Castlemaine Heritage Study - Volume 1
The current Castlemaine Architectural and Historical Study (prepared in the late 1970s and republished in 1981) is outdated, and no review has been completed since its preparation. A three stage gap analysis was undertaken (2022-2025) to provide the foundation framework for the future Castlemaine Heritage Study.
Volume 1 of the Castlemaine Heritage Study
Volume 1 of the study will involve the following tasks:
- The preparation of the history of Castlemaine (otherwise known as a history of place / thematic study);
- The preparation of citations and statements of significance;
- The preparation of Design Guidelines and updates to the Heritage Overlay Schedule; and
- Preparation of draft and final study, which will be used to inform Council and stakeholder decision-making on heritage places in future, as well guide a future planning scheme amendment to the Mount Alexander Planning Scheme.
We are currently developing a History of Place document as part of the Castlemaine Heritage Study.
Once completed, the study will help guide how significant places in Castlemaine are identified, recognised, managed and protected into the future.
Community Consultation
Help us to tell the story of Castlemaine by sharing your memories, photographs, local knowledge and connections to place.
Your contribution will help create a History of Place, which is a living document that brings together community stories and historical research to capture what makes Castlemaine unique and preserve these stories for future generations.
Community consultation is occuring from September 2026 to October 2026.
For more information, and to add your contributions visit the Study Castlemaine Heritage Study Shape page.
More information
What is a History of Place?
A 'History of Place' is a living document that brings together community stories, memories and historical research under key themes to tell the evolving story of a place. Castlemaine's History of Place document will have nine themes selected from Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (Heritage Council of Victoria, 2010):
- Living with the environment
- Inhabiting the land
- Transport and communications
- Agriculture and utilising natural resources
- Industry and business
- Building townships
- Governing
- Community life
- Cultural Life
A 'History of Place' helps capture what makes a place unique and can be used to inform heritage, planning and place-making decisions, while preserving local stories for future generations.
It is a dynamic document that can be edited, updated and revised over time as new information becomes available.
What work will be undertaken as a part of Volume 1?
Better understanding and documentation of Castlemaine's heritage places:
- Community engagement including a 'History of Place' story collection survey and information and story collection session.
- Detailed heritage assessments
- Heritage citations and statements of significance
- Fieldwork
Please visit the Shape page for more information and to register you attendance.
Information collected may be used to inform future heritage protections and planning decisions.
Why are we undertaking a Heritage Study for Castlemaine?
The current heritage study for Castlemaine (the Castlemaine Architectural and Historical Study) was published in 1981 as a prelude to preparation of the Planning Scheme for the (former) City of Castlemaine, and was used to identify places to be included in the Heritage Overlay. However, this study does not provide sufficient information regarding the significance of the place, and therefore leaves places vulnerable when developed as it does not allow planning and heritage officers to make an informed decision when assessing planning applications.
The Mount Alexander Thematic Environmental History (2016) recommends a review of the places included in the early Castlemaine study and preparation of citations, as well as inclusion of 20th century places which were not considered in the early studies, and are therefore not protected for their potential heritage values.
Our current Council Plan includes the following objective: ‘built, cultural and natural heritage is safeguarded and celebrated’, which notes that this includes: ‘apply best practice in planning and design to enhance community spaces and protect heritage, environment and people’.