Mount Alexander Shire Council
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Celebrate the Guildford Big Tree
Mount Alexander Shire Council and DJAARA invite the community to come together to honour and celebrate the Guildford Big Tree at a free community event this Sunday. Held during Reconciliation Week 2026, the event forms part of DJAARA’s Guildford Biyal (Red Gum) Big Tree Project, which recognises the profound cultural, environmental and historical significance of…
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More than just a free shower
A collaborative effort between Mount Alexander Shire Council, Dhelkaya Health, The Salvation Army Castlemaine and other agencies has enabled the Salvos to host a mobile shower truck in Castlemaine. The custom-built mobile shower trailers bring dignity directly to communities, but offer more than just a free shower — they provide a full wrap-around service of…
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A transformation of the CBD
Works to transform the heart of Castlemaine’s CBD are now under way and are expected to be completed by mid-2027. The $12.1 million redevelopment of Frederick Street has drawn mixed reactions from residents, though the mayor Cr Toby Heydon has described it as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to create a safer, greener and more connected town…
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Composters call for delay on green bins
Local composting group YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) is calling on Mount Alexander Shire Council to delay the roll-out of a green bin service. The green ‘FOGO’ (Food Organics-Garden Organics) bin is designed to divert organic waste from landfill. Lucy Young from YIMBY said that while the group agreed with the council that it…
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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…
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Castlemaine exhibition to honour much-loved Guildford Big Tree
DJAARA, the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, is planning an exhibition at the Castlemaine Arts Museum in July to honour the timber which fell from the much-loved Guildford Big Tree in February 2024. The Guildford Biyal (red gum) has long been a culturally significant and important tree for Dja Dja Wurrung People (Djaara). It…
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Newstead Live Music Festival program unveiled
The countdown is on for Newstead Live Music Festival 2026 on January 23-26. Organisers were putting the finishing touches to the curation of the festival line-up late last week, and the program was set to go to print and ‘live’ on the website Monday morning. The festival celebrates 20 years since it made the move…
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‘Mini tornado’ strikes
Castlemaine State Emergency Service volunteers faced a demanding weekend of severe weather, responding to 10 requests for assistance. The impact was concentrated heavily in the Maldon and Tarrengower area, where a freak weather event caused significant destruction. The most severe damage occurred at a property in the Treloars Road area. Local crews arrived to find…
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Vital flood study wins funding
With a flood-prone creek on one side and overland tributaries on the other, Campbells Creek residents are well-versed in major flood events, the most recent occurring in 2022. The Campbells Creek Flood Study, which costs just shy of $200,000, will take about 12 months to complete and will help Mount Alexander Shire Council better understand…
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Find the perfect gift for someone special
Get ready for a fabulous evening of art and creativity at the annual Castlemaine Twilight Market, Friday December 12. Wander among more than 80 stalls of fabulous, handmade artwork, and find the perfect gift for someone special. Because, let’s face it, where would we be without art in the world? Go along and have a…
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Crossing creates division
Q. What do you get when you put a zebra on top of a wombat? A. A pedestrian crossing that divides the community. The new pedestrian crossing on Mostyn Street in Castlemaine’s CBD, a wombat (a raised speed hump) with a zebra (thick, parallel white stripes) on top, was officially opened on Friday by MP…
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Castlemaine takes Pride
The much-loved Castlemaine Pride Picnic is on again this Saturday November 8 at the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens. A flagship event of Castlemaine Pride, a local volunteer-led community group, the Pride Picnic brings together the LGBTQIASB+ community and allies to celebrate the culture, history, creativity and resilience of the local community. Throughout the year, Castlemaine Pride…