Castlemaine is in the "Goldfields" region
about 120kms from Melbourne, and 40kms from Bendigo.
It is part of the Shire of Mount Alexander. Castlemaine exists on
the traditional lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung people, also known as
the Jaara people. Castlemaine was established during the gold rush
of 1851 and is in area originally named Forrest Creek.
The Theatre Royal opened in 1856 to provide entertainment for
the gold diggers, with the first performance being provided by the
world renowned Lola Montes and her celebrated Spider Dance. The theatre
still hosts films (including several world and Australian premieres),
concerts, and functions, and claims to be the oldest continuously
operating theatre in mainland Australia.
In 1859, the historic Castlemaine Football Club was established,
and recent evidence makes it the second oldest football club in Australia
and one of the oldest football clubs in the world.
The former market is now a visitor
information centre
After gold mining gradually ceased a number of other secondary industries
sprang up. These included breweries, iron foundries and a woollen
mill. Whilst for long Thompson's foundry, (now trading as Flowserve)
was one of the town's largest employers, in 2009 the largest established
in 1905 is the (former) Castlemaine Bacon Company, producing small
goods. The company is still the area's largest single employer with
around 1000 employees there. The company is now known as KR Castlemaine
after merging with a Queensland based small goods manufacturer. Castlemaine
XXXX was initially brewed in Castlemaine. Tourism
exploring the gold-rush era buildings, and other attractions including
an art gallery featuring a number of fine Heidelberg School works,
is also a major source of income for the town. The town is also served
by a large hospital and geriatric centre (Mount
Alexander Hospital)
and a correctional facility located on the eastern outskirts of the
town (Wesley Hill).
Castlemaine is also the self proclaimed Hot
Rod centre of Australia with many small businesses
catering to this popular form of motor sport at a national level.
Fine examples of the cars can be seen on show days and rod runs
throughout the year. There are plans for a permanent Hot Rod Centre
with many community facilities currently being developed.
The Castlemaine
Diggings National Heritage Park is the first of
its kind in Australia. It embraces goldrush relics and bushland.
Home to rare and threatened species of both flora and fauna it offers
opportunities for bush walking, bird watching, wildlife monitoring
and study while providing a bush setting for the township.
For the past thirty years Castlemaine has biennially been the home
of The Castlemaine
State Festival, one of Victoria's premier regional
arts events. The Festival, usually held in late March, has on offer
over 130 events, many of which are free, with a particular emphasis
on outdoor events, visual arts, music and theatre. It has also attracted
internationally and nationally renowned performers, including The
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Here are some great accommodation options in Castlemaine: