CASTLEMAINE Football Netball Club kicked off its 150th anniversary celebrations last night with a nostalgic committee meeting.In conjunction with the launch of a book commemorating the club’s history, the CFNC held a committee meeting at the same venue, in the same room and on the same day that the club was formed in 1859.Documented evidence from the Castlemaine Mail in 1859 showed the club’s formation meeting took place in the Supreme Court Hotel, which is now operating as Heron’s Art Gallery.“The sense of history is enhanced by the fact that the building and room where the meeting took place are known and still standing,” club president Ron Cawthan said.“The June 15 meeting of 1859 was conducted when Robert O’Hara Burke (of Burke and Wills fame) was in charge of the police station 50 metres up the hill.“It is not too difficult to imagine Burke could have dropped in to have a drink and check what this football game was all about.“Unfortunately, Burke’s name does not appear on succeeding notices,” Cawthan added.CFNC followers packed into the Gallery last night to start a week of festivities.A dinner will be held on Friday night to unveil a painting which includes portraits of 25 Castlemaine football greats, while a social evening will be held at the town hall on Saturday night following the Magpies’ clash with Strathfieldsaye at Camp Reserve.One of the highlights last night was the launch of a book A Day At The Camp by renowned historian Darren Lewis.The book details the club’s history along with the historic development of football in Castlemaine and the goldfields.According to research by the Castlemaine Historical Society, the CFNC can claim to be the second oldest football club in Australia behind the Melbourne Football Club.