Stay at The Paddock
If you are looking for a place to stay while holidaying in Castlemaine or want to come and see what life is like in our village we have a guest suite that is available for booking through AirBnB.
Explore Castlemaine and surrounds from The Paddock Ecovillage, perfectly situated on the edge of the bush and the edge of town. Our guest suite very comfortably sleeps four and includes a lounge room, a well-equipped kitchenette and access to a communal full kitchen. Views extend across the ecovillage property to the surrounding bush. The centre of town, including the Castlemaine train station and a fantastic selection of cafes, restaurants and cultural attractions, is just a 15-minute walk.
The Space
The Paddock Ecovillage was designed and built according to the Living Building Challenge, a strict environmental standard based on seven 'petals': Site, Water, Energy, Materials, Health, Beauty and Equity. The first homes, including the Paddock House (community centre), were completed in 2019. They feature recycled brick walls, recycled timber floors, passive design and other elements that contribute to both strong environmental performance and a beautiful aesthetic. The landscape on the property showcases both native vegetation and edible gardens.
Features
The guest suite is situated in the upper level of The Paddock House. It is great for a family or group of visitors and includes:
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Master bedroom with a comfortable queen bed, wardrobe and great views over the property and the bush.
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Second bedroom with two comfortable single beds and a wardrobe.
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Kitchenette with a half-sized fridge/freezer, microwave, toaster, and tea- and coffee-making amenities. The kitchenette is well-equipped with dishes and basic food preparation supplies, and guests will be provided with tea, coffee, muesli and milk.
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Lounge room with a large sofabed (converts to a queen bed), chairs and a smart TV.
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Full bathroom with a walk-in shower and plenty of plush towels. Hand soap, body wash, shampoo and conditioner are also provided.
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The suite features paintings and photos from local artists, offering a small taste of the abundance of local Castlemaine talent. In addition, consumables are sourced from our local organic bulk grocery as much as possible.
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Children's equipment (port-a-cot, high chair, baby bath and training potty) are available upon request. The kitchenette includes children's dishes and cutlery.
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We have a collection of games, books and children's toys that are available to guests, currently located in a cupboard in the ground floor hallway.
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Guests will also have access to the downstairs space in the Paddock House when it is not in use by residents. Here, you can find a full kitchen for cooking meals, a dining table and a piano for entertainment. It is not unusual for guests to join residents for a drink or morning tea, when such occasions overlap with stays!
Gardens
Guests are invited to stroll the gardens and look for frogs, ducks and other wildlife around the dam! We ask that children be accompanied by an adult at all times when exploring outdoors.
Parking
The Paddock House has a dedicated covered carport parking spot directly across from the entry. Additional uncovered parking is available on-site a few doors down.
Single phase, 15 amp, 3kw EV charging is available in the dedicated Paddock House carport parking spot.
Fast charging is available in town at IGA Maxi and Woolworths supermarket car parks.
Guest Access
Guests enter the Paddock House through the main door with a keypad lock and access the guest suite by going upstairs. The guest suite has a lockable door with a key at the top of the stairs to ensure visitors' privacy.
While guests are staying at The Paddock, residents may use the ground floor of the Paddock House from time to time for meetings, social gatherings and individual needs. Guests are also welcome to use amenities on the ground floor of the Paddock House when it does not conflict with resident use.