Festival Information

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 celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2026 – and presented a party like no other!

The 2026 Castlemaine State Festival was held from 20-29 March 2026 and the 2028 Festival will be held from 17-16 March.

Past Festivals

2026

2023

2021

2019

2017

2015

2013

2011

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

Will Raward (from 1 December 2025)

Abby McClure

Nicola Reynolds

Jenny Ryssenbeek (until July 2025)

Marshall Segan

Luke Stokes

Brian Walters

John Wellington

2026 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 – Gary McClure

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 OAM

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

Our Patrons

2026 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 Yui 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 AM
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 & Margaret Bateman
Michael Bramwell
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

Karys Fettling
Catherine Foley
Carolen Fischer

Bill Grant
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 Gedye
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)

Our Sponsors

2026 Supporters & Partners

Government

Foundations

Major Sponsors

Event Sponsors

Media Partners

Product Supporters

Boomtown

Fazioli

MAFIC Wines

Carpet Flooring Castlemaine

Legion Office Works

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

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

Christopher Whitehead

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.

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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

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.

The 2026 Festival program included 40 Castlemaine Created presentations, in addition to over 20 New Works, Commissions and Premieres.