Welcome to Connect Mount Alexander

Welcome to Connect Mount Alexander, an online space for the community to connect with each other, share information, find local support services and promote local community groups and events.

Connect Mount Alexander will enable you to: – Create a profile for your NFP community group or club – Promote and/or find local community events and activities – Share skills, resources and volunteers – Access resources to help manage your volunteers – Find local support during emergencies and information on how to plan for them

(Explore the many wonderful landmarks, places and fun things that the Mount Alexander Shire has to offer by hovering over some of the features in the illustration below).

Scarred trees

Our shire has many older native trees, with visible scarring caused by the removal or bark by Indigenous people for use as canoes, containers and shields.

Taradale viaduct

This spectacular bluestone and iron crossing above Back Creek near Taradale, carries the Melbourne to Bendigo rail line.

The Mill, Castlemaine

Visit for interesting, locally made crafts and local produce.

Lalgambook (Mount Franklin), Tarrengower & Leanganook (Mount Alexander) are the three highest peaks in our area.

Harcourt apples & cider

Apple orchards were first planted near Harcourt in 1857. The Harcourt Applefest in March marks the arrival of new season apples.

Art Gallery

Mount Alexander Shire is awash with privately owned art galleries and studios. The Castlemaine Art Museum, houses one of regional Victoria’s most important art collections.

Hot Rod Capital

It’s true. Alongside Castlemaine’s artists are the equally creative and skilled hot-rodders. Castlemaine’s Hot Rod Centre has a workspace and showroom renowned internationally.

Castlemaine Botanical Gardens

Stately stone pines, cork oaks and beautiful weeping elms spread across and shade these heritage listed gardens gazetted in 1860 and now home to an expansive playground.

Landcare

At least 17 Landcare groups active in Mount Alexander Shire plant trees, poison invasive cactus, restore eroded areas, protect rare plants and record the area’s botanical and ecological significance.

Garfield Waterwheel

This remnant once held a wheel - 22 metres across - which, under the force of falling water, turned to power an ore-crushing stamp battery.

Goldfields Track

This walking and mountain biking track linking Ballarat and Bendigo includes the Dry Diggings Track (Daylesford to Castlemaine) and the Leanganook Track (Castlemaine to Bendigo).

Slag Heap

These mounds of mine waste were left when miners turned the country upside down looking for gold during the great rush from 1852 onwards.

First Notable Town

Maldon was declared Australia’s First Notable Town by the National Trust in 1966, recognising its significance as a conserved example of early Australian towns.

Open Garden

For a fortnight in the spring of every second year, gardeners and garden lovers flock to the Castlemaine and District Festival of Gardens.

Local Produce

Honey, apples (Harcourt), cherries (Maldon), olives, eggs, ice-cream, wine and beer, fresh vegies (), milk & yoghurt () and cheese () are produced locally.

Djaara Country

Mount Alexander Shire is in the land of the Dja Dja Warrung or Djaara people.

Eltham Copper Butterfly

Central Victoria is home to the largest known population of this threatened butterfly in the world. People are encouraged to plant its host understorey plant, Sweet Bursaria, to help it survive.

Loddon River

Victoria’s second-longest river (after the Goulburn River) begins in the Great Dividing Range near Trentham. In Mount Alexander Shire it flows through Guildford and is dammed between Newstead and Baringhup to form Cairn Curran Reservoir.

Guildford Big Tree

With a girth of 9.35m, a canopy spread of 34 m and a height or at least 30m, this River Red Gum near the Guildford Store is on the National Trust’s Register of Significant Trees in Victoria.

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