Since we first started shaping our vision back in 2007, it has become evident that we are about far more than hot rods. The Mount Alexander Shire has an incredible array of specialist automotive businesses and trade skills that are worthy of celebration and, in 2025 the Board decided that it would be more fitting for us to continue under the new banner of the Castlemaine Specialist Automotive Foundation [CSAF], trading as Autoplex.
CSAF [previously known as the Castlemaine Hot Rod Centre Limited] is an Australian Public Company Limited by Guarantee formed in 2007 by industry leaders to benefit the community of Castlemaine (and surrounds).
A key ambition of CSAF is to harness the embedded history and expertise from these collective interests so it may be preserved and developed to benefit current and future generations.
Not-for-profit activities identified by CSAF include:
– Events
– Museum & Interpretation Centre
-Community workshops and training
A selection of large building spaces, trading as Autoplex Castlemaine, within the former secondary college located at Etty Street, have been secured through a partnership with the Mount Alexander Shire Council. This has been an important step to providing a prominent location and hub for the Foundation’s activities
With a strong membership base and community support, CSAF has made significant progress towards realising its vision:
– An annual festival – Autopia – is well established on the state calendar and a monthly coffee cruise conducted, along with smaller events regularly hosted.
– Town planning has been approved. Preparation for a Master Plan for the site including a museum is underway
– An interpretation wall, short term exhibits and a curated resource library have been established.
– Engagement is being undertaken with training providers.
– VicRoads has endorsed CSAF to provide club permits for historic and specialty vehicles.
– Expertise has been engaged to prepare for market readiness.
– Community group tenants are utilising spaces within Autoplex.
Income from community tenants and property rental at Gower, along with membership subscriptions enable the Foundation to meet its annual operating expenses and engage professional support.
Our primary goal is to open the museum with secure long-term tenure before pledged collections risk being broken up and lost to our community. Capital funding totalling $1.5 million over two phases is now being urgently sought through government and other stakeholders to bring the Etty Street buildings up to regulation code for existing tenants and to develop the museum as a key tourism destination.
Autoplex is open by appointment or drop in any Thursday afternoon between 1pm and 5pm [except public holidays and catastrophic fire days].