Saturday Sessions at Cohoots
2018-07-14 08:00 - 2018-08-04 17:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | CoHoots Workspace, 40 Forest Street, Castlemaine, Vic, 3450, Australia
Generally we hibernate indoors all winter waiting for it to get warm again. So while sitting around why not skill-up or prepare to action that change you have been thinking about.
Cohoots have put together a variety of workshops for people who want to develop their businesses, organisations, self or career.
The workshops, starting Sat 30 June, have been carefully selected to present approaches suited to our environment and work/life style.
To find out more or book in, click HERE.

Advanced Marketing: How to make your strategy work smarter
2018-08-06 09:30 - 13:00 | Council Chambers at the Civic Centre, Corner Lyttleton and Lloyd streets, Castlemaine
The Mount Alexander Shire Council small business workshops are delivered in partnership with Small Business Victoria and are SO popular that they usually sell out days or even weeks before.
Their August workshop, Advanced Marketing is no exception. There’s only two tickets remaining. If you want to make your marketing strategy work harder, jump on the booking link and reserve the last two tickets to this fast paced and informative workshop.
Are you ready to position your business at the next level?
Find out how to boost your current marketing strategy and position your business for future growth at this hands-on workshop in August.
The Advanced Marketing workshop follows on from June’s Marketing workshop which was a big success and sold out days before hand. To avoid disappointment book your ticket and reserve your place.
Small Business Victoria workshops hosted by Mount Alexander Shire Council in Castlemaine are fast paced, informative and interactive as well as being very affordable.

After 5 Networking Drinks
2018-08-16 17:00 - 19:00 | The Taproom, 1-9 Walker Street, Castlemaine, 3450, Australia
It’s been awhile since the business community caught up for a social drink. Business Mount Alexander is running this event at The Taproom for people to come along and meet other people running or working in business in the Mt Alexander shire.
Also a chance to meet the BMA committee and share your ideas about succeeding in business.
Snacks provided. Drinks at bar prices. Queries to Genevieve via gen@businessmountalexander.org.au
All welcome!
Oh, and stay on for the MainFM Trivia from 7pm!

Already Online?: How to drive your digital marketing further
2018-09-03 09:30 - 13:30 | Council Chambers at the Civic Centre, Corner Lyttleton and Lloyd streets, Castlemaine
The online world is rapidly evolving.
If you’re already online and thinking ‘now, what…?’ or not sure where to direct your energy next, this workshop will prepare you to move onwards and upwards through the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Find out how to make your online choices work harder, deliver smarter business outcomes and get the most return from your digital dollar at this next-level workshop for anyone who’s already on top of the basics.
You will learn how to:

Decide on a digital strategy right for your business
Build your own action plan
Measure your website against best practice
Make the most of online marketing and learn how to measure its impact
Manage risk, privacy and cybersecurity
Access tools, templates, support and resources in future

The Already Online workshop follows on from August’s Advanced Marketing workshop which was a big success and sold out weeks before hand. To avoid disappointment book your ticket and reserve your place.
Small Business Victoria workshops hosted by Mount Alexander Shire Council in Castlemaine are fast paced, informative and interactive as well as being very affordable.
For enquiries about small business workshops or business mentoring, call Eva Parkin, Economic Development Officer on 5471 1805 or email.

BMA Breaky at Saffs
2018-11-23 07:45 - 09:15 | Saffs Cafe, 64 Mostyn Street, Castlemaine, Vic, 3450
Come along to Business Mt Alexander’s networking breakfast on Friday 23rd Nov at Saffs. Meet people from a variety of businesses in the shire and including the BMA committee!
Larry O’Toole from Graffiti Publications is our guest speaker who will share with us about the Hot Rod Centre at the old CSC campus on Etty Street and how this site is being transformed into a resource for business and community.
Time: 7.45am for an 8am start.
Cost: This event is order and pay your own way.
Please RSVP your attendance to gen@businessmountalexander.org.au

Annual General Meeting - BMA
2019-07-10 18:30 - 20:00 | We Push Buttons Studio, Level 1, 12-18 Hargraves Street, Castlemaine, Vic, 3450
The Committee of Business Mount Alexander Inc recently met to discuss the future of the business association. The Executive have expressed their intention to step down from their roles at the next Annual General Meeting, set for 10 July. Expressions of Interest are sought for a new BMA Committee.
If you’d like to join or know of someone who might, please get in touch with gen@businessmountalexander.org.au for more information.
Nibbles and refreshments will be supplied and there will be an opportunity for informal networking.

BMA Special General Meeting
2019-08-23 17:00 - 17:30 | The Taproom, 1-9 Walker Street, Castlemaine, 3450, Australia
Notice of Special Meeting
A request has been made and accepted to hold a Special General Meeting for the following purposes:

Election of new committee and executive roles

It has been identified that the membership of five of the committee members elected at the AGM (10 July) had not been fully processed. This process will be complete by 23 August and therefore, as per the Model Rules for the association, all five will be eligible for election to the committee. Consequently, we will re-elect the Committee and Executive for BMA at the Special General Meeting so that due process is upheld.

Membership fees

The committee has proposed that we implement a flat rate of $120 per annum, but only charge the fee for a maximum of 6 months (i.e $60) this financial year. We will vote on this at the SGM.
The meeting will be held at:
The Taproom on 23 August at 5:00pm
A minimum of ten members are required to form a quorum, so we ask that you please confirm your attendance at this meeting by emailing gen@businessmountalexander.org.au

After 5 Networking Drinks
2019-08-23 17:30 - 18:30 | The Taproom, 1-9 Walker Street, Castlemaine, 3450, Australia
BMA is hosting our next After 5 social drinks night at The Taproom on Friday 23 August. Please join us and meet other local people in business, chat with the new BMA Committee and share your ideas about succeeding in business.
Eva Parkin (Economic Development/MASC) will give a five minute spiel about next year’s Mount Alexander Business Awards.
Pizza/snacks provided. Drinks at bar prices. All welcome!
Stay on for live music from 8pm with Chris Harold
RSVP – gen@businessmountalexander.org.au

Networking Breakfast - Harcourt Produce & General Store
2019-09-20 07:30 - 09:00 | Harcourt Produce & General Store, 115 Harmony Way, Harcourt, Vic, 3453
Next Friday, join us for a networking breakfast at the newly opened General Store in Harcourt. A chance to see experience this local cafe that has been beautifully renovated and decorated, plus catch up with other business people from around the shire, including the BMA Committee.
It will be pay your own way – more details to come regarding menu choices.
RSVP – gen@businessmountalexander.org.au

Networking Night in Maldon
2019-10-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Kangaroo Hotel, 89 High Street, Maldon, Vic, 3463
BMA are teaming up with Maldon Inc at the Kangaroo Hotel on Tues 22 Oct for a night of networking. Join us from 6pm for a drink, nibbles and a chat. We’ll have a guest speaker (tba). Sure to be a fun night. All welcome.

Healthy Business Event
2019-11-19 18:00 - 21:00 | The Bridge Hotel, 21-23 Walker Street, Castlemaine, Vic, 3450, Australia
Come along to this special event at the Bridge Hotel to hear more about looking after yourself and your employees. Jeremy Forbes from HALT and a representative from CHIRP will be guest speakers on the night.
If you have always wanted to hear Jeremy speak about HALT, but never had the opportunity, come along. It’s also a great opportunity to find out what is happening with CHIRP and what services they deliver.
Finger food provided and drinks at bar prices.

Mount Alexander Business Awards - Gala Dinner
2019-12-05 18:00 - 22:00 | Castlemaine Town Hall, 25 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine, Vic, 3450, Australia
2017 Award winners Healing Well and We Push Buttons
The Mount Alexander Business Awards is a biennial program that showcases, publicly acknowledges and celebrates the achievements of our local businesses.
With judging completed the countdown is on until the 2019 Awards ceremony. Finalists have been announced and the winners will be revealed at the gala event on 5 December – so book your ticket now!
The awards ceremony will kick off with drinks at 6.00pm on Thursday 5 December at the Castlemaine Town Hall. John Fleming, entertainer from Strange Weird Little Guys will be your host for the evening.
An independent judging panel have visited shortlisted businesses and the winners of each of the eight categories will go in the running for the coveted Business of the Year award and $2,000 prize money.
The Mount Alexander Business Awards are run by Mount Alexander Shire Council in partnership with The Midland Express/Castlemaine Mail and are proudly supported by Business Mount Alexander, Good Earth Garden Supplies, Maldon Inc., Maldon & District Community Bank® , Small Business Victoria and Workspace Australia.
The cost for tickets is $40 with drinks and dinner provided. Book your tickets now.

Meet the Candidates 2020
2020-10-08 19:30 - 21:00 | Online
Business Mount Alexander, in partnership with Shedshaker Brewing, are pleased to host a virtual ‘Meet the Candidates Forum’ on Thursday, 8 October at 7.30pm.
This is a Q&A with the Castlemaine Ward candidates in the 2020 Mount Alexander Council elections, live-streamed from The Taproom and hosted on the Business Mount Alexander + Castlemainia Facebook platforms.
This event will be formally MC’d and candidates will have the opportunity to introduce themselves and respond to pre-prepared questions submitted by the Mt Alexander community.
N.B. due to COVID restrictions, there will not be a live audience for this meeting. Questions (video/audio/text) for one or more candidates can be sent to:
taproom@shedshakerbrewing.com
Doug and Jacqueline at The (Shedshaker) Taproom have been live streaming a diverse range of events over recent months and welcome the opportunity to provide this forum.
BMA is excited to present this opportunity for community members to hear direct from our local candidates. How do they intend to support local business? What are their ideas to stimulate economic growth? How do we balance community safety with an anticipated increase in visitation from outside the Shire? Where are the jobs of the future coming from and how can Council support innovation?
We hope you can join us and will consider submitting a question of your own.
The recording is now available via YouTube and you can also view the recording on Facebook : Shedshaker Taproom; Business Mount Alexander & Castlemania (Group).

A Conversation on Visitation
2021-03-11 18:00 - 20:30 | The Taproom, 1-9 Walker Street, Castlemaine, 3450, Australia
Business Mount Alexander plans to ride the wave of renewed energy and interest in the region by kicking off its first networking and information-sharing event of the year at the Taproom on Thursday, 11 March from 6pm for a 6:30 start to 8:30pm (at The Mill Castlemaine).
As well as showcasing innovative local entrepreneurs and offering business owners the chance to meet and mingle and to sample some wonderful local produce, the gathering will feature Anna Knight, Creative Cities Officer for the Greater Bendigo region, as guest speaker. Anna will talk about the myriad opportunities inherent in the City of Greater Bendigo’s recent UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation – the first ever in Australia. The prestigious title was granted in recognition and celebration of our region’s thriving food and drinks culture.
To register your attendance at this FREE event click on the EVENTBRITE LINK.
A selection of food from local producers will be provided and drinks will be at venue prices.
Look forward to seeing you there!

HALT Save Your Bacon Brekky
2021-05-14 06:30 - 08:30 | KTs Coffee Van, 326 Barker Street, Castlemaine, Vic, 3450
HALT Breakfast Event this Friday

SAVE YOUR BACON free coffee and BBQ brekky at KT’s coffee van outside The Snip, 236 Barker Street, Castlemaine.

This Friday 14 May at 6.30am to 8.30am

A FREE event!

Social Drinks at Love Shack Brewery
2021-05-25 17:30 - 19:30 | Theatre Royal, 30 Hargreaves Street, Castlemaine, VIC, 3450, Australia
Join us for a casual networking drinks event and meet the inspiring brewers behind Love Shack Brewery. Since launching in December 2020, Conna and Harri have been hard at work pumping out fresh frothies from the rear of the Theatre Royal and injecting great energy into the centre of town.

Come taste the fruits of their endeavours and meet up with local business folk.

Love Shack Brewery – side path to Theatre Royal
Tuesday 25 May | 5.30pm to 7.30pm
All welcome – drinks at bar prices, canapes provided.
RSVP: gen@businessmountalexander.org.au

The Business of Climate Change
2021-06-28 18:00 - 20:30 | The Goods Shed, Kennedy Street, Castlemaine, Victoria, 3450, Australia
|| Business of Climate Change Event – New Date! ||

You’re invited to come along to THE BUSINESS OF CLIMATE CHANGE FORUM and find out about funding, finance and subsidies to help your business cut emissions, save on power bills and reduce waste.

We’ll hear first hand from local businesses who have made the switch and how it helped them save money and grow their business.

Information and displays from Sustainability Victoria, DELWP, Cola Solar, Sustainable Australia Fund, Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, Enviroshop Newstead, Mt Alex Sustainability Group and others.
This event is fully catered thanks to Mount Alexander Shire Council.
Book your FREE ticket now at: https://www.trybooking.com/BSGBC

Disability Access Guide Launch
2021-07-01 17:30 - 18:30 | The Taproom, 1-9 Walker Street, Castlemaine, 3450, Australia
The Mount Alexander Shire Disability Advocacy Group and Business Mount Alexander invite local businesses and service providers on:
Thursday, July 1st 2021
5.30–6.30pm
Shedshaker Taproom @ The Mill
to the launch of the Disability Access Guide for the Mount Alexander Shire.
MASDAG, with the financial support of Mount Alexander Shire, has published an access guide that helps retailers and service providers increase their customer and client base by removing barriers that prevent them from enjoying local businesses and services.
For a variety of reasons, people living with a disability can experience poor or reduced access to goods and services in our Shire. The Disability Access Guide provides a checklist for retailers and service providers as a guide to improving their business so that it includes everyone.
Please join us for drinks and nibbles and your copy of a document that will benefit your business. For bookings and further information, ring MASDAG on 0439 964 179.

Business Mount Alexander Retailers Forum
2021-10-12 18:00 - 19:00 | The Taproom, 1-9 Walker Street, Castlemaine, 3450, Australia
Join BMA for a Retailers Forums and help formulate a plan to increase economic spend in our Shire.
What are your pressing concerns as a retailer in our Shire?
How can BMA work with you to help achieve your business goals?
What messages can we convey on your behalf to council to support our local traders?
What initiatives can be implemented for the Christmas / holiday season?
This is a free event with refreshments available at the bar.

Mount Alexander Business Awards
2021-12-02 18:00 - 21:00 | Castlemaine Town Hall, 25 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine, Vic, 3450, Australia
Save the date for this year’s bi-annual Mount Alexander Business Awards on Thursday 2 December 2021 at the Castlemaine Town Hall. Congratulations to all nominees. Finalists will be announced soon. Come along to this wonder event to help celebrate business in the shire.
Details on how to book will be available soon.

Late Night Shopping
2021-12-10 17:00 - 20:00, 2021-12-17 17:00 - 20:00 | The Village Square, Frederick Street, Castlemaine, Victoria, 3450, Australia
BMA is excited to support retailers by hosting two late-night shopping events: on Friday 10th and Friday 17th December. Traders are being encouraged to remain open until 8pm on both these days to maximise the increased customers in town.
BMA have partnered with Council to provide live entertainment and activate the streets. The Village Square in Fredrick Street will be abuzz with entertainment plus roving performers will be moving around the town, attracting shoppers and visitors to all corners of the central business district.
This event is supported by the Mount Alexander Shire Council Events Grants Program.

Drinks at The Guildford Hotel
2022-02-02 17:30 - 19:00
Join us for BMA Social Drinks at the Guildford Family Hotel. Meet the new owners – Megan and Tom, and find out what’s in store for 2022, 5.30pm to 7.30pm.
Dinner options available.
RSVP: gen@businessmountalexander.org.au
Please note that this event will take place with strict COVID regulations in place.

Castlemaine Fringe 'Creative Connections'
2022-02-16 19:00 - 21:00 | The Taproom, 1-9 Walker Street, Castlemaine, 3450, Australia
Business Mount Alexander will be launching it’s newest project showcasing the economic value of our local creative industries at this Castlemaine Fringe Creative Community Connection event!!

Fully catered with complimentary drinks on arrival and entertainment from MaCapella Singers and Milla Dance.

Hear from Merryn Tinkler, Council’s new Manager of Culture and Economy who will be speaking about her decades of involvement in arts leadership roles.

Plus The Fringe Thing will be conducting their AGM, so find out how you can get involved in the 2023 Fringe Festival.

Workspace Australia Networking Drinks
2022-04-21 17:30 - 19:00 | Workspace Australia, 1 Halford Street, Castlemaine, Vic, 3450, Australia
Meet the BMA Committee and hear the latest news impacting our local business community at Workspace Australia Networking event. An opportunity to socialise with other businesses at the Halford Street business hub over drinks and nibbles. RSVP gen@businessmountalexander.org.au

Main Streets of Australia Week | 16 - 22 May
2022-05-16 08:00 - 2022-05-22 17:00
Even before COVID, many main streets were struggling and, in some cases, dying, for reasons beyond their control; the introduction of internet shopping and development of shopping centres both came as a huge blow.
With more than 2 million small businesses in Australia, and many of these on our main streets, they do an enormous amount for the community. We need to support them, to ensure their survival, so they can continue to:
• provide a huge number of jobs to those that rely on local or flexible work,
• create local spending,
• support local causes and charities, as well as sporting groups and schools
• provide a place for the elderly or vulnerable to find their fit in the community,
• build connection and provide safe spaces, and
• allow a huge number of families to stay financially afloat.

In 2022, Mainstreet Australia, in partnership with Mainstreet SA & Town Team Movement, and with the support of Zeller, are launching a national campaign celebrating all that main streets and town centres provide to the community.
The message will be impossible to ignore as these streets, and the businesses within them, will all be sharing this message at the same time; from May 16 – May 22 aka Main Streets of Australia Week.
Business Mount Alexander will distribute posters for displaying in your shop front and social media content to share – and help remind people the importance of supporting local businesses by shopping in your main street!

Creative Connections Conference | 25 & 26 May
2022-05-25 09:30 - 2022-05-26 17:00 | Phee Broadway Castlemaine, Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine, Victoria, 3450, Australia
Creative Connections is a two-day conference, hosted by BMA, to address the need for cross-sector collaboration and capacity building within the creative sector, with a focus on empowering creative practitioners with skills to operate as small businesses.

The conference will engage participants from diverse segments of the local creative and business communities. The stimulating program includes a catered networking event, a guest panel that’ll explore ways in which creative industries have transformed communities, and 6 FREE skills workshops:

• Financial literacy
• Grants and funding opportunities
• Monetising your art/product
• Marketing and promotion
• Digital skills, including tips and hacks for simplifying business tasks
• Building connections, collaborations and partnerships
The conference will be held across two venues in Castlemaine (Phee Broadway & Senior Citizens Centre).

Guest speakers at our networking evening include Kate Berry – OK Motels, David Frazer – Riverboats Music Festival, Shaun Hossack – Juddy Roller/Silo Art Trails, Suzi Cordell – Clunes Booktown Festival and Glyn Roberts – Castlemaine State Festival. Just announced… The Maes will be performing at our networking event, so please join us Wednesday 25 May at 5pm onwards – Phee Broadway Theatre.

To find out more, contact gen@businessmountalexander.org.au.
FREE REGISTRATION via Trybooking links for all workshops & social night HERE!

Annual General Meeting - 20/21
2022-06-28 09:00 - 10:00 | St Florians, Templeton Street, Castlemaine
Thanks to last year’s COVID disruptions and lockdowns, we did not host a 2020-2021 Annual General Meeting.

We’re making good on this oversight by having a very routine, run of the mill AGM on Tuesday, 28th June where we will accept the financial report for the 2020-2021 year. It is the intention of the current committee to renominate at this AGM. The Annual General Meeting will be held at St Florian cafe on Tuesday, 28th June at 9am. Please RSVP to gen@businessmountalexander.org.au if you are planning to attend.

We will follow this up with a fully fledged 2021-2022 AGM and social networking event on Thursday 18th August. Join us from 5.30pm at the Maurocco Bar at the Midland Hotel, Templeton Street, Castlemaine. A further invitation / event notification will follow.

We apologise for the delay in hosting our 2020-2021 AGM and trust you understand that this was resultant from COVID disruptions. If any member has any concerns whatsoever, please do not hesitate to email gen@businessmountalexander.org.au

Mainstreet Australia Castlemaine Conference
2022-08-04 | Phee Broadway Castlemaine, Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine, Victoria, 3450, Australia
Mainstreet Australia Conference 2022 is being held at Castlemaine’s Phee Broadway Theatre on Aug 4, bringing together organisations and individuals committed to the success and survival of main streets and town centres, for education, inspiration & connection.
2022’s theme is ‘From Adversity to Opportunity’, highlighting that, even after such a challenging time as COVID, we are able to extract learnings and ideas and use these for the continued survival of our main streets, and the small businesses that populate them.
See full schedule for both the regional (Castlemaine) conference and the metro (Melbourne) conference. Ticket price includes morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and post-conference networking event, including first drink and nibbles.
The Castlemaine conference also offers an option of speed networking or a walking tour of the Main Street. PLUS, Business Mount Alexander are offering a FREE epicurean tour of Castlemaine’s Mill precinct on Fri, Aug 5 from 8am – 11am.

Networking Lunch @ The Kangaroo
2022-08-10 13:00 - 14:00 | Kangaroo Hotel, 89 High Street, Maldon, Vic, 3463
Following the success of last week’s networking lunch for the tenants at Workspace Halford Street, we are hosting a second lunch at The Kangaroo Hotel for Maldon businesses. This is an opportunity to connect and enjoy good conversation over a warming meal. BMA Secretary Gen Ward will lead a discussion about what’s working well in managing wellbeing in the workplace and share helpful resources on this important topic.
This lunch is free to attend and funded by Business Victoria – Mental Wellbeing of Business Communities Grant Program.
To book, please email gen@businessmountalexander.org.au
