Bendigo

Bendigo => is a large regional city in Victoria, Australia, population 84,000 (making it the 4th largest settlement in the state). Bendigo is located some 140 km (105 miles, 1.5 hrs drive) north-north-west of Melbourne.

Understand

Bendigo grew to a bustling town during the Gold Rush Era of the 1850s.

An influx of people from the city has brought the population of Bendigo to roughly 90 thousand in recent years. Even so it still retains a good friendly country atmosphere.

The climate is very kind and the town has more sunny days per year than Queensland. Being north of the Great Dividing Range, it has also far less rain than Melbourne. Summers are hot and dry, up to 40 degrees Celsius or more on some days. Winters tend to be mild; with lowest temperatures around -5 degrees celsius during the night or 14 during days.

Sheep, cattle, fruit, wine and cereal crops are the most common products of the area. Gold is being discovered again in large quantities at deeper levels in the old mines with new technology and promises a wealthy future.

A large Chinese community established itself during the early days of the gold rush and still play a large role in local ceremonies.

Get in

By train

Bendigo is served by frequent trains which run from Melbourne's Southern Cross Station (known as Spencer Street Station until December 2005) into the heart of Bendigo. The journey takes approximately two hours.

By car

Bendigo is approximately 1.5 hr drive north of Melbourne on the Calder Highway.

See

The tourist information centre is housed in the old post office building on Pall Mall (the main through road) - opposite the Shamrock Hotel
The Easter fair procession, which is the oldest continual festival in Victoria. The imperial dragon called Sun Loong takes pride of place each year at the festival needing over 50 strong members of the public to carry it.
There is a Chinese Museum which has tours and one of the original Joss houses is open to the public. You can get to this by taking the Tourist Talking Tram Tour from the Central Deborah Gold Mine, which is close to the city centre.

Do

Visit the wineries =>. Bendigo is the centre of a thriving wine area - a number of nearby wineries are well worth the visit. Bendigo Shiraz is generally very full flavoured and big.

Drink

Bendigo Shiraz - some good Bendigo wineries are: Chateau Leamon, Waterwheel, Balgownie, Mandurang Valley, Harcourt, Blackjack, Connor Park. Many other small wineries are in the district.