Hottest Nuggets of 2025

★ HOTTEST NUGGETS OF 2025 ★

The Nugget is a love letter to Castlemaine that kicked off in late 2024.

I am still a bit bamboozled by how quickly it’s grown — and by the fact that we keep it rolling week after week through life, kids, jobs and everything else.

I didn’t manage to celebrate the Nugget’s first birthday back in November, so I’m stealing a moment from that New Year’s reflective haze to look back on our 2025 journey together.

Below are the most-read Nuggets of the past 12 months. These stories are about creators and connectors who make life in this town so special. Read their stories.

 10. Bron Grieve on how to connect with young people 

 9. Heal and relax with Harry and Jem 

 8. Paddock Bomg: a gig and an album 

 7. Hayley West on reclaiming the end 

 6. The restaurant that couldn’t exist anywhere else 

 5. Wow, pow, chow with Rich Moffat

 4. Meet your next airport ride

 3. Purpose and painting with Jez Forbes

 2. Experimental art workshops land in Castlemaine 

 1. The story behind Upstander + the Nugget’s new pup 

The Nugget would likely have fallen off a cliff yonks ago if you hadn’t kept opening it, reading it and sharing it. Thank you, truly.

Extra love to my sparkly co-host, Shelley. The Nugget is better, and still alive, because of her.

Thanks to Steph, Rich, Sue and Lauz at MainFM for giving us a home and loads of support.

Big thanks to Tessa O’Brien for writing some sweet stories and to Tegan Grace for guest hosting on the Nugget radio show.

Here are some of my favourite convos from the year, if you feel like a holiday listen:

• Episode 3 with Jason Lester and Jurassic Park’s John Roebuck 

• Episode 7 with Kacey Sinclair

• Episode 19 with Marty Sharples 

• Episode 22 Jason Gibson

Mmmmmwha and happy New Year to you all. xo

♡˖ EVENTS ˖♡

• 🎵 The Complete Unknowns, Shedshaker, Fri, 2 Jan, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

• 📽️ Song Sung Blue, Theatre Royal, Sat, 3 Jan, 4:00 PM *Hugh Jackman & Kate Hudson form a Neil Diamond tribute band

• 🧺 Castlemaine Farmers Market, Western Reserve, Sun, 4 Jan, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

• 📽️ Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy Marathon, Theatre Royal, Sun, 4 Jan, 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM & 7:30 PM

• 🎵 Victoriana Gaye, Shedshaker, Sun, 4 Jan, 5:00 PM *Indie folk rock

• 🌊 Aqua Aerobics, Castlemaine Pool, Mon, 8 Jan, 6:00 PM

• 🎵 The Pairs, Shedshaker, Thurs, 8 Jan, 8:00 PM *Canadian folk trio

• 🎉🌊 Inflatable Wibit & Pizza Party, Newstead Pool, Sat, 10 Jan, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

• 🎵 Fleetmac Wood, Theatre Royal, Sat, 10 Jan, 7:00 PM *A party & DJ AV show that reworks the Mac into electronic genres

• 🎵 Joe Goddard (Hot Chip) DJ set, Theatre Royal, Sun, 11 Jan, 7:00 PM

• 🎭 Labyrinth in the Library, Castlemaine Library, Tues, 13 Jan, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM *Magical interactive show, ages 4+

• 🎨 NGV Kids on Tour: Take the Cake, Castlemaine Library, Thurs, 15 Jan, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM *Cake art session, ages 5+

• 🎵 The Grogans Regional Tour, Theatre Royal, Fri, 16 Jan, 7:30 PM *Psychadelic surf rock with a side of blues and punk

• 🎵 Dolly Parton Tribute, Shedshaker, Fri, 16 Jan, 8:00 PM *Celebrate the country queen’s 80th birthday

• 🎵 Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird, Theatre Royal, Sat, 17 Jan, 7:30 PM *Euphoric, orchestral indie

• 🏺 Summer Pottery Wheel Throwing Course, Terra Ceramics, Mon, 20 Jan

• 🎲 Italian Card Games, Castlemaine Library, Thurs, 22 Jan, 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM *Play a traditional game in a relaxed social setting

• 🎵 DJ Luqman & The Lexies, Harcourt Pool, Thurs, 22 Jan, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM *Trailer stage, free concert!

• 🎵 DJ Luqman & The Lexies, Newstead Pool, Fri, 23 Jan, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM *Trailer stage, free concert!

• 🎵 Newstead Live, various Newstead locations, Fri 23 Jan - Mon, 26 Jan

• 🎵 DJ Luqman & Fionn Kennedy, Chewton Pool, Sat, 24 Jan, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM *Trailer stage, free concert!

• 🎵 Lighting and Rhinestones, Shedshaker, Sun, 25 Jan, 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM *alt-country festival

• 🌳 Castlemaine Bot Gardens Walking Tour, Thurs, 29 Jan, 9:30 AM *Meet at the main gates at Walker St and Downes Rd

• 🎵 DJ Luqman + Frieda & Fynn, Castlemaine Pool, Thurs, 29 Jan, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM *Trailer stage, free concert!

• 🀄 Play Mahjong, Castlemaine Library, Thurs, 29 Jan, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM *Beginners and experienced players welcome

• ✍🏽 Memoir Writing w/ Carmel Bird, Castlemaine Library, Fri, 30 Jan, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

• 🎵 DJ Luqman + Frieda & Fynn, Maldon Pool, Fri, 30 Jan, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM *Trailer stage, free concert!

𖥔 TALK TO MOI PLOISE 𖥔

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• all about your upcoming event, and

• who we should interview next. xx