Castlemaine Historical Society Inc.

The society was formed in 1965 and aims to study, record and promote the historical heritage of Castlemaine and district.

These aims are achieved by:

• meetings and exhibitions
• monthly newsletter
• guided tours
• the development, cataloguing and maintenance of an extensive local and family historical archive
• the provisions of a research service.  

 In 1996 the society was granted a lease to occupy the Former Court House from the Mount Alexander Shire Council. In 2010, the Executive Committee of CHSI was formally appointed as Committee of Management of the heritage listed and State government owned Former Court House and grounds. Consequently, we have the legal obligation to ‘manage, improve, maintain, and control the reserve for the purposes for which it is reserved.’ 

The responsibility means we have to provide the funds and labour to maintain the property, providing a challenge for all involved. This task would not be possible without the wonderful volunteers who give freely of their time to maintain the grounds and the building and raise the necessary funding.

Archives

The Society’s collection includes a database of some 76,000 plus indexed items, including early directories, voters’ lists, index to the local newspaper, as well as indexes to a wide range of mining, school, church and other records. As a Place of Deposit (POD) under the Public Record Act the society holds an extensive collection of temporary Local and State Government records.

Anyone wishing to study aspects of the rich history of the Mount Alexander Shire and its forerunners, or research their family heritage can access the archives in person or forward a request by mail.

Localities covered by the archives include Castlemaine, Campbells Creek, Chewton, Elphinstone, Faraday, Fryerstown, Guildford, Harcourt, Maldon, Muckleford, Newstead, Taradale, Vaughan, and Yapeen. Parishes covered by the archives include Bradford, Castlemaine, Campbell Town, Emberton, Fryers, Guildford, Harcourt, Hawkstone, Holcombe, Maldon, Ravenswood, Redesdale, Sandon, Strangways, Sutton Grange, Yandoit and Walmer.

Location

The Former Court House,  7 Goldsmith Crescent,  Castlemaine 3450  View Map

-37.0670976,144.2112923

7 Goldsmith Crescent , Castlemaine 3450

The Former Court House

7 Goldsmith Crescent , Castlemaine 3450

Castlemaine Historical Society Inc.