Mount Alexander Shire Council Local Community Planning Project

Community Profile Newstead 3462

Image by Leigh Kinrade

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INTRODUCTION

Mount Alexander Shire Council has been funded over three years until May 2014, through the State Government’s Department of Planning and Community Development, to undertake the Mount Alexander Shire Local Community Planning Project (LCPP).

The project aims to support local community engagement across the Shire to enable communities to articulate their needs and aspirations through the development of local community-based Action Plans.

In September 2011, Council announced that Newstead would be one of three townships to participate in the first round of planning. This document has been formulated to provide some background information about Newstead and a starting point for discussion.

ABOUT MOUNT ALEXANDER SHIRE

The original inhabitants of the Mount Alexander area were the Jaara Jaara Aboriginal people. European settlement dates from the late 1830s, with land used mainly for pastoral purposes, particularly sheep grazing. Population was minimal until the 1850s, spurred by gold mining from 1851, the construction of the railway line, and the establishment of several townships. Rapid growth took place into the late 1800s before declining as gold supplies waned and mines were closed. Relatively stable between the 1950’s and the 1980’s, the population increased from about 12,700 in 1981 to 16,600 in 2006. The official 1 resident population for the Shire as of June 2011 is 17,803 .

Mount Alexander Shire (MAS, the Shire) forms part of the Loddon Mallee Region (the Region), which encompasses ten municipalities and covers nearly 59,000km2 in size, or approximately 26 percent of the land area of the State of Victoria.

The Shire is approximately 1,530km2 in size and comprises several small towns and communities of national historic and environmental significance. The population of the Shire is quite centralised, with just over half of the Shire’s population living in Castlemaine and the immediate surrounds, including the townships of Chewton, Campbells Creek and Barkers Creek. Other primary townships include Newstead, Maldon, Taradale and Harcourt.

Formed in 1995 from the merger of the City of Castlemaine, Shire of Newstead, most of the Shire of Maldon and Shire of Metcalfe, Mount Alexander is divided into five wards: Calder Ward, Castlemaine Ward, Coliban Ward, Loddon Ward and Tarrengower Ward. Castlemaine Ward has three councillors while the other wards are represented by one councillor each.

1 Estimated Resident Population – Mount Alexander Shire, Australian Bureau of Statistics, 30th June 2012

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Figure One: Map of Mount Alexander Shire

Figure Two: Map of Newstead (ABS Census 2011 State-suburb boundary)

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ABOUT NEWSTEAD

HISTORY

The rural township of Newstead is located 56 kilometres south of Bendigo and 17 kilometres west of Castlemaine in the municipality of Mount Alexander.

Prior to the arrival of European settlers, the grassy river flats dotted with giant Red Gums along this valley and now known as the Loddon River, formed the homelands of the Jajawurrong people.

Local recorded history begins with the Scottish explorer Major Thomas Mitchell’s account of his journey through the area in 1836. His tantalising descriptions encouraged a steady stream of Sydneysiders to move south. Many, now familiar local names, took the opportunity to take up runs in this part of the Loddon Valley. In October of 1860 Newstead Road District was proclaimed and rates were officially collected for the first time. Five years later in February 1865 the Shire of Newstead was born. It remained unchanged until 1915 when amalgamation with Mount Alexander Shire took place. In May 1949 a separation occurred and the Shire of Newstead was proclaimed for a second time. However, with the more recent council amalgamations of the mid 1990s, Newstead is once more part of the Mount Alexander Shire.

As early as 1856 the local community wrote asking the National Board of Education for permission to conduct a school. Teaching commenced in the tent chapel at the end of that year. As of September 1862 the school became Number 452 Newstead and in 1877 a new school building was erected on the site.

Gold featured significantly in the development of Newstead. At first shallow alluvial gold was discovered, creating several small rushes to the area. In the early 1860s a Chinese camp of almost three thousand inhabitants was to be found along the Jim Crow Creek. Later, gold was extracted by dredge and at one time in the 1940s Newstead was Victoria’s greatest producer. The gold diggers brought prosperity to the squatters of Newstead providing a ready market for their produce and livestock.

As well as being a gold town, early Newstead supported a large wool and dairy farming community. However, since the 1960s great changes have occurred and local agriculture now involves a smaller but more diversified sector including cropping, grazing, prime lambs, fine wool, goats, emus, alpacas, herbs, vineyards, organic vegetables and apiarists.

In the past thirty years the town has also seen enormous growth in the population associated with the performing and visual arts, music, pottery and writing.

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The Newstead Hotel c.1894,

DEMOGRAPHICS

In 2006 census data needed to be extrapolated using specific collection districts, id Consulting focused on the township of Newstead and assessed a population of 487. The 2011 Census used a different data-set and as a consequence the figures for Newstead are focused on the township and encompass some of the surrounding area. The map at the start of this profile shows the area that the population data encompasses. In the 2011 Census Newstead and district had a population of 802. Of the 802 residents 52.9% were males and 47.1% were females.

Newstead’s 802 residents live in 344 local households, with unoccupied dwellings at about 20% (85 dwellings), an indication that there are some houses used as holiday accommodation or that remain unoccupied. The median age of Newstead residents is 50. Newstead’s age profile differs from the regional Victorian average on two main fronts. There this a larger population of persons aged 50 to 69 (36.9% for Newstead compared to 25.8% for regional Victoria) and there are less children aged under 15 years (14.3% for Newstead and 19.2% for regional Victoria.

Current migration trends indicate a population increase in the greater Newstead area (rural west) of approximately 2.3% between the years 2001 and 2006. According to the Loddon Mallee South Regional Strategic Plan the capacity for expansion in settlements such as Newstead is limited by the surrounding forest and needs to be carefully considered,

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particularly in the light of findings from the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission. However, the report also finds that Newstead is capable of meeting its projected population growth. 2

Despite the projected population increase, school attendance at the local primary school, Newstead Primary School is dropping, with a smaller number of preschoolers coming through - enrolments for 2012 are at 60 compared to 73 in 2011. 25.2% of the under-18 population attend secondary school, and 12.2% attend a tertiary institution. Castlemaine, Maryborough and Bendigo are the favoured destinations for high school students. There are also lower numbers of preschool children coming through meaning the local playgroup and kindergarten, Newstead Preschool may struggle for numbers without an injection of new families coming into town.

By way of explanation this decrease in school numbers may be attributed to the fact that Newstead has a significantly higher ratio of couples without children families at 50.7% compared to Regional Victoria with 27.8%. Anecdotal evidence also points towards a number of families choosing to send their children to primary schools in surrounding townships.

In terms of Religion 64% of Newstead residents described themselves as having a faith (either Anglican 19.2%, Catholic 12.8%, Uniting Church 10.6% or Presbyterian and Reformed 1.9%) while 36% stated they had no religion.

ECONOMICS

Newstead supports two pubs, a community centre, cafe, general store, post office, a Rural Transaction Centre (with internet café, banking facilities, library, daycare and other services), a small licensed IGA supermarket and bakery, a swimming pool and a hairdressers. It also has a licensed cafe, a butcher, two small shops selling antiques and collectables, and three local vineyards.

There are several accommodation choices ranging from farm stays to a motel.

2 Loddon Mallee Regional Strategic Plan – Southern Region, 2010

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Newstead Post Office (image by Leigh Kinrade) Newstead Swimming Pool

Newstead (rural west) scores 994 on the SEIFA index of disadvantage*** (the benchmark score being 1000) – meaning that is neither significantly advantaged nor disadvantaged. By comparison, Mount Alexander Shire scores 981 on the index and Bendigo 984. A significantly higher proportion than average of Newstead locals own their own home outright (46.8% compared to a regional Victorian average of 38.8%), whilst 28.6% are paying off a mortgage and 19.1% rent their home, lower than the regional Victorian average of 22.4%. Average loan repayments and rental costs are lower than elsewhere, but there are more households earning a lower income; and less earning a higher income, than when compared to the regional Victorian average and that of the Mount Alexander Shire.

Unemployment in Newstead is on par with the rest of Victoria and currently sits at 4.9% compared to 5.4% state-wide. Importantly unemployment rates in Newstead have dropped considerably since 2006, when unemployment rates were quite high at 9.7%. In Newstead there has been a particular increase in the number of people employed on a part time basis, up from 33% in 2006 to 38.7% in 2011. This is higher than the state wide figure of 29.6%. In Newstead 51.3% of people in the labour market are employed full time, compared to 59.2% state-wide.

COMMUNITY LIFE AND LEISURE

o Community Groups

Priding itself on its rich community life, Newstead is home to 40 active community groups and has a strong history of volunteerism.

Community facilities include a community hall, outdoor swimming pool, race park and Rotunda park for events such as the twice yearly Newstead Market. Amongst others, there is a women's group, a community garden, four churches, performers group, organic growers group, playgroup, senior citizens club, men’s shed, lawn bowls club, croquet club, football club, karate club, netball club, walking group and spinners group. Annually, Newstead holds a folk music festival in late January, with artists coming from all around Australia and some from overseas. Another highlight in the town’s calendar is 'Chopped' magazine’s annual,

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Chopped Rod & Custom show, which brings traditional style rods and custom cars from all over Australia into the town for a weekend during spring.

The following is a list of community/leisure groups in the Newstead area –

Country Womens Association Newstead Newstead Junior Football Club Branch Goldfields Bonsai Society Newstead Landcare Group (NLG) Hatha Yoga - Newstead Newstead Natives Karate Club Newstead & District Youth Newstead Playgroup (NPG) Club Mood Swing Ensemble Newstead Post Office Newstead & District Garden Club Inc Newstead Preschool Association Inc Newstead & District Historical Society Newstead Racecourse and Recreation Reserve Newstead & District Swimming Pool Newstead Recreation Reserve Newstead Bowling Club Newstead Rotunda Park Newstead Cemetery Trust Newstead Spinners Inc Newstead Community Walks Newstead Youth Club (Football/Netball) Newstead Cricket Club Newstead Community Centre Newstead Croquet Club Old Post Office Studio Newstead Echo RTC Family Day Care Newstead Football/Netball Club Vocal Nosh Newstead Newstead Internet Cafe Newstead Men’s Shed Rural Transaction Centre Newstead and Districts Rural Fire Brigade

o Community Newspaper

Published monthly with support from Mount Alexander Shire Council, Maldon & District Community Bank and a number of volunteers, The Newstead Echo is the local community newspaper and appears online and in-print and currently has a print circulation of 500.

o Newstead Recreation Reserve

Recently, Mount Alexander Shire Council staff and Newstead Recreation Reserve Committee have established a joint planning committee (Newstead Sporting Pavilion Design Project Reference Group) to develop plans for a new pavilion at the recreation reserve. The Council has allocated $80,000 for this purpose in the 2011/12 budget and by the end of June 2012 it is hoped that architectural designs for the building will be complete.

o Newstead 2021

Formed in 2008, Newstead 2021 is a group established to support the development of a vibrant, informed and sustainable community in Newstead and surrounds. The group comprises interested members of the local community who are collaboratively working

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towards this goal by actively seeking funding for a variety of sustainable community projects such as water tank & pump/website development/laptop office equipment for the community garden, a wireless network and the Newstead energy survey. Newstead 2021 has an active online presence.

o Newstead Community Garden

The Newstead Community Garden and Produce Exchange was one of the ideas which sprouted from the Newstead 2021 Summit.

Established in September 2009, the Newstead Community Garden aims:

To connect the community through gardening, sustainability and educational activities To generate a culture of sharing, accessibility and sociability To promote water use efficiency To encourage seasonal, healthy eating and local food security

The garden has both individual and group plots and communal gardening spaces. It is based on organic/biodynamic and permaculture principles. It also incorporates artwork by local artisans, making the space beautiful, as well as productive.

Produce exchanges are held on a monthly basis in Newstead’s main street, outside the Red Store. Local gardeners share their excesses from the garden and catch up on local happenings.

o Walking and Cycling Strategy

In its Walking and Cycling Strategy 2010 – 2020, Mount Alexander Shire Council proposes a secondary trail route between Newstead and Castlemaine via Guilford, and a continuation of the existing cycle route along the same path. There are also plans for a primary footpath connection from Panmure to Layard Street along Canrobert Street. Rehabilitation of the existing footpaths between Hillers & Panmure and Condrington & Wyndam has recently been carried out.

o Transport

Castlemaine railway station is about 15kms from Newstead. All services between Melbourne and Bendigo stop at Castlemaine. Newstead is also serviced by 2 V/Line coach services en route between Castlemaine and Maryborough and Mildura and Ballarat.

o Community Grants

The following Newstead based organisations have received funding under Mount Alexander Shire’s Strengthening Our Community Grants Scheme during the past two years.

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2011/12

Newstead Community Bus Committee to communicate, promote and facilitate the introduction of a community bus service

Newstead Men’s Shed towards health and well-being

2010/11

Newstead 2021 for stage two of the community website and blog project

Newstead Cemetery Trust for the provision of facilities for contemplation (seating)

Newstead Community Garden & Produce Exchange for a shared table and pizza oven

Newstead Paddle & Canoe Club for paddles, life jackets and a first aid kit

Newstead Short Story Tattoo Inc. towards a short story festival

HOT ISSUES

In 2012, community consultation in the form of one-on-one conversations and community meetings has so far revealed the following hot topics and issues of concern amongst the Newstead community –

Issue Actions & Possibilities Priority Responsibility Status

Impacts of climate change Explore sustainability 4 Ind/Business/Council/ issues within the State & Fed Govt. Community Plan Connection – pedestrian bridge 1 Vic Roads/ State not associated with current road Govt./Council bridge

Changing economic and Establish new 3 Community demographic profiles opportunities for community and connection and address in the CP Lack of services 4

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What if we didn’t have a Exercise voting rights 3 Community/Council councillor who advocated for the community?

Levee bank security has been 1 State & Fed highlighted due to recent Govt/Council flooding

More and better walking and 2 State Govt/Council cycling trails

A cycling connection to 2 State Govt/Council Castlemaine that does not just follow the highway.

** As most frequently raised by people being canvassed through current consultations.

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NOTES

About the SEIFA Index Relative socio-economic advantage and disadvantage can broadly be defined in terms of people’s access to material and social resources, and their ability to participate in society. Since 1971, The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has produced four different Socio- Economic Indexes for Area (SEIFA) which enable analysis of different aspects of relative area disadvantage. SEIFA indexes are assigned to areas, not to individuals. They indicate the collective socio- economic status of the people living in an area. A relatively disadvantaged area is likely to have a high proportion of relatively disadvantaged people. However, such an area is also likely to contain people who are not disadvantaged, as well as people who are relatively advantaged. Another aspect of disadvantage as measured in SEIFA is that it is multidimensional. For example, consider a community with a relatively high level of financial wellbeing. On this basis we may conclude that this area is relatively advantaged. However, if this community also has very high crime rates, or poor levels of general health, these factors may cause us to view the area as relatively disadvantaged.

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(Source Australian Bureau of Statistics, ©2008)

This environment scan has been developed using the following resources:

 Australian Bureau of Statistics National Regional Profile: Mount Alexander  Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011 Census Quickstats: Newstead  Community Indicators Victoria Mount Alexander Wellbeing Report  Profile ID Mount Alexander Shire Community Profile  Mount Alexander Shire Map 2020 Community Plan  Renewable Newstead Newstead Energy Feasibility Study  www.newstead.com.au/history  Loddon Mallee Regional Strategic Plan – Southern Region

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