting needles and crochet hooks to help create a powerful display for Wear It Purple Day 2025. This national day celebrates safe, supportive and inclusive spaces for young LGBTIQA+ people, and this year Dhelkaya Health plans to yarn bomb four trees across the region in…
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Exploring life and possibility
Local writer, author and director Madeleine Ryan launched her long-awaited second book The Knowing earlier this year and Northern Books is celebrating its release with a special event at Grafting Cellars in Castlemaine this Thursday. Ryan’s articles and essays have appeared in The New York Times, SBS, Vogue, The Daily Telegraph, The Sydney Morning Herald,…
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Delve into Buddhism
The August Good Grief Lounge at Northern Arts Hotel Castlemaine will be held on Friday August 8 to coincide with ‘Dying to Know Day 2025’. The montly Lounge is facilitated by Jill Rivers of Good Grief – Art-full Living. Jill said the August event would celebrate this dedicated day focused on encouraging open conversations about…
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Three generations at the Coolroom
Famed Tango band TangoMundo will perform a concert of works by Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla at the Northern Arts Hotel in Castlemaine on Saturday, August 2. Faye Bendrups is a founding member of TangoMundo, as a singer and pianist. Two special guest musicians will join Faye and the band for the gig: Faye’s son Dan…
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Taking root and branching out: Soundwork tells 30-year story of local landcare group
Have you ever been to a ‘Listening In’? It’s like a film screening only they say the pictures are better and it feels more intimate. As part of Landcare Week, the immersive audio documentary Taking Root in Barkers Creek will be presented at the Phee Broadway Theatre on the evening of Wednesday August 6. The…
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Plan to beautify Castlemaine
Mount Alexander Shire Council adopted a new Streetscape Landscape Design for Barker Street and Forest Street, Castlemaine, at last Tuesday night’s council meeting. The plan could not be more timely with the recent completion and opening of the new Woolworths Supermarket at the gateway to Castlemaine and renewed calls for beautification works along Forest and…