You wouldn’t think there’d be any need to create a pub in a gold rush town like Castlemaine, where streets feature many handsome watering holes. Yet Love Shack has sprouted up, a brewery-turned-public bar complete with Australiana prints, sport on TV, timber panelling and swirly carpet. And locals are loving it.

Mushroom vol-au-vents, boosted by parmesan cream and a jaunty tangle of balsamic-dressed frisee, are a welcome dose of misty-eyed nostalgia. Chef Joel Baylon is a Castlemaine boy who left 20 years ago and shook the pans at fine diner Aru and The Moon wine bar. Now he’s pleasing crowds with gooey scotch eggs and Sunday roasts.

The local butcher prepares cuts such as the Barnsley chop, and patties for diner-style cheeseburgers. From footy tipping to BYO vinyl nights, there’s so much happening, it’s hard to imagine ever staying in.

Good to know: Love Shack beers stick to old favourites, rather than wacky and attention-grabbing brews.

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