Plans to transform the historic Castlemaine Goods Shed into a premier performing and creative arts space have moved a step closer following the appointment of the builders to lead the next stage of the site’s redevelopment.Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards visited the site on Monday morning to announce that McCorkell Constructions has been awarded the contract for the design and construction of the $6 million state government-backed project, which will create three flexible spaces within the expansive complex for exhibitions, events, performance and other creative activities.

McCorkell Constructions is now working with the Castlemaine State Festival team to finalise the designs, with construction due to commence in mid-November and run until mid-2025.

McCorkell Constructions has committed to employing local workers as part of the project that will see the building fitted out with performance and multi-arts spaces capable of hosting hundreds of audience members.As well as being a new flagship venue for the biennial Castlemaine State Festival, the redevelopment will enable the Goods Shed to operate as a year-round creative and cultural hub, creating a new revenue stream that will help fuel the festival into the future.

The redevelopment will be sensitive to the building’s heritage and will provide much-needed space for local and visiting artists to work while creating a new drawcard destination where community members and visitors can enjoy a program of creative and cultural events.The first stage of the Goods Shed transformation was completed in April 2020.

This work included creating office space for Castlemaine State Festival’s headquarters, meeting rooms, a co-working area for local businesses and a creative space available for hire to creative and community groups.

The Castlemaine State Festival offices and workspaces at the northern end of the complex will remain open during the upcoming construction works.

The Goods Shed’s hire spaces will close during construction but reopen with new transformed spaces for use and hire by Spring 2025.Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards said the site has played a big part in Castlemaine and Victoria’s history in connection with the local railway and in wartime and this project will complete its transformation, giving it new life and purpose.”That’s a win for the local and visiting artists and arts lovers alike.”

Castlemaine State Festival board chair Chris Capper said that they were absolutely delighted to see the Stage 2 of the Goods Shed project about to commence.

He thanked everyone who had assisted with getting the project to this point, including past and present board members, the state government, project managers RP Infrastructure and the community which has backed the CSF through a challenging 12 to 18 months.

“Come Spring next year, we’ll have a new venue and performance arts space available for use by creative and community groups from Castlemaine and the greater region which will complement all the other wonderful local venues we work with,” he said. “And in March 2026 – the 50th anniversary of the Castlemaine State Festival – the redeveloped Goods Shed will be jumping with festival events. What a legacy for the Castlemaine community and for all our supporters! “RP Infrastructure director Stephanie Hope said they have been supporting Castlemaine State Festival from the initial stages of this important project and are so pleased for all involved to see it get to this major milestone.

“We look forward to continue working with the festival, Creative Victoria and McCorkell Construction to bring this project to completion,” she said.Mount Alexander Shire Councillor Gary McClure said the current amenities block in the centre of the building will be removed to make way for the development. “An all new state-of-the-art amenities suitable for hosting large events will be installed at the southern end of the building and the space between the administration area and amenities will be reimagined into three flexible performing arts/creative spaces,” he said.

McCorkell constructions manager Ross Dowling said their Central Highlands team had just wrapped works on the Old Kyneton Primary School redevelopment and are looking forward to delivering another local project.”

We were able to offer heritage advice and cost planning on this project in the early stages and are thrilled to have been selected to complete the works on the heritage listed building,” he said.”We will be working closely with groups such as Heritage Victoria and Creative Victoria to deliver Castlemaine State Festival two performing/creative spaces and a foyer which can be used separately or as one large venue, while also honouring the heritage of the building and its rail past,” he said.

Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards and Castlemaine State Festival chair Chris Capper look over the plans and vision boards for the project.