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Festival Information
Ticket Information
PURCHASING TICKETS
BOOK ONLINE
IN PERSON
Visit the Festival Information Hub at the Castlemaine Market Building, 44 Mostyn Street, Castlemaine
Friday 20 & 27 February, 6 & 13 March, 2026, 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
During the Festival:
Friday 20 to Saturday 28 March, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
BY PHONE
Telephone 5472 5123
Please have your credit card details ready.
Staffed during Festival Information Hub hours detailed above.
AT THE VENUE
Venue Box Offices will be open 45 minutes prior at all other venues.
BOOKING INFORMATION
Concession
Includes Children, 18 years and under, Pensioners, Health Care Card holders and Full-Time Students. Relevant identification must be presented upon request.
Refunds
There are no refunds on ticket purchases.
Latecomers
Will not be admitted until a suitable break in the performance.
Gift Vouchers
Available for purchase and may be used for any Castlemaine State Festival event with ticket availability. Unredeemed vouchers will expire on Sunday 29 March and cannot be refunded.
Discounts
A 10% discount applies for purchases of 3 or more Town Hall and Theatre Royal events. This offer is valid until 31st January.
Babes in Arms
For most events, children under 24 months old may attend free of charge on the condition they do not occupy a seat and they sit on the lap of a parent or guardian.
Accommodation
ACCOMMODATION
The Castlemaine Visitor Information Centre offers a free accommodation service providing knowledgeable advice for your specific accommodation needs.
Castlemaine Visitor Information Centre
Market Building, 44 Mostyn Street, Castlemaine
Phone: 03 5471 1795 or toll free 1800 171 888
castlemainemaldon.com.au
visitors@mountalexander.vic.gov.au
BIG4 Castlemaine Gardens Holiday Park
Close to the Festival buzz but surrounded by nature, BIG4 Castlemaine offers contemporary self contained studios and villas, luxury glamping accommodation and picturesque camping sites. The park’s location next to the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens and Flora and Fauna Reserve ensures serene views and a scenic retreat just minutes from the town centre.
https://www.big4.com.au/caravan-parks/vic/goldfields/castlemaine-gardens-holiday-park
Castlemaine Boutique Accommodation
As a premier accommodation provider, Castlemaine Boutique Accommodation brings you some of the most beautiful properties in Central Victoria for your Festival stay.
https://castlemaineaccom.com.au
Camping
If you feel like connecting with nature as part of your larger Festival experience, there are a range of free nature-park camping sites nearby.
Camping is available at Vaughan Mineral Springs, Leanganook and Butts Reserve.
Sites to visit:
Drink & Dine
DRINK & DINE
You can enjoy drink & dine experiences at wonderful local eateries and watering holes before or after performances.
The Castlemaine Visitor Information Centre can provide knowledgeable advice for all your dining needs.
CASTLEMAINE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE
Market Building, 44 Mostyn Street, Castlemaine
Phone: 03 5471 1795 or toll free 1800 171 888
Transport
transport
DRIVING
Castlemaine is approximately 120 kms north-west of Melbourne, or a 90-minute drive via the Tullamarine Freeway, following the signs to Bendigo and the Calder Freeway.
TRAIN TRAVEL
Castlemaine Railway Station is centrally located and train travel is an easy and pleasurable 1.5 hour journey from Melbourne. V/Line trains run between Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station along the Bendigo line to Castlemaine, departing regularly from 6.00am to 11:55pm.
For timetables and fares, visit www.vline.com.au
GETTING AROUND CASTLEMAINE
WALKING
A range of walking maps, including natural and cultural heritage walks in Castlemaine and surrounding areas, are available from the Visitor Information Centre in the Castlemaine Market Building, Mostyn Street.
For downloadable walking maps, castlemainemaldon.com.au
BUSES
There are local buses servicing Castlemaine, Chewton, Campbells Creek, Maldon and Harcourt. For service schedules visit www.travelvictoria.com.au/castlemaine/transport/
TAXI
Castlemaine Taxis can be contacted on 131 008.
Venue Locations and Maps
| Hargraves Street Precinct | Cnr Forest, Mostyn and Hargraves Streets, Castlemaine, VIC 3450 |
| Theatre Royal | 30 Hargraves Steet, Castlemaine VIC 3450 |
| IGA Underground Carpark | 11 Hargraves Street, Castlemaine VIC 3450 |
| Romeril House | Pick up from 21 Kennedy Street, Castlemaine VIC 3450 |
| Maldon Progress Hall | 6 Francis Street, Maldon VIC 3463 |
| Castlemaine Market Building | 44 Mostyn Street, Castlemaine VIC 3450 |
| Chewton Small | Fryers Rd, top of the Wattle Gully Wetlands, Chewton VIC 3451 |
| Chewton Town Hall | 141 Main Road, Chewton VIC 3451 |
| Portal Gallery House | 30 Church Street Chewton, Victoria, 3451 |
| Thompson Family Funeral | 123 Mostyn Street, Castlemaine VIC 3450 |
| Castlemaine Art Museum | 14 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine VIC 3450 |
| Punctum ICU Basement | 53/1 Halford Street, Castlemaine VIC 3450 |
| St Mary’s Hall | 57/31 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine VIC 3450 |
| St Mary’s Church | 1/78 Hargraves Street, Castlemaine VIC 3450 |
| Castlemaine Town Hall | 25 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine VIC 3450 |
| Uniting Church, Castlemaine | 24 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine VIC 3450 |
| Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Maldon | 50 High Street, Maldon VIC 3463 |
| Anglican Church, Castlemaine | 8 Mostyn Street, Castlemaine Vic 3450 |
| Phee Broadway Theatre | 212 Barker Street, Castlemaine VIC 3450 |
| Castlemaine Goods Shed | 21 Kennedy Street, Castlemaine VIC 3450 |
Venue Accessibility
Accessibility
Castlemaine State Festival aims to make venues and events accessible to those with limited mobility.
Wheelchair access at each venue is identified by the accessibility symbol on individual program event pages.
Please contact the Festival and Box Office staff on 03 5472 5123 to ensure you secure tickets relevant to your access requirements, including any Companion Card bookings.
Program Details
Every effort has been made to ensure program details are correct, however, events may be subject to change and every effort will be made to notify patrons.
Our Patrons
PATRONS & DONORS
The Festival wishes to sincerely thank the many individuals and organisations for their generosity and valuable contributions.
Major Gift
Carrillo Gantner AC & Ziyin Gantner
The Lewis Family
The McClure Family
Christine Nixon APM
Marshall Segan & Ylana Perlov
Water Dragon Endowment
Performances of Thompson’s Foundry Band are being sponsored by the family of the late Yiu Kwong Mak in his memory. During Mak’s time studying engineering at Castlemaine Technical College in the early 1960s, Mak developed a lifelong admiration for the Band
Diamond
Simon Benson & Alison Edwards
Tony Bradford
Gerard Condon
Paul Gibbeson
Dennis Goldner & Kate Murphy
Cathrine Harboe-Ree & Brian Cutler
Anthony Knight OAM & Beverly Knight
Peter McMullin
Platinum
Alan Chuck in memory of Lyn Bennett
Robert & Faye Cordy
Sue Cutler & Ian McKenzie
Dr Gary Moller & Dr Louisa Hope
Jan Malachowski
David & Lyn Mayo
Phil McConachy & Dr Ronnie Moule
Michael Rigg
Luke Stokes
The late John Turnbull & the late Jacqui Turnbull
The Cheese School & Long Paddock Cheese
Morgans Financial Brighton
Anonymous
Gold
Janine Arnold
Robert Bent
Julie & Roger Archbold
Christine & Greg Barkla
Tony & Margret Bateman
Geoff & Lorrainne Callister
Rose and Min Chong
Dr Mary Cole
Amber Davies
Bill Forrest & Heather Clarke
Malcolm Fyffe
Margaret Goodes
Pat & Sam Grumont
Mrs. Lesley Jones
David & Thea King
Daniel Leighton
Graham Murphy
Kerry Parker
Dr Marjorie Theobald
Grant Thomas
Laurene Vaughan
Dr Graeme Watson & Michele Paul
John & Judith Watson
Christopher Whitehead
Scott Victor-Gordon
Blackjack Wines
Anonymous (5)
Crystal
Terri Baigent
Phee Broadway OAM
Geoffrey & Alice Clague
Gwen Davey
Catherine Foley
Carolen Fischer
Julie Hallett-Odgers
Gillian Harrison
Max Kay
Mark Koehne
Leeanne Mead & Jan Elliott
Peter Morris & Barry Heaysman
Betty Morris
Paul & Ruth Neath
Sheila Oxley
Alison & Tony Radford
Kelly Read
Nicola and Chris Reynolds
Helen Symon & Ian Lulham
Bruce Trethowan
Val Victor-Gordon
Cecilia & Peter Weerts
Liz Wilson
Quartz
Ross Allan
Marianne Allan
Margaret Bainbridge
Virginia Barry
Dr Louise Bettiol & Dr Ed Griffin
Bob Cameron & Alison Hogan
Chris & Jennie Capper
John Carruthers
Ian & Judy Clark
Prue Cole
Tom & Christobel Comerford
Fiona Cotter
Nancy & Geoff Courtis
Barbara Dalloway
Dr Jinette de Gooijer
Bronnie & David Dean
Judy & Steve Doxey
Di Erlichman & Les Gross
Jacqueline Brodie-Hanns & Doug Falconer
Dale Falkner
Simon Gurevich & Dr Bella Freeman
Jane Goodrich
Ian Gould
Bill Grant & Cheryl Neilson
Tom & Nea Gyorffy
Mary Harris
Judy Holding
Jennifer Howe
Win Jodell
Martin & Debbie Jurblum
Ariaantje Lawson
John Lewis
Rick Lowen & Lorelei Benjamin
Ruth Maclaren
Susan Mayfair
Gayle McClure
Dr. Dugald McLellan
Campbell McNaughton
Tracey Naughton & Leslie Thornton
Judith Nimmo
Joanna Parkes
Andie Pasqualini
Emily Patterson
Leonie Postle
Jocelyn Pride
Lexi Randall-L’Estrange
Margaret Rees-Jones
Malcolm & Patricia Robins
Anita Rose-Innes
Morry Rottem & Margot Rottem OAM
R & J Rudolph
Suzanne Savona
Robert & Marina Scott
Estate of Robert Seedsman
John Stanistreet
Judith Staudte
Basil Theophilos
Jen Toogood & Josh Durham
Sarah Toohey
Hilary Reynolds Tovey
Geoff & Kat Turner
Sue Turner
Northern Books
McDermott Housing
Anonymous (17)
Prospector
Jill Barclay
Jessica Bleechmore
Matthew Brownrigg
Maurie & Gayle Crooke
Jennifer Gedy
Pat Horan
Krista Horbatiuk
Paul & Jillian Ingham
David Jaffe
Roberta Mears
Adina Merenstein
Eva Miller
Jim & Pam Millwood
David Murray-Smith
Matthew J Oliver
Sue Robinson
Robert Rouse
Jane Staley
Prue Venables
John Wellington
Anonymous (7)
About us
about the Castlemaine State Festival
Castlemaine, located on Djaara Country in the central highlands of Victoria, is home to more creative industries residents than any other local government region in Australia.
For nearly 50 years the Castlemaine State Festival, inspired by the distinctive places and landscapes of the region, has harnessed this creative energy to present adventurous art in its historic and intimate spaces.
A Festival like no other in Australia, its multi-arts program brings together authentic cultural experiences where audiences are enchanted by the craft, imagination and depth of the work presented.
Established in 1976, the Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026 – and is planning a party like no other!
The 2026 Castlemaine State Festival will be held from 20-29 March 2026.
Castlemaine Created
Castlemaine Created is the arm of the Festival dedicated to presenting and producing works by artists and companies from across the local region.
This year’s program includes 40 Castlemaine Created presentations, in addition to over 20 New Works, Commissions and Premieres.
Contact Us
Festival Office
Castlemaine Goods Shed
21 Kennedy St,
Castlemaine Vic 3450
Email: information@castlemainefestival.com.au
Phone: +61 3 5472 3733
PO Box 230, Castlemaine VIC 3450
Castlemaine State Festival Ltd
ACN 005 488 684
ABN 68 005 488 684
Our Sponsors
Sponsors & Partners
Government
Foundations
Major Sponsors
Event Sponsors
Sponsors
Media Partners
Product Supporters
Boomtown
Fazioli
Mafic Wines
Hand Picked Flowers
Pianoforte Consortium
Fay & Robert Cordy, Mark Gandolfo & Greg Preece, Kerry & Doug Hansford, Jan Malachowski, Dani & Tim McDermott, Jocelyn Pride & Peter Watts, Margaret Seedsman, Dr. R. Stobie
Festival Team & Board
FESTIVAL BOARD
Chair – Gary McClure
Chair – Chris Capper (until March 2025)
Secretary – Kelly Read
Treasurer – Grant Thomas
Treasurer – John Carruthers (until March 2025)
Chris Capper (until October 2025)
Jane Goodrich
Abby McClure
Nicola Reynolds
Jenny Ryssenbeek (until July 2025)
Marshall Segan
Luke Stokes
Brian Walters
John Wellington
FESTIVAL TEAM
Artistic Director – Linda Sproul
Executive Director – Martin Paten
Administration & Finance – Bronwyn Dawson / Sarah Jury
Administration Support – Lorrainne Callister, Kerry Parker, Kerrie West, Trish Sharkey
Art & Design Coordinator – Zoe Amor
Classical Music Advisor – Marshall McGuire
Digital Development – Gayle McClure (until October 2025)
Goods Shed Project Manager – Joseph Rogan
Marketing Coordinator – Caitlin Reilly, In Cahoots
OHS & Risk Management Coordinator – Grant Victor-Gordon
Operations Coordinator – Bonnie Sowman
Outdoor Events Producer – Sam Thomas
Patrons Coordinator – Val Victor-Gordon
Photography Management – Julie Millowick
Program Design & Artwork Identity – Design by Committee
Production Coordinator – Calum McClure
Publicity & Media – Adam Valentine
Schools Program Coordinator – Margot Feast
Ticketing Coordinator – Danica Hilton
Volunteers Coordinator – Lyndal McClure
Volunteer Vest Project – Trish & Gabrielle Sharkey
Web Design & Management – Greengraphics
Thank You
Peter & Wendy Brown
Life Members
Life Members
The Castlemaine State Festival celebrates its life members. Their commitment to supporting the development and evolution of the Festival has been central to its ongoing success.
Founding Patrons – The Late Berek Segan AM OBE & The Late Marysia Segan
Michael Bottomley
Phee Broadway OAM
Geoff Callister
Lorrainne Callister
Mary Harris
Geoff Hocking
Gary McClure
Lyndal McClure
Julie Millowick OAM
The Late Ian O’Halloran OAM
Martin Paten
Val Victor-Gordon
Members
Become a member!
Our members play an important role in shaping our organisation.
Join today and be a part of this vibrant community, enjoying arts and culture in a truly unique setting year-round!
We’re deeply grateful for your commitment and loyalty.
Castlemaine Goods Shed
Built to store rail freight in the 1860’s the Castlemaine is a Victorian-era building now the home to the Castlemaine state Festival.
In 2025 the Goods Shed underwent further refurbishments to revitalise the building.
From April 2026 the Goods Shed will be available for one-off and regular events, activities and performances. In the run up to the Festival it will become a creative production hub and be used by local artists who are developing works for the 2026 Festival.
Please contact information@castlemainefestival.com.au for booking enquiries.
Latest News
Latest News
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