CASSOC supports the endeavours of the Gold Camp Castlemaine Inc committee, which campaigns for the Gold Commissioner’s Camp historic precinct and more specifically, the Camp Reserve. GCC maintains that this is Castlemaine’s premier historic precinct and that the historic significance of the area and its central role in the 1851 goldrush is poorly understood. As a result, it is constantly at risk from development that is insensitive to the unique precinct.
Currently the Camp Reserve Planning Application PA077/2025 is being advertised, and the current plan for a new sports complex damages the most historically significant part of the Camp Reserve. Gold Camp Castlemaine advocates for creative problem solving around preserving and enhancing the historic site, while achieving substantial upgrades to the sports facilities.
To date the GCC group has fundraised, has created Camp Reserve merchandise of shopping bags with pivotal images, boxed cards, maps and, with CASSOC, have published a book written by Dr Bob Marmion about the colonial administrative, the military and the policing history of Camp Reserve. GCC has, with the assistance of CASSOC, run ambitious tours of the Government Camp and has tirelessly driven a public education campaign.
Now, in this active phase of the planning application, Gold Camp Castlemaine is hosting a public meeting and education event about the plans where they will outline other ways of achieving far better outcomes.
Primarily GCC’s concern is the integrity of the historic precinct. GCC also argues that there are many compelling reasons to reject this particular plan. It is extremely costly, it is building public assets on a flood plain which experiences cyclical extreme inundation, it is a facility that will benefit a select few and not the wider community. The community consultation process was poor; significant large old tress will be removed and it is not a climate-resilient plan.
Heritage advocacy is hard work, but the benefits to Castlemaine make this work worthwhile!
So what can you do?
- Submit an objection and encourage your friends to do the same
- Come to the community meeting on Sunday 15 March 4pm-6pm at the Old Castlemaine Gaol
- Write letters to the local papers
- Let your local and federal MPs know that you do not support the plan
- Contribute to a VCAT fund
- Visit the Gold Camp Castlemaine site here to read a history of the Government Camp.
Chief Commissioner’s Camp, Castlemaine, 1853