APRIL 14, 1915

    Visitors to Newstead at Easter far outnumbered those at Christmas time and the town presented quite a busy appearance on Good Friday and Saturday. Easter Monday was quiet locally, and the district race and sports meetings were well patronised from these parts.

The studios of six local artists will be open during the Castlemaine Festival featuring sculpture, ceramics, print, photography, drawing and painting.

Roger’s fascinating art garden is situated at the Loddon River Ford at Newstead.  It is an art space in constant flux, where you are free to roam and explore.

Newstead Short Story Tattoo is an arts-music-storytelling event that mixes academics with artists, politics with fiction, history with poetry, orators with musicians, and new voices with literary masters.

Newstead Spadeworks features more than 40 local artists, gathered together for the first time

FEBRUARY 2015

Continuing the story of "Private McConnell's Impressions of Egypt".

With the Australian Forces :- 
Private McConnell's Impressions of Egypt.
The following interesting letter has been received from Private James McConnell by Mr. McIlwrick :- February 1915.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1914.

It was hoped when the severe dust storm was followed by rain on Wednesday last that the drought had broken; but this did not prove the case, only nine points being recorded locally.  The rain was of a scattered nature, and between Moolort and Joyces Creek the fall was a good deal heavier.  Further rain was experienced on Saturday, when 14 points was recored.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1914.

A home for lost gnomes and an old world garden of a 19th century shop, now full of antiques. Vegetable plots, friendly community and over the river, an intriguing sculpture garden. 

This weekend, when the 13th Biennial Castlemaine and District Festival of Gardens opens on Saturday morning, the little town of Newstead will have four wonderful and very different gardens to visit. 

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1914