Location of Castlemaine in Victoria (red)

Castlemaine (pronounced /ˈkæsəlmeɪn/; note the Flat A rather than a Broad A) is a city in Victoria, Australia, in the "Goldfields" region about 120 kilometres northwest by road from Melbourne, and about 40 kilometres from the major provincial centre of Bendigo. It is the administrative and economic centre of the Shire of Mount Alexander.

In 2006, Castlemaine's population was 6,797 (2006 census data), of whom about 17% were born overseas (3% in the United Kingdom).

History

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.

In September 1851, three shepherds and a bullock driver discovered gold in Specimen Gully, about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north-east of present-day Castlemaine. Within a month the alluvial bed of Forrest Creek was being worked with 8,000 miners on the field by the end of the year and 25,000 by March 1852.

The name was later changed to Mount Alexander, but the chief goldfield commissioner, Captain W. Wright, renamed the settlement to honour his Irish uncle, Viscount Castlemaine. The old name is still present in the name of a major Melbourne thoroughfare, Mount Alexander Road, which before the establishment of the Calder Freeway was the main route to Castlemaine, and the LGA Shire of Mount Alexander.

A Post Office, Forrest Creek, opened on 1 March 1852 and was replaced on 1 January 1854 by an office at Castlemaine.

 

The Theatre Royal

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, 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^{[citation needed]}. 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.

 

Faulder Watson Hall, opened in 1895, and the old telegraph office, built in 1857

Barker Street was named after William Barker, another pioneer pastoralist whose run included part of the land that is now Castlemaine. The whole eastern side of Barker Street, between Templeton Street and Lyttleton Street, has been classified by the National Trust. Adjacent the solicitors' offices is the library, built in 1857 as a mechanics' institute with additions in 1861, 1872 and 1893. Next to it is the Faulder Watson Hall which opened in 1895 and adjacent is the old telegraph office (1857). There is an information plaque. On the Lyttleton Street corner is the decorative Classical Revival post office (1873–75). It is in the form of an Italian palazzo with a central clock tower, five arched bays and strongly contrasting colouration. This structure replaced a wooden post office which was built on this same spot in 1859 when the service was transferred from the gold commissioner's camp. Over the road is the Cumberland Hotel (1884).

Art gallery and museum

 

The art deco Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum, built in 1931

Founded in 1913, the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum has acquired a collection of Australian art works and historical items from the district's past. The 1931 art deco building is noted for its elegant design and is Heritage listed. The building has been extended a number of times.

The Gallery has always specialised in Australian art. Its particular strength is in major works of the late 1800s, the Golden Period of Australian painting, and the Edwardian era. Traditional landscape painting is a feature of the collection. More contemporary artists are also well represented.

Earlier artists include Louis Buvelot, Fred McCubbin, Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, Walter Withers, David Davies, Rupert Bunny, Max Meldrum, John Russell, Hugh Ramsay, Clarice Beckett and John Longstaff.

Modernists include Margaret Preston, Roland Wakelin, Russell Drysdale, Fred Williams, John Brack, Albert Tucker, John Perceval, Clifton Pugh, Lloyd Rees and Roger Kemp. More contemporary painters include Rick Amor, John Dent, Ray Crooke, Peter Benjamin Graham, Robert Jacks, Jeffrey Smart, Ian Armstrong, Paul Cavell and Brian Dunlop.The Gallery collects photographic images of Australian artists by Australian photographers and has built up a collection by photographers as Max Dupain, David Moore, Richard Beck, and Olive Cotton.

The Museum houses a collection of historical artworks, journals, photographs, costumes, and items specifically relating to the history of the Mount Alexander district.

Sport

The town has an Australian rules football team, the Castlemaine Football Club competing in the Bendigo Football League. The club is acknowledged as being the second oldest in Australia.

On Wesley Hill, just out of Castlemaine, the Castlemaine Sporting complex is situated, which hosts a range of sports, from basketball and netball, to badminton. Tennis is played on the local courts.

Castlemaine has many cricketing teams in their league.

Golfers play at the Castlemaine Golf Club on Newstead Road or at the course of the Mount Alexander Golf Club on Wimble Street.

The area is also renowned for its mountain bike trails.

Prominent people from Castlemaine

 

Bust of Harry Lawson, Premier of Victoria 1918–1923

• Ron Barassi - Australian rules footballer from Guildford within the shire.
• Robert O'Hara Burke – leader of the Burke and Wills expedition, was stationed in Castlemaine as police superintendent from 1858 to 1859.
• Frank Laver – Test cricketer.
• Sir Harry Lawson – Premier of Victoria.
• Sir James Whiteside McCay - lawyer, teacher, politician, soldier.
• Sir James Patterson – Premier of Victoria.
• Frank McEncroe - creator of the Chiko Roll.
• Georgie Kidman - Australia's Next Top Model, Cycle 5 contestant.
• Dustin Martin - Australian Rules footballer for Richmond, picked 3rd overall in 2009 AFL Draft
• Frank Tate - Born in Mopoke Gully on the Castlemaine goldfields 18th June 1864. Victoria's first Director of Education and held position for 26 years. Signifiant educator.

See also

• Castlemaine railway station
• Victorian Goldfields Railway
• HM Prison Loddon