Rosalind Park - Bendigo

Bendigo Vic 3550 (Pop 82 500)

Bendigo is a gracious and historic city in Victoria's Goldfields 150 km n-w of Melbourne. Awash with magnificent Victorian buildings erected during its gold boom years, it was originally called Sandhurst and later renamed after a local boxer who also lent his name to the creek where gold was first discovered in 1851. Original inhabitants were the Jaara Aborigines with white squatter settlement beginning in 1840. Between 1851 and 1954, 25 million ounces of gold were found here making it the world’s most important goldmining site by 1870. A large Chinese population were also attracted to the area with the city’s Chinese name, Dai Gun Sun, meaning Big Gold Mountain. Today Bendigo’s economy is made up of tourism, industry & as a service centre. Bendigo markets each Sun. Bendigo Easter Festival, Bendigo by Bike (Apr), Australian Sheep and Wool Show (July), Bendigo Heritage Uncorked (Oct), Racing Festival (Nov).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Historic Bendigo includes Town Hall (1859), Alexandra Fountain (1881), old Post Office (1883), Law Courts (1892), Shamrock Hotel (1897), Sacred Heart Cathedral (1887). Central Deborah Mine, Violet St (1909-1954) The mine extends 20 floors below ground level with gold and quartz traces still seen. Joss House, (Emu Pt) Australia’s oldest such example having been built of timber and bricks in 1860s by Chinese miners. The complex consists of the caretaker’s house, the major temple & ancestral hall. Open (10am-5pm) daily. Golden Dragon Museum, Bridge St opened in 1991 to commemorate the history of the Bendigo Chinese population from 1850s to today with rich and cultural memorabilia and processional regalia including 6 dragons, amongst them the world’s oldest and longest. Chinese Gardens surround the museum modeled on Beijing’s Imperial Gardens. Open (9.30am-5pm) exc. Christmas Day. Bendigo Art Gallery, View St one of Australia’s finest regional galleries with extensive Australian and European exhibitions & artworks. Memorial Military Museum Complex, Pall Mall. Open (10am-4pm) exc. Sat.

Nearby:
Greater Bendigo NP (8 km north) protecting box-ironbark forests, mallee & grassy woodlands with a prolific birdlife as well as wallabies, kangaroos & echidnas. Popular for birdwatching, bushwalking, camping & cycling. The 60 km Bendigo Bushland Trail winds through the park and the Great Dividing Trail begins here linking Bendigo, Castlemaine & Ballarat. Eaglehawk (6.5 km n-w) site of early goldmining and impressive 19^th century architecture.

Accommodation:
Bendigo has about 30 motels, over a dozen hotels, 15 B&Bs, many holiday apartments/cottages and 5 caravan parks. Visitor Information Centre: Old Post Office, Pall Mall. Tel (03) 5444 4445 or 1800 813 153.