We’ve put together a quick guide for holiday season gifting, eating and drinking from businesses at The Mill Castlemaine.
GIFT IDEAS
This gifting season is an opportunity to think local and handmade when you buy. It’s a wonderful way to support local small businesses.
Here are some of the many options available, in no particular order, from businesses at The Mill Castlemaine.
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.
WOOLLYKINS has been busy making for the upcoming season.
Their new range of Remnant Toddler Pantaloons has just launched. Sewn on site from remnant fabrics from their UMIFORM linen past season collections, the pantaloons are designed and made in Castlemaine for moving and grooving. You can check them out online here.
Also new in the Woollykins Studio is their latest batch of Plant Dyed Shibori organic wool tees and socks. Wearing fine layers of pure merino wool keeps you cool in Summer. Merino wool provides natural UV protection, is breathable, temperature regulating and requires far less washing. The tees are made from GOTS certified organic merino and are hand dyed in Castlemaine at the Woollykins Studio. They are available in sizes from 1-15yrs, with women’s sizes coming soon. Find them online here.
All Woollykins garments can be viewed in our studio at The Mill Castlemaine – open Wednesday to Saturday, and purchased online at woollykins.com.au
How about giving the gift of relaxation and pampering this season?
Mimosa Botanicals range of bath soaks are handcrafted, using nature’s best ingredients.
There’s a special offer for purchasing 3 sachets, so you can share them around or keep some for yourself!
Mimosa Botanicals also has a range of handcrafted cold pressed Farmhouse Soap made with Australian olive oil, organic shea and coconut butters to provide a nourishing cleanse. Scented with pure essential oil blends and coloured with clays and organic botanicals, these make wonderful gifts.
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! And as always, Handpicked will have beautiful hampers of locally grown seasonal flowers, local wines, ethical chocolate, and bath soaks from Mimosa Botanicals.
All available via the online store.
This year’s Cabosse & Feve Chocolates Christmas range includes hand decorated trees, hand decorated baubles with coated almonds inside, stars, gingerbread shards, caramel and hazelnut stars, their very popular chocolate salami, and some special last minute releases.
All products are available online and in store for pickup and delivery only. This is one of their busiest periods of the year, so if you want something in particular, put an order through so they can put it aside for you.
Cabosse & Feve Chocolates also recently launched their (already very popular) hazelnut spread.
They roast and grind the hazelnuts in house, offering either crunchy or smooth finish. Containing over 62% hazelnuts (compared to most supermarket spreads which only contain 13% to 20% hazelnuts), this spread has no palm oil and is part of their vegan range.
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.
Remember to check the art studios on site too, where you’ll find something made with heart, soul and boundless imagination: Artpuff is open Thursday to Sunday from 11am-5pm and The Drying Shed Art Space and Studio MA56 are all open Friday to Monday from 11am-3pm. All are open on public holidays.
After some goodies for that beer lover in your life?
Shedshaker Brewing Co. has got Christmas sorted and have even wrapped it for you.
As well as their usual quality merch, they’ve got a neat $50 gift pack with 12 of their beers all ready to go.
Pop in from 12pm any day and that last minute gift will be sorted.
LOCAL FOOD AND BEVERAGES
We’ve got the festive season 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! Order yours now by phoning 0449 857212, and don’t forget the ham (glazed or not) or the charcuterie to enjoy on platters with your family and friends. Oakwood Smallgoods will trade right up to 2pm on Christmas Eve and will then take a well-earned break until Thursday 25th January.
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 eating and drinking experiences.
BOOMTOWN Boombox for Christmas 2023
A yule tide wine box to cover all bases from pre Christmas anxiety, to Christmas decadence. Mostly white, rose and light red leaning this year.
Special price of $150 (RRP $195)
In the box:
2023 BUENA ONDA Pet Nat…a new short run…macerated gris and bubbles.
2023 MINIM PATSY Fiano | Vermentino…universal summer favourite.
2021 MINIM COLBO VERMENTINO…all skins, barrel aged, complex, layered and savoury.
2022 MINIM ROSE…of shiraz that we farm very well, a tiny spritz in the best way.
2022 MINIM FLOYD…short macerated nero tavola and pinot gris…fridge red, bright fruited with a bristle of tannin.
2021 MINIM YANDOIT BARBERA…big, loud, bright and savoury…loads of acid, gentle tannin, fridgable and bbq ready.
Order by calling 0417 237155 or at the cellar door during opening hours.
Other options for food and beverage, direct from the maker, include Shedshaker Brewing Co‘s range of craft beer, Long Paddock Cheese artisan cheeses and dairy products, Icecream Republic take-home tubs, including special Christmas flavour, 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.
