Idyll26 - A joyous celebration of local talent and community
All images courtesy of Diana Domonkos and Rich McLeish
Castlemaine Idyll 2026 was, once again, a big, joy-filled celebration of local musicians, emerging performers, and the enduring power of community and song.
Kids Karaoke returned for its third spectacular year, delivering a lineup of brave, talented, applause-inducing performances from a bunch of young Castlemainians. Huge shoutout to Scott Sanders—host, hype man, and microphone coach extraordinaire.
The Castlemaine Idyll Band was absolutely on fire, mastering more than 30 songs from beloved films with style and stamina.
A heartfelt thank you to our delightfully non-judgy judges: Casey Bennetto (broadcaster, writer and musician), Carla Bonner (actor, coach, and everyone’s original Neighbours rebel next door), and Toby Heydon (mayor, musician, actor, and all-round arts enthusiast).
The I Am Someone People’s Choice Award—aka The Spirit of Idyll—made history this year with a tie: Jen Moore brought the house down with “Somebody to Love”, while Pixy kept us all believing with “Don’t Stop Believin’”. All funds raised from this award go directly to I Am Someone’s projects in Uganda and Sierra Leone.
Other category award winners included:
• The Deepest Dive (for subterranean excursion) – Johnny Human, Love Is Blindness
• Biggest Roar (for taking it up a notch) – Tara Farrell, Eye of the Tiger
• Down to Earth, Back to Nature (for connecting us) – Dwin Lavery, Man of Constant Sorrow
• Detonator (for lighting the fuse) – Jen Moore, Somebody to Love
• Blowing the Budget (for glorious profligacy) – Dead Horse, Telephone Line
• Style Icon (for truly bringing it) – Bridget Ward, Hopelessly Devoted to You
• Adult Concepts (mildly unsuitable for children) – Pixy, Don’t Stop Believin’
Massive thanks to our generous suppliers and supporters: Shedshaker Brewing, Love Shack Brewing, Harcourt Cider, Harcourt Valley Wineries, Boomtown Wine, Secret States, Castlemaine Fresh, Green Goes the Grocer, Maxi IGA, and Clifford’s Butcher.
On site, the legends kept it all humming: Castlemaine Fringe Festival firing up the BBQ, Icecream Republic keeping the kids sweet, Wash Against Waste keeping it green, MainFM broadcasting to the world, and the Castlemaine Idyll kitchen serving up delicious, nutritious fare (plus a little merch on the side).
A surprise halftime treat saw former Idyll performer Imy Palmer belt out her original track I Don’t Wanna Play Anymore, backed by yet another Castlemaine supergroup—Kat, Lisa, Charlotte and Euan.
And then… the dance floor. The crowd stayed on for a drink, a wiggle, and a proper shake-out thanks to grooves from DJ Clam.
Huge gratitude to our 81 volunteers, 30 performers, 15 musicians, 3 judges, tireless crew—and over 1,000 glorious humans who showed up and made the day what it was.
Castlemaine Idyll helps power Lot19’s vision: big-hearted, joy-fuelled community events that champion local artists, strengthen connection, and keep the creative flame well and truly burning in Castlemaine and beyond.
Give us your feedback – how was your Idyll experience?
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Portal
by Fionna Madigan, Lisa McPherson, Jenny Divers
You are warmly invited to enter a portal of remembrance and presence.
7-22 February 2026
What's On at lot19?
SPRING SCULPTURE PRIZE 2025
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Gallery Hire
Our gallery space is big, rustic, beautiful and friendly
The gallery hosts at least 10 exhibitions each year, sometimes more, and is sometimes available for performances, creative workshops and artistic gatherings.
How we work
celebrate life through creativity and togetherness.
…providing spaces for you to make and present your art…
…designing events for you to experience art…
Venue Hire
What can’t you do at Lot19 Artspace? Not a lot.
Meet the Artists
Our work
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What's On at lot1
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Arts Precinct
Exhibitions
Lot19 places a high value on exhibitions that originate from the North Central region of Victoria, as well as those from further afield and overseas. We aim to offer something new and stimulating to our audiences and encourage exhibition applications from emerging, mid-career and established artists/curators across all disciplines and visual art forms.
Our studio artists
Artists’ skills, imaginations and courage are let loose is this safe and cross-collaborative testing-site. Over 20 artists are resident on site, working across visual art, music, textiles, ceramics, sculpture, writing and everything in between. Learn about our studio artists – their diversity, and their practices.
Venue Hire
Weddings, selected parties, celebrations, meetings. Our arts-centered venues and activities showcase Lot19 as a destination for locals and visitors seeking entertainment and cultural enrichment in Castlemaine and the surrounding towns of this food, wine, and travel region.
Lot19 was founded to celebrate life. It is evolving, it is permanent, it’s a safe haven for artists. We house many different creative expressions and through this add value to the whole community.
We’re a destination, a venue, a hub, a playspace, and present many iconic events, including Castlemaine Idyll, the Spring Sculpture Show, heartfelt weddings, and our ongoing exhibition program.
The three-acre property consists of 21 artists’ studios, two outdoor stages, a contemporary art gallery, an outdoor sculpture park, Castlemaine Press (open access print-makers facility and exhibition space), Castlemaine Clay (open access ceramics facility), and a literary venue/ bar in the newly settled W-Class Tram.
A venue with a lot of art, a lot of heart.
Lot19 Arts is an evolving creative space and events venue located in Central Victoria.
Home to a Gallery, Tram, Theatre, 20 artists’ studios, an open-access ceramics studio and print-makers studio, 2 outdoor stages on large green space, bar-café with dining, and all-access facilities.
The relaxed ambience and flexibility of this site means that you can easily curate an event to remember, whether you are planning a wedding, party, or some other kind of special occasion or gathering. Or if you prefer to take the fuss and stress out of planning, let us do it for you. We can provide you with event management, production, catering, entertainment, staff, and more.
Easy going, laid back, intimate, or grand, we love events that bring people together and encourage creativity. Let’s to chat about how we can assist in creating a truly unforgettable experience for you and your guests, contact Mark to discuss your ideas today.
Founded by Mark Anstey in the year 2000, and built by hand from re-purposed materials, first and foremost, Lot19 is a place for artists. This multi-faceted space is filled with kilns, pottery wheels, printing presses, green spaces, metalwork zones, large scale fabrication utilities, woodworking sheds, easels, and tools of every type.
With 20 artists in studios residencies, over 60 beginner-to-established members regularly accessing the open-access clay and printmaker workshops, this dynamic site is integral to the long-term viability of regional arts practices. Artists’ skills, imaginations and courage are let loose is this safe and cross-collaborative testing-site.
Lot19’s considered and balanced programming appeals to all-ages, all-abilities, and diverse backgrounds. Lot19 specifically seeks presentations for-and-by youth and children, disability and other artists, international and philosophical thinkers, and Australian Indigenous practitioners.
