it's beautiful here.

spotlight on castlemaine | tim sproal.

Name: Tim Sproal

Age: 37

Star sign: Cancer

Hometown: Castlemaine

Describe yourself in 3 words or less: Zest for everything.

When did you move to Castlemaine, and why? Moved in April 2010. A combination of a love of the town, housing affordability, the country life and to be closer to my partners sister who was expecting her second set of twins!

What do you do here? I’m a winemaker, with a small co-operative winery in town that i set up with two friends. I also manage a local restaurant (The Good Table) and help to co-ordinate the local Farmers Market….when i’m not raising a small family with my partner Anna.

What does a normal day entail for you? Every day looks different from the last, but usually starts with feeding and wrestling Sylvie and my dog Pat, sometimes a run, always a pot of tea then off to work: either in the winery or a sales trip to Melbourne. Home after 5 to get into the garden, cook dinner, hang out with the girls…stretch, for gods sake STRETCH. Listen to some music and wrestle with the fact that i’m wasting time on the internet when i should be reading books.

What makes Castlemaine so special? A town with a lot of history that has attracted an engaged and creative community from really diverse backgrounds. It’s a small town with a really great music, food and arts scene. People are good here. The weather maybe less so

Your coffee go-to? Nigel’s Cappuccino Window….mornings from the window of The Good Table restaurant. He’s the best guy and makes good coffee from a local roaster. That’s all i need.

Favorite breakfast spot? Probably Das Caffe House - a splendid euro style coffee house that shares a common wall with my winery. I’m there too often during harvest.

Any farmers markets you can recommend? ……well yes, the Castlemaine Farmers market. A monthly market that i’ve been co-ordinating for the last 3 years. A really strong focus on local and ethical growers and producers from the region. For a small town, we punch above our weight with food.

Best place for a:

• beer? Bridge Hotel…dangerously about 200 m from the winery. Good selection of taps, live music and a solid beer garden.
• cocktail? Hickster, a balcony bar above the Good Table restaurant. Louden has thrown himself with relentless passion and devotion into the world of drink making. Carves his own ice and has a shelf full of essences, infusions and tinctures to tweak with.
• drink with a view? The Gov cafe at the Old Castlemaine Gaol…no better view in town, also great for coffee and breakfast.

If you're feeling uninspired in Castlemaine, where do you go to get re-inspired? I’d either head to Melbourne to visit friends and eat well…EMBLA is my no.1 at the moment. Otherwise, if i need headspace and a bit of a reset i head up out for a hike in the hills with the girls, often foraging for wild mushrooms in Autumn or Spring.

What are some of the quirky things you always do when traveling? I also go straight to the wet markets…where they trade fresh local foods. Usually at about 6am if i can. Great place to eat food and learn about the local cuisine. Getting yourself completely lost is a great way to meet people and get a grip on your orientation, plus stumble upon some more interesting corners. I always get a cut throat shave too; every place does it differently, it’s a good benchmark.

Top 5 travel tips? 

    -    ask locals

    -    avoid comfort zones

    -    eat everything

    -    be respectful and generous

    -    walk everywhere

Who is inspiring you right now? Plenty of people; mostly friends who are taking risks and following passions. People who don’t put up with the mediocre or safe. People who do things.

Whats on your stereo? Marlon Williams, John Hopkins and The Finks

Words you live by: I’m not sure i live by words more that i’m compelled by a desire to have an impact, be passionate, do everything and to be nice about it.