(Updated December 2024)
We’ve put together a quick holiday season gift and get together guide from businesses at The Mill Castlemaine.
GIFT IDEAS
This gifting season is an opportunity to think local, ethical and handmade when you buy. It’s a wonderful way to support local small businesses.
Here are some of the many options available from businesses at The Mill Castlemaine.
This year’s Cabosse & Feve Chocolates Christmas range comprises around 13 different products, all made on site, from baubles with coated almonds inside, chocolate trees, different special pralines, shards and special marshmallows every week.
The much-anticipated Advent calendar (pictured), which took over 10 months to organise and containing 24 different chocolates for every window, sold out very quickly! Due to its popularity it will make a return for Christmas 2025.
Another super popular product, the chocolate salami, is flying out the door within 10 minutes of hitting the shelves. Now available in two sizes, it is recommended you place an order for these (and other Christmas chocolates) online to avoid disappointment.
Not looking for the Christmas vibe? There are plenty of other fabulous products to choose from.
Open EVERY DAY from Wednesday 18th to Tuesday 24th December from 10am to 4.30pm then taking a well-earned break until Wednesday 15th January 2025.
WOOLLYKINS’ Textile Repair Kits for young and old are the perfect gift for Christmas! Be inspired to attend to your wardrobe with creativity and the spirit of resourcefulness. Woollykins aims to help you get the most out of your wardrobe by making it last the test of time. With their carefully selected wool care products and a little mending love they help you keep your woollens in great condition for life. Their Darning Kit has quickly become the essential modern mending kit for textile and planet lovers everywhere.
Orders can be placed online here for local pick up Monday to Saturday.
All Woollykins garments can be viewed in their studio at The Mill Castlemaine and purchased online at woollykins.com.au
How about giving the gift of relaxation and pampering this season?
Mimosa Botanicals is an old-world apothecary studio which specialises in creating luxurious bath soaks, artisanal apothecary goods, and botanical perfumes that embody the essence of nature’s finest offerings.
Their products are 100% free from synthetics ensuring that you can indulge in guilt-free luxury that’s gentle on both your skin and the environment.
Explore the whole range online here. Need to pick up a gift in a hurry? A range of Mimosa Botanicals products is also stocked in the CastleMade section of the Castlemaine Vintage Bazaar, open every day from 10am to 5pm.
Handpicked Ethical Floristry is once again offering Christmas wreaths, completely handmade from local grape and wisteria vines woven with gorgeous locally grown florals. Stocks are limited so order yours now!
Of course, there are also fabulous ethical and sustainable floral arrangements. Summer flowers are in bloom with dahlia, hydrangea, roses, larkspur, scabiosa, carnations, sunflowers, canterbury bells, snapdragons, and more! The last of the woody stemmed flowers for the year are blooming, such as king protea and luecospermum, and will finish in January.
Ali will OPEN the Handpicked Studio on Saturday the 21st, Monday the 23rd and Tuesday the 24th of December from 10am to 2pm.
Fresh flowers, Christmas wreaths and Christmas table arrangements will be available to purchase. As will chocolates, bath salts and perfumes, vintage vases and vessels, and floral mechanics such as kenzans, chicken wire and floral tack. Ali also offers eco friendly gift wrapping in the Handpicked style of brown kraft paper, twine and florals.
And if you’re looking for a gift that is a bit different, check out the Vintage Vase Club – an online site that celebrates flowers and vintage vases while teaching members how to design and decorate via regular video content. This is a subscription-based membership.
Ali encourages people to pre-order their flowers via the website or by email hello@handpickedfloristry.com or phone (during business hours) 0435 457125.
Give the gift of comfort this Christmas with Wonderpants organic cotton underpants, ethically made right here at The Mill Castlemaine. Available in the Castlemaine Vintage Bazaar and on the Wonderpants website.
Left it to the last minute? Gift vouchers are also available.
Speaking of gift vouchers…. a gift voucher from the Castlemaine Vintage Bazaar is the perfect festive gift!
There’s definitely something for everyone.
From hand made gifts, vintage vinyl, not-fast fashion, ships in bottles, Lego, coffee table books, books about coffee tables and everything you’re not looking for – plus a lot of things you are looking for.
Pick up your voucher in store during opening hours.
Open 7 days a week from 10am-5pm, closed Christmas Day only.
Find something made with heart, soul and boundless imagination in the art studios at The Mill Castlemaine.
Artpuff25 is currently showing small works by artists who have exhibited in the Artpuff Studio in their first 3 years. Small works = beautiful, unique, gift-buying possibilities. Open Thursday to Sunday from 11am-5pm.
The Drying Shed Art Space and Studio MA56 have a broad range of artists in residence working in a variety of media and styles. Both are open Wednesday to Monday from 10.30am-3.30pm (ish). All are open on public holidays.
LOCAL FOOD AND BEVERAGES
We’ve got festive season gifting and meals all wrapped up with our list of local produce and other delicious fare from makers at The Mill Castlemaine.
Your Christmas table will be the talk of the town when you serve Oakwood Smallgoods Aussie free range porchetta or rolled loin pork roast with all the trimmings!
Orders for Christmas hams are available on 0449 857212 until the 20/12/24 and all orders for hams, charcuterie and smallgoods must be picked up by 12 noon on 24/12/24. They can also take orders for porchetta roasts, smoked trout/salmon/chicken, turkey and everything else to make your Christmas table a vision to remember and your taste buds to enjoy! Gift boxes to suit all budgets are available in shop or by order.
Oakwood will be open EVERY DAY from Thursday 12th to Monday 23rd December 9am to 4pm…Tuesday 24th December from 9am to 2pm.
They will be closed from 2pm on 24/12/24 and will reopen on Thursday 23/1/25 ready for the Australia Day weekend with fresh sausages and meats for the bbq and charcuterie for those platters.
Other options for food and beverage, direct from the maker, include Shedshaker Brewing Co‘s range of craft beers, Boomtown Winermakers local wines and gift cards (redeemable in the Bistro or for a wine purchase in the Cellar Bar), Long Paddock Cheese artisan cheeses and dairy products, Icecream Republic take-home tubs, including special Christmas flavours such as Christmas Pudding, Bourbon Eggnog, Pavlova and Nan’s choc rumball (vegan), Harvest Fruit and Veg fresh, local and organic produce, Cabosse & Feve Chocolates, Sprout Bakery sourdough goods and then freshly roasted coffee beans from Coffee Basics / Das Kaffeehaus – available in the cafe or online.
GET TOGETHERS
If you’re looking for a location to celebrate with work mates, friends and family, leaving all the work to others, The Mill Castlemaine has fabulous dine-in hospitality offerings, with Das Kaffeehaus, Shedshaker Brewing Company’s Taproom and Boomtown Winemakers all offering a range of delicious eating and drinking experiences.
