Woop Woop Mini Golf & Sculpture Gardens at Harcourt has reopened its doors and is inviting everyone to come together for a free community day and fundraiser as part of the symbolic ‘Harcourt Reopen’ event this Saturday February 21.
From 9am to 4pm, the focus is simple. The gates are open. Entry is free. There’ll be a free sausage sizzle, free activities for kids and adults, and free mini golf for all ages.
Woop Woop owner Judy Gleeson said everyone is welcome to roam and explore the venue’s four acres of sculpture gardens —to wander, sit, play, share a laugh, or simply take it all in.
The day is open to Harcourt locals, friends and families, and the wider community.
“The event is also a chance for well-wishers from outside the area to come along, spend time in Harcourt, and connect with the local community in a relaxed, informal way,” Judy said.
Woop Woop itself was also affected by the fires. Judy said there was damage to plants, the mini golf course, infrastructure, a pergola and some of the sculptures, but she’s clear that it pales in comparison to what many others in the community have lost.
“If the fire had come just 30 metres closer, the sculpture gardens, the buildings and our home would have been gone,” Gleeson said.
“I honestly don’t know how the many CFA volunteers, emergency services and other volunteers stopped it so close. I can’t thank them enough.”
The fire raged through the nearby creek bed that borders the expansive sculpture gardens created by former owners Andy and Melva Graham and burnt right up to the edge of the newly completely mini golf course.
“We only just finished building the nine hole course at the start of December and it really complements what Melva and Andy built here. We’d had a great response in the first part of the school holidays and we’d just hosted our first children’s party,” Judy said.
“We’ve opened up to our friends in the Harcourt community in the wake of the fire, just to give the kids a space to go and take their minds off things for a little while. It’s such a lovely place to spend a few hours,” Judy said.
Alongside the free activities, the February 21 event will include a Jumbo Fundraiser Auction with funds to go to the Harcourt Progress Relief Group to support community members and local businesses affected by recent events. A Mega Raffle will also be held, with funds raised going to the Harcourt CFA and their families. Judy said more than 87 local businesses have generously donated prizes to the Auction or raffle. “We have had some incredibly generous donations. We will be auctioning off everything from an in-home performance by Mayor and muso Cr Tony Heydon, Harcourt Football Netball Club identity and fire hero ‘Buzz’ Nunn’s famous thongs, a sculpture by Sir Leslie Thornton, and lots more items (you’ll need to be there on the day to bid on those!). To bid on the auction items and purchase raffle tickets visit https://app.galabid.com/help-harcourt-heal/items
Gleeson said offering everything for free was an intentional choice.
“This is our way of giving back,” she said. “It’s about opening the doors, helping people and well-wishers connect again, and reminding ourselves that community really matters.”
There are no bookings or tickets required.
“People can just turn up,” Gleeson said. “Come as you are. Have a bit of fun. Spend time together.”
You can find Woop Woop at 171 Blackjack Road, Harcourt. Opening hours are Sat 10-8, Sun 10-5. Visit woop-woop.au for more information.
In late December a group of Grade 5 and 6 Student Representative Council students at Castlemaine Primary School were thrilled to have the opportunity to plant a dedicated Native Sensory Garden at the school.
Castlemaine Primary School teacher Daniel O’Halloran said the idea for the Sensory Space was conceived during a student leadership engagement session with former Mayor Cr Rosie Annear.
Native Sensory Gardens use native plants, textures, and sounds to create an immersive, therapeutic, and educational space that engages all five senses.
Cr Annear encouraged the students to submit an application for funding to make the garden a reality and they were delighted to receive a grant for $1000 to bring the project to life.
The students sourced the native plants locally at ASQ Garden & Landscape and planted out the new space in December to give it a chance to settle and flourish over the summer ready for the return of students in 2026.
Grade 6 students Olive, Ari, Elsa, Winnie and Grade 5 student Molly lead the project and said they hope it will provide a calming space where students who are feeling overwhelmed can visit to relax and reset before rejoining, PE, play or classes.
“We are all off to Year 7 but we really hope Molly and fellow students will enjoy the space and we look forward to coming back to visit and seeing it grow,” Olive said.
Following a massive spate of graffiti vandalism across Castlemaine last week, the Castlemaine Graffiti Busters engaged in one of their biggest busts to date on Thursday, February 5.
Eleven Busters spent only two-and-a-half hours cleaning off much of the graffiti that had desecrated the town – the biggest attack in the eight years since the group had been keeping records.
While the Busters said it was a big job, one that will require another bust soon, they found it extremely satisfying to see the results.
Seven litres of paint alone were required to clean the scrawl and offensive messages from the green fence along the Western Oval. Mount Alexander Shire Council workers and affected local traders also worked hard to clean up the mess earlier in the week.
“Our mission is to rid our beautiful historic shire of illegal, offensive and ugly tags on private property, with permission, and on other targets, such as when the graffiti obscures traffic signs, etc., creating a road hazard,” the Busters said.
“We aim to restore beauty, civic pride, and a sense of public safety and well-being. Our motto: They come back, but so do we!”
Become a buster!
The Castlemaine Graffiti Busters are a volunteer group that exists on donations and is incorporated and covered by public liability insurance through Neighbourhood Watch Castlemaine.
Training is provided to new Busters, and Busts are called on a needs basis, and participation is up to each person, depending on availability.
Every Bust is a fun, empowering social event that is always followed by cake and coffee at a local cafe.
Email castlemainegraffitibusters@gmail.com
Avant-garde, post-punk, death oompah band and cult cabaret geniuses, The Tiger Lillies, are making their long-awaited return to Australia to showcase their new album, Serenade from the Sewer, celebrating the weird, the macabre and those that society has abandoned.
Kicking off in Hobart on February 21, the tour takes in Perth Festival, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Brunswick Heads and will visit our very own Castlemaine Theatre Royal on March 7, before concluding as part of Adelaide Festival.
Olivier award-winning and Grammy nominated, The Tiger Lillies, have toured the world for over 35 years and released scores of critically acclaimed albums.
They have starred in many unforgettable theatre productions from their West End smash hit Shockheaded Peter to 2025’s A Macbeth Song, which ran for three months in Barcelona and is now touring worldwide.
With Martyn Jaques on vocals, accordion, piano and guitar; Adrian Stout on double bass, musical saw, theremin and vocals; and Budi Butenop on drums, they never cease to surprise, shock and entertain with their inimitable musical style, conjuring up the macabre magic of pre-war Berlin and fusing it with the savage edge of punk.
The Mail chatted with, Martyn Jacques, in between shows in Santiago Chile, South America, before they jetted back to Europe for a couple of shows in Majorca, Spain ahead of the Australian tour.
Martyn said they last visited Australia in 2019 and look forward to returning to our shores.
“I remember drinking Castlemaine XXXX in London in the 70s. Australian larger was very fashionable at the time. Is that still a thing?” Martyn queried.
Our journo advised Martyn the beer was now Queensland based, but he’d have to sample our local brews at Shedshaker and the Love Shack during his visit!
Martyn feels the historic theatre will really set the backdrop for the show.
Inspired by the seedy underbelly of London’s Soho district in the 1980s, Serenade from the Sewer is a melancholic yet ironic reflection of life on the margins of society; a grotesquely beautiful tale framed by the band’s signature fusion of chanson, dark cabaret and operatic punk.
Martyn said the show takes audiences on a trip back in time to the dark, pre-gentrified Soho where he lived in his 20s.
“It was a very poor area at that time. I really enjoyed my time there. The songs tell the stories of those who lived there and is a real snapshot of that period.
“I’ve gone from being a young man in my 20s immersed in that life to an old codger in my mid 60s relaying stories of people I knew then.
“It was a special time, lots of characters, interesting tales. We’ve been getting some wonderful audience response. Hopefully it will be well received by Australian audiences.
“We may also throw in a few of the old songs towards the end of the show. We have a small but dedicated fan base there who may have some requests,” he said.
To get your ticket to this unmissable show visit www.tigerlillies.com/tour
Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club held its Cantwell Cup – Kicks & Shakes tournament on Friday February 6 with 70 players and 50+ supporters, it was a fantastic night at Chewton Soldiers Memorial Park!
Congratulations go to the Eagles who walked away with the cup after an enthralling penalty shootout. Well done to everyone who organised, played, cheered, ate and cheered some more!
The club extends a big thank you to Cantwell’s for their generous contributions to the event and running the BBQ.
A big thanks also to the club volunteers for making the event such a success.
Kicks & Shakes will continue each Friday night in February.
Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club are expecting another year of record numbers so get your player registrations in early for 2026.
Registrations open for Juniors (U10-U16) on Monday February 16.
Come and Play sessions for Juniors will commence in March, keep an eye on our socials for session times.
Miniroos registrations will also open in March (Miniroos runs in terms 2 and 3), keep an eye on our socials for when these open.
Looking forward to another bumper season at Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club!
Castlemaine’s beloved arts festival returns this March with a huge lineup of events, marking the festival’s golden milestone with ten days of street parties, creativity, community and connection.
Featuring more than 55 events, and using some of the most unique spaces in the shire (including the grungy underground car park of the Maxi IGA and possibly the world’s tiniest art gallery in Chewton), the huge program has something for everyone.
Established in 1976, the festival has spent the past 50 years harnessing the energy of the abundance of creative residents in the shire to present a massive program of adventurous art in its historic and intimate spaces, and 2026 will be no different.
With bold acts, both local and international, the iconic festival includes a significant number of free and low-cost events.
Castlemaine State Festival Artistic Director Linda Sproul said the multi-arts program brings together authentic cultural experiences.
“We want to enchant audiences with the craft, imagination and depth of the work presented by the local community and visiting artists. Spanning an incredible number of cultural genres of music, art, and design events in Castlemaine and across the region, including the huge Opening Night Street Party and closing Garden Party,” she said.
“We at the festival understand the cost of living crisis. Our most expensive ticket is $50.
“The 2026 Castlemaine State Festival is all about returning art to where it should be in terms of accessibility and engagement: close up, intimate and inspiring,” Linda said.
“Castlemaine State Festival understands it is a forum for artists and creatives across the state, home to sublime spaces we can imbue with creative works. Art and cultural experiences are part of a well-lived life that should be accessible and affordable. Our program truly is an opportunity to choose your own adventure – if you can’t find something that appeals to you, you don’t have a heart beat!!”
Castlemaine State Festival Director Martin Paten explained the festival’s recent evolution further and how the 50th year will differ from past festivals.
“When you’re turning 50, you should know who you are – your mistakes – your strengths. This is a festival program deeply connected to its community and the music and arts scene,” he said.
“After the 2023 festival, Linda and I were brought on board and conducted an in-depth outreach program to seek community feedback to evolve programming in a positive direction. After a period of repair and reflection, the festival is taking flight again; lighter, more openhearted and deeply connected to community and place.”
The Castlemaine State Festival is the ultimate regional arts festival and not to be missed. The festival runs from March 20-29.
Pick up a copy of the program at the Castlemaine Visitor Information Centre or online at castlemainefestival.com.au
