There’s a transformation happening in Victoria’s goldfields, the beating heart of which is an old red-brick industrial woollen mill in Castlemaine. The Mill Castlemaine (1/9 Walker St) has been revitalised by the arrival of winemakers, brewers, bakers, coffee roasters and a vintage bazaar.

“For a relatively small town, people are so engaged with their food and wine,” says Tim Sproal, one of three friends who have joined forces to form Boomtown Winemakers Cooperative. “Jarad Curwood, Patrick Underwood and I share our knowledge and winemaking equipment at The Mill, where we create wines under the Boomtown brand as well as our own individual labels,” says Sproal. “The Mill is a new precinct full of great food and drink makers, and other creatives. The gold rush and big industry has left this space, and an awesome local family has come in and made it available to small producers who have a common passion.” Sproal’s approach to winemaking is indicative of the food movement throughout the area, which respects seasonality and place. “The Boomtown wines are regional blends made without adding anything,” he says. “We let the grapes ferment spontaneously using wild yeasts. We are trying to give people an honest interpretation of what Central Victorian wine is like.”

The food and wine scene in this Central Victorian town is undoubtedly booming – here Sproal shares his top picks for a gold-plated experience.

Follow your nose to Johnny Baker’s (rear 359 Barker St), a little shop selling pastries, tarts and pies. “The croissants are the best I’ve had,” says Sproal. The reason for that flaky goodness? Belgian butter. “All the water has been taken out,” says chef John Stekerhofs. “It’s 99.9 per cent butterfat.” The result is golden croissants, escargots and glossy Danish pastries laden with organic fruit. Don’t overlook the pies either.

To get locals through summer, Helen Addison-Smith whips up small batches of ice cream and serves them out of a little hole in the wall at The Mill (6F/9 Walker St). “My favourite Icecream Social flavour is the grapefruit and locally made MAiDENii vermouth,” says Sproal. “It’s unreal.”

Other flavours to try include ‘Cheer Up Emo Kid’ (chocolate and black sesame) and ‘Gold Digger’ (chocolate with honeycomb and flecks of gold).

The Bridge Hotel (21 Walker St) is the coolest pub in Castlemaine. “They have a really great drinks list,” says Sproal. “It’s Melbourne-chic – you can even get a Tasmanian sheep’s whey vodka! They really support small craftspeople within the food and beverage world.”

In a grand room at the bottom of the 93-year-old red-brick chimney of The Mill is Das Kaffeehaus (9 Walker St).

The lavish Viennese-style cafe transports you to another time with its marble-topped tables, enormous teardrop chandelier and red leather banquettes. The food is deliciously modest compared to its extravagant surrounds, but “there’s something really wonderful about a boiled egg, a bit of cheese, cured meat, some bread and a coffee”, says Sproal. “It’s very continental.” The coffee, roasted on site, is superb.

They’ve been called the best steamed pork buns in the nation. Joe Lam tucks juicy pieces of free-range pork into pillowy, house-made white dough at Taste of the Orient (233 Barker St). “It’s ridiculously good quality,” says Sproal. Other winning dishes include delicately pleated mushroom and water chestnut dumplings, and steamed egg-custard buns made with organic coconut cream.

“Katie and Hugh Finlay from Mt Alexander Fruit Gardens (69 Danns Rd, Harcourt) are two of the best growers in the region,” says Sproal. “Their white peaches are a reason to move to Castlemaine.” You can pick up some of the 90 varieties of certified organic stone fruit, apples, plums and pears from the monthly Castlemaine Farmers’ Market or from their farm gate, which is open through summer.

It’s been a long time since Castlemaine XXXX was brewed in town, but beer is back in a big way with Castlemaine Brewing Company having only recently opened the The Taproom (5A/9 Walker St). A stripped-down hangout, the bar is made from a reclaimed bowling alley and the light fittings are industrial bins salvaged from The Mill. “It’s a great place to have a few beers on a Sunday afternoon,” says Sproal. Settle into the beer garden and drink to the town’s mining forebears with Castlemaine Gold – a crisp golden ale with earthy malt flavours and a fruity finish.

Set high, overlooking the town, The Governor’s Cafe (36-48 Bowden St), is a welcoming space in the former governor’s residence at the Old Castlemaine Gaol. Its menu is divided into ‘naughty’ and ‘nice’ sections, but the truth is, all the food is stellar.

Pay homage to the humble chook at Bress (3894 Harmony Way, Harcourt), an artisanal restaurant, cidery and winery named after France’s finest fowl. A three-course set menu ($60) is the best way to navigate the seasonal offerings – think broad bean croquettes with preserved lemon mayo, slow-roasted lamb leg, and orange and polenta cake – all while you sit outside gazing up at the granite outcrops of Mount Alexander.

Open till late, Margot Wine Bar (14 Hargraves St) is the perfect place to dop in for pre- or post-movie drinks and nibbles. The decor is simple but refined, with glass orbs suspended over the timer tables and church pews. “Margot is a really stylish place that has a beautiful atmosphere,” says Sproal. “It’s both warm and sophisticated.”