Our approach was incremental, taking the site in stages and bringing Council and community along with the intentions and uses to ensure everyone had a positive interest in seeing the site successfully remodelled and reintegrated into Castlemaine’s urban, soclal and creative fabric.

The industrial site was formerly used as a mill and then a carpet factory, but over the last ten years has been reimagined and reconfigured as a vintage hub, food, arts and artisan manufacturing hive for Castlemaine. It’s a wonderful example of the benefits and opportunities in adaptive land re-use.

The Mill is anchored by the Castlemaine Vintage Bazaar, a sprawling undercover vintage market, complemented by Platform No. 5 and various artists and artisans exhibiting and running classes in quirky studio spaces.

Coffee Basics are on-site roasters and the amazing Das Kaffeehaus is their flagship café. Food manufacturers include Oakwood Smallgoods Co, Boomtown Wine, Sprout Bakery and Icecream Republic. It is also home to Long Paddock Cheese and Cheese Making School, and the most recently revitalised section of the site is the Shedshaker Brewing Taproom.

The site’s artisan and wellness precincts include furniture making, perfumery, a Pilates studio and a wide variety of other makers, builders and craftspeople.

The Mill has a handsome industrial aesthetic – exposed brick work finish and the stainless steel of the brewery, the mixture of building styles and forms retained. In addition, the rich history of the site is highlighted and incorporated through a visual progressive exhibition around and through the Mill, for the entertainment of visitors as they explore. More information about these and other businesses can be found on The Mill Castlemaine website.