Castlemaine is an historic goldmining town the Goldfields region of Victoria. It has a population of approximately 7,300.
Castlemaine also boasts a proud automotive history, and is the self-proclaimed 'Hot Rod Capital' of Victoria. There are multiple small open to the public private automotive collections (for more information see Tourism Victoria).
The evidence of the rich gold mining past is still evident in the grand architecture and impressive Victorian style hotels on most street corners and impressively large mullock heaps of shale and occasional open mine shafts, which can make bushwalking off marked trails at times dicey, However one such open mine shaft dubbed 'the Chinaman's hole' is of historic significance. Being the supposed site of where the bodies of 16 Chinese prospectors who were killed in the 1859 uprising were interred.It is said if you cast a coin into this shaft, and listen closely, you will receive a fortune. It is displayed on the bushwalking map of the area.
Castlemaine has a proud history including the Theatre Royal, a beacon of the gold rush days and museum.
A leading industry of Castlemaine is now the KR Castlemaine abattoir and processing plant servicing supermarkets Australia wide. They provide guided tours every Wednesday from 2-5PM (not for the squeemish)
- Theatre Royal, 30 Hargraves St, +61 3 5472 1196. Established in 1854, the Threatre Royal is the oldest continuously operating theatre in mainland Australia. Also enjoy live music and a European-style cafe.
Theatre Royal, 30 Hargraves St, +61 3 5472 1196. Established in 1854, the Threatre Royal is the oldest continuously operating theatre in mainland Australia. Also enjoy live music and a European-style cafe.
- Klua Sathorn, 32 Johnstone St, +61 3 5470 6881. Cosy and authentic Thai within a historic building built during the gold rush in the mid 19th century.
Klua Sathorn, 32 Johnstone St, +61 3 5470 6881. Cosy and authentic Thai within a historic building built during the gold rush in the mid 19th century.