Wren and Albie want to stop Macca's from coming to their historic town

McDonald's has never set foot in the gold rush town. Some of Castlemaine's youngest residents want to keep it that way.

A group of schoolchildren have joined forces to stop a McDonald's from being built in the centre of their small Victorian town.

The fast-food giant is eyeing a vacant parcel of land in Castlemaine, a quiet community with a population of 1200 people, located around 130 kilometres from Melbourne.

McDonald's has never set foot in the gold rush town. Some of Castlemaine's youngest residents want to keep it that way.

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Hannah Sinclair's two children Wren, 11, and Albie, eight, are concerned the Golden Arches won't be the right fit for their "beautiful" hometown.

"It's [almost] right across the road from the school and that's where our local circus performs every year," Wren told nine.com.au.

"It would be right in the centre of town where the big water fountain that goes back to the gold mining period... it's a really beautiful part of town.

"It's not really the type of business we want in Castlemaine."

McDonald's is yet to lodge a development application with Mount Alexander Shire Council, but confirmed it is proposing a free-standing restaurant with a McCafe, drive-through, playground and carpark at 72-80 Forest Street.

Forest Street is one of Castlemaine's busiest roads.

The site is 250 metres away from Castlemaine Primary School and two blocks from the nearby St Mary's Primary School.

Residents say the traffic caused by the McDonald's would interrupt the flow of children walking and riding their bikes to school.

Hannah said it is "hard to imagine" the extra traffic if a McDonald's is approved and built.

It also sits close to a Woolworths, BWS PetStock, several restaurants and a theatre.

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Wren's younger brother Albie said he and his classmates agree that Castlemaine already has enough "chain" stores.

He wants to support local businesses, like his favourite fish and chip shop.

"Most of us say we don't want a Macca's in Castlemaine. We're a very sustainable town, and there's lots more chain companies popping up," he said.

"The new burger shops are a chain. The Subway is a chain and Macca's would just add to it, it would go to the next level."

There are 100-year-old oak trees that border the grassy field, which the family are worried will be impacted by construction work.

Exactly how much of the 4310-square-metre site will be used for the proposed restaurant remains unknown.

Wren and Albie took part in a rally on Thursday at the proposed site.

Dozens of local kids, teenagers and parents joined the effort to oppose a Macca's in Castlemaine.

The young protesters say it's about protecting the legacy of their town.

"We're leading this rally, and it's actually for our future," Wren added.

"It's a really healthy town, and we need to keep it local.

"We need to make sure that it doesn't get built."

The details of the proposed fast food outlet are still being finalised, a spokesperson for McDonald's told nine.com.au.

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However, the company confirmed the potential development would represent an investment over $3.5 million in Castlemaine and provide over 100 jobs for the Goldfields region.

"We've been part of Victorian communities since 1973, employing thousands of people, serving up a locally sourced menu and providing convenient destinations for customers looking for great everyday value and those iconic Macca's moments," the spokesperson added.

Nine.com.au has contacted Mount Alexander Shire Council for comment.

Communities around Australia are challenging McDonald's applications, some even successfully petitioning for their local council to block the development.

A group of protesters in Cowes Victoria's Philip Island have also banded together to fight a restaurant from opening near a primary school.

In Northcote, an inner-city suburb of Melbourne, residents opposing a 24/7 McDonald's on High Street were left disappointed when the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) reversed a decision by Darebin City Council to block the restaurant.