Latest News
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Fix needed for koala roadstrike hot spots
Wildlife carers are calling for urgent action to prevent koala fatalities and injuries at Calder Freeway hot spots in the Macedon Ranges. Damaged wildlife fencing is enabling koalas and other wildlife access to dangerous roadways, and requests for maintenance are going unanswered. Wildings Woodend Wildlife Shelter has tended to five koalas at the Black Forest…
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Community joins statewide push
Castlemaine residents determined to protect their town from a McDonald’s store are joining forces with other communities across Victoria in a statewide fight to stop the spread of multi-national fast-food outlets. The MAC OFF – Protect Castlemaine campaign is joining the ‘Not Lovin’ It!’ campaign that arose after Darebin City Council rejected a proposed 24-hour…
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Lancefield town plan deferred
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has voted to defer discussion on a town structure plan for Lancefield until April next year. The Department of Transport and Planning had offered support towards the plan as one of two options to resolve the lingering Development Plan Overlay Schedule 24. The other option was to review and simplify DPO24…
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Celebration of diversity turned sour
Seasoned drag performer Miss Polly Filla has been the subject of online abuse, harassment and death threats after a video of their performance at a local high school was shared on Facebook. On Friday, one of our journalists attended Castlemaine Secondary College for the annual Wear It Purple Day celebrations and Story Time with Polly.…
Sport
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Magpie magic! Castlemaine claims five from five
Castlemaine Football Netball Club’s Senior Women’s football team has claimed legendary status after securing their fifth consecutive premiership in the AFL Central Vic Women’s League. The Magpies faced off against top-of-the-table Golden Square in rain-soaked conditions under lights at the Queen Elizabeth Oval on Friday evening. The sides had faced off four times during the…
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Historic club calls for players
Just two years after claiming a Castlemaine District Cricket Association A Grade premiership, the Castlemaine United Cricket Club is battling for numbers to fill squads for the 2026-2027 season and is urging new players to join the fold. Founded in 1881, the club is based at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve and has a long and proud…
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Riddell bombs out of premiership race
Football premiers in 2024 and 2025, Riddell squandered a golden opportunity to win their way into the 2026 grand final when they could only manage a meagre four points against Wallan in the last quarter of the preliminary final on Saturday. At three-quarter-time, there were two goals the difference in an absorbing contest at Romsey,…
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Agonising finish — Tigers bow out
Oh, so close. Kyneton senior footballers bowed out of the 2026 Riddell League finals in a desperate last term finish that saw Wallan snatch victory by three points on Sunday. The Tigers put themselves in a great position to advance to the preliminary final when they opened up a lead of 21 points with a…
Community
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Daffodil blooms take centre stage
A celebration of daffodils has blossomed into one of Kyneton’s most popular art competitions, with almost 200 entries vying for honours in this year’s Daffodil Art Prize. Denise Martin has taken out the $1500 Open Medium Major Prize at The Old Auction House as part of the 2026 Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival for the…
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Gathering for Good
With the Macedon Ranges shaking off its winter blues, local refugee support group, Macedon Ranges Rural Australians for Refugees, has decided to welcome the new season with their ‘Gather For Good’ celebratory fundraising luncheon. In recent years, MRRAR has thrown its support behind the Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project. Established in Melbourne in 2001, BASP was…
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Neighbourhood House opens its doors
Woodend Neighbourhood House will open its doors to the community next Saturday, September 5, giving locals a chance to discover the wide range of activities, groups and programs on offer. The Spring Open House will run from 9am to noon alongside the Woodend Farmers Market. Visitors can meet tutors, activity coordinators, volunteers and staff, explore…
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Inspiration from a Storm star
“If I can resonate with a couple of kids, then that’s a job well done” Kyneton High School’s Vocational Major students got hands-on life skills training from NRL player Josh King last week. The students are undertaking an applied learning program that prepares them to move into apprenticeships, traineeships, further education or directly into the…
Leisure
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Curry to tread the boards
Macedon Ranges resident, legendary Australian actor and comedian Stephen Curry is about to make his musical theatre debut. Curry, renowned for his role in the iconic Australian film The Castle, is stepping into the regal shoes of King Arthur in the upcoming production of Monty Python’s Spamalot at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre. The Tony Award-winning Best…
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Creative Industries Incubator
Applications are now open for a free 10-week professional development program in artistic direction, event management and stage and production management. Kwabo Events and Ausdance VIC have announced the 2026 Kwabo Creative Industries Incubator, a free 10-week professional development program designed by and for People of Colour, delivered as part of the HARAMBEE Creative Futures…
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Cuban beat set to get Castlemaine dancing
Castlemaine is set to turn up the heat with Cuban music, Latin dancing and food at a new monthly event at the Goods Shed. The 11-piece Son Quba will bring its infectious Cuban rhythms to the venue beside Castlemaine Railway Station on the first Sunday of each month. The band has its roots in workshops…
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Electronic dance party fundraiser
The Castlemaine Fringe Festival and Ballarat’s Wild Otter Club have teamed up to deliver a Dance Party fundraiser for the Fringe on Saturday, September 5, at Boomtown Winery and Bistro. When two fun-loving, artistic towns collide, expect next-level creativity erupting through music, dance, fashion, art and vital community connections. This event is an exciting cross-cultural…