What we do

Map Futures brings people together through creative mapping. We collect stories, memories, and meaningful locations shared by the community and visualise them on a collaborative map of Castlemaine and surrounding areas.

Through workshops, storytelling, and public engagement, we explore how place shapes our identity — and how our stories shape the places we call home.

Our goal is to create a living, evolving map that reflects the richness, diversity, and imagination of our region.

Background

Mapping Our Futures emerged from conversations in early 2025 between Castlemaine Community House, Castlemaine Library, and Ecoimagine Creative Consultancy in response to a clearly identified community need. Mount Alexander Shire faces significant social challenges, including an ageing population with a median age of 51 compared to the state average of 38, alongside social isolation risks. Many residents are disturbed by increasingly polarised social environments, environmental and economic crises, and rising cost of living pressures. Community partners recognised a lack of opportunity for positive future visioning amongst their communities, whilst students expressed feelings of anxiety and disconnection with a strong desire to contribute to community conversations about shared futures. There are few opportunities for creative channels that allow residents to express positive visions for the region's sustainable future, recognising that technical solutions alone are insufficient without diverse community-wide engagement.