A small, green and literary/arts retirement village for Castlemaine? Investors needed …

By Joyce Sanders

There’s a plan afoot to buy the old petrol station site at the corner of Campbell and Barker. The plan is to keep the commercial buildings as required by Council (the garage could become a gallery/performance space, petrol station becomes cafe, gas station becomes studio, shopfront becomes bookshop).

And build six green “pod” accommodation units on the northern side (and more later on the western side), forming a green arts/literary retirement village.

I think it is a really good idea for Castlemaine (there are a lot of single, arty people in Castlemaine living in big houses that they can’t afford, which would then free up the houses for families), but it is very frustrating, after planning the project for so long, not to have the cash when the site suddenly comes up for sale (originally the site was being sold as the entire corner, but nobody could buy it because Caltex wouldn’t hurry up and remove the petrol tanks … but now the site has been divided, so that the shopfront and vacant space to the north is for sale immediately).

A Plea to Investors In a last ditch effort to try to get my Arts Retirement Village off the ground, I am trying to find individuals who are thinking of their future, and who would like to invest in a small, green unit in a small group (six units in the immediate future, and 10-12 total in five years’ time). The land will sell within a few weeks, possibly by the end of July. The idea of the village is: . For people who still want to do something, whether it is in art, craft, music, writing or studies. For people who are a little worried about being alone at home as they grow older... For people who want the choice of being in a social group for different purposes, or not, but not to live alone without the choice. For people who realise that there are some things that are easier as a group, whether it’s looking after each other’s plants and pets, or getting tradesmen to come, or having meals together, or films, etc. For people who might like the possibility of getting rid of the car (the block is near the train station, library, supermarket, etc.). For people who can come up with $195,000 for the one-bedroom unit. For people who lean towards non-materialism (i.e. don’t carry large collections of antiques, etc with them through their lives) and don’t mind down-sizing. For people who value a north-facing unit in the heart of Castlemaine. In the first phase, (if site purchase is successful), there will be the six eco-pods (units) with courtyards or balconies, bookshop, communal garden, huge storage area with possibilities of exercise area, or just storage. In the second phase, the village will have a café, studio and gallery, with the addition of 6 more units. There is no other location like this, within a short walk to everything. So if the block can’t be purchased within the next month, I suppose we will all be stuck in our single dwellings with our single lives!

The project idea is:

. A small green “retirement village” for single people or couples who want to lessen their footprint, who are over, say, age 55-60 (but not people needing care).

. A group of about 10-15 small green units, privately and individually owned, but with some shared facilities and spaces (i.e. one-bedroom and sitting room with bath and kitchenette, but with the following small shared spaces:  t.v./film room, gallery, studio,  exercise room, a small dining room/cafe (for those who no longer want to cook separately) and perhaps a single extra unit rented for visitors. (and remember, none of these spaces need to be huge, as they would serve a maximum of 10-15 people).

. One level of units might have small private courtyards and the upper level have just balconies.  There might also be space for a small communal garden for those without courtyards.

. It would be a car-free development at the site. It might be possible to establish a garage rental space elsewhere for those who could not permanently relinquish their cars/caravans. But the units would be close to supermarket, library, train station.

. It would be a themed retirement village … around art/books!  Thus the library, and there would actually be a bookshop as part of it!  Which leads us to the site …

The proposed site:

. The old petrol station corner (Barker and Campbell streets)

. The actual dwellings are not over the petrol station position, but to the right of the shopfronts and later units to the rear of the property.

. The two shopfronts would operate as the bookshop which would be part of the book-themed retirement complex. Later, the garage would become the gallery and performance space, the petrol station becomes the café, and the paint shop becomes the studio.

. The sloping site could possibly house a double story development without either story having to be accessed by stairs (i.e. bottom floor exits onto Campbell St and top onto Barker St.  The sloping site would also prevent any height issues in Barker St.

. There are fantastic views from the site too.

In conclusion:

1. I think the site is unique and one which will never again be available in Castlemaine (near train, town centre, supermarket, library, etc).
2. We have all looked at environmentally sustainable family living, but the reality is that we are an aging community, with many single individuals living in very large houses, and it would be of community benefit to release a little of this housing stock for larger families.
3. Themed retirement villages are a trend for the future. Castlemaine is one of the most educated, artistic and literary-minded towns in Victoria.