10 Facts About Bendigo That Might Surprise You

1. Bendigo is home to the oldest and longest Imperial Dragons in the world.

That’s right, Bendigo’s connection to its Chinese history and culture is that impressive. Since the gold rush of the 1850s, many thousands of Chinese arrived in Bendigo bringing their customs, culture, and beliefs to the goldfields – including dragons!

In the late 1800s an Imperial Dragon known as Loong, was sent from China and made his Bendigo Easter Fair parade debut in 1892. From that day on, Chinese dragons in Bendigo have become iconic. When Loong, the oldest Imperial Dragon, became too old to be paraded through the streets of Bendigo, a new dragon, Sun Loong, was purchased in the 1970s. Then followed Dai Gum Loong in 2019, the longest Imperial Dragon in the world.

Both are on display at the Golden Dragon Museum in the heart of Bendigo.

2. Bendigo is Australia’s first UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy.

Bendigo has one of the richest concentrations of boutique food and wine producers in Australia! 

That means throughout the Bendigo region you can experience everything from paddock to plate and fine dining, vineyard to glass and crafty ales. You can meet fellow foodies and producers at farmers markets, passionate baristas roasting their own coffee beans to perfection, enjoy laneway drinks and rooftop bars, dine in heritage buildings, or gather your own local produce from farm gates, greengrocers, and providores. It’s making me hungry just talking about. 

Check out our Gastronomy Guide to find out more.

3. Bendigo Pottery is Australia’s oldest working pottery.

In the 1850s Scottish migrant, George Duncan Guthrie, stumbled on a clay deposit. This clay deposit turned into the successful beginnings of Bendigo Pottery. 

Over the years their pottery with its distinctive brown hues have been widely seen in homes and cafes throughout Australia. In the 1970s, it was transformed into the successful tourist attraction that it is known for today, attracting visitors from around the globe. In fact, it has one of the most significant collections of historic wood fired kilns in the world.

Today you can take a pottery class, try your hand at wheel throwing or clay play, take a tour of the interpretative centre or purchase your own piece of Bendigo Pottery.

4. Bendigo is home to the largest stupa in the Western World.

At a massive 50 metres square at its base and nearly 50 metres high, The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion is the largest Buddhist stupa outside Asia. 

Nestled amongst native bushland on the outskirts of Bendigo, the best way to explore the Great Stupa is with a self-guided tour. Begin in the Visitor Centre before making your way out into the interfaith Peace Park, up to the Prayer Wheels, inside the Great Stupa and viewing the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace. 

Whether you’re a spiritual person, appreciate grand architecture or simply want to see something unique in the Australian landscape, the Great Stupa is a must visit.

They’re open seven days, have a café and gift shop onsite, and they’re even pet friendly.

5. Bendigo is home to one of Australia’s most visited and highly regarded galleries.

Bendigo Art Gallery is one of the oldest and largest regional galleries in Australia. Visitors come from around Australia to view their innovative international exhibitions, public program, and events.

To the art enthusiasts, their impressive permanent collection has grown to showcase the diverse history of Australian art and design, including First Nations art, colonial and 19th century European and Australian paintings, 20th century and contemporary Australian art. 

Most recently, they have been in the spotlight for curating and attracting major international exhibitions including Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits and Elvis: Direct from Graceland. 

6. The Bendigo and Heathcote region boasts over 60 boutique cellar doors.

That’s right, the Bendigo and Heathcote wine regions are home to over 60 boutique cellar doors! 

Bendigo is one of Australia’s oldest wine regions, with vines dating back as far as 1855. And the Heathcote region is home to some of the oldest Shiraz producing vines in Australia. It’s no wonder why the region has such a great reputation for making award-winning wines. 

As expected, there are a diverse range of experiences on offer. Choose from an intimate wine tasting, meet the winemaker and taste straight from the barrel, enjoy a wine flight, charcuterie boards, pizzas and seasonal lunches. Experience the latest vintage being harvested from February to April, join a stomping party, vineyard tour, epic views, live music or stay the night amongst the vines.

7. More gold was found in Bendigo between 1851 and 1900 than anywhere else in the world.

Gold was first discovered in Bendigo in 1851, by the wives of two pastoral workers while hand washing clothes along the banks of the Bendigo Creek. People from all over the world descended on Bendigo looking to change their fortunes in what became the world’s richest goldfields between 1851 and 1900. 

In today’s terms, around nine billion dollars’ worth of gold was found in Bendigo. It is the second highest producing goldfield in Australia after Kalgoorlie, and the seventh richest field in the world.

Today, you can step back in time and experience life as a miner at Central Deborah Gold Mine, walk what were once goldfields at Victoria Hill Reserve, visit the home of a mining magnate at Fortuna Villa, and even stay in a miner’s cottage.

8. The Bendigo Easter Fair is Australia’s oldest ongoing community festival.

The first Bendigo Easter Fair was celebrated in 1871 and is now one of Australia’s longest running community events and a beloved Bendigo tradition. The event highlights the regions rich Chinese heritage and culture which has been an integral part of the Fair since 1879.

Over the Easter weekend, Bendigo’s beautiful Rosalind Park and surrounding streets are transformed into vibrant precincts bursting with family-friendly entertainment, stage shows, hands-on activities, live music, roving performers, and Easter egg hunt and more.

You can join locals and visitors alike to line the streets for the evening Torchlight Procession, and watch the colourful Gala Parade featuring Dai Gum Loong, the world’s longest Imperial Dragon, as he weaves his way through the historic streetscapes of Bendigo.

9. The traditional land owners of this land is the Dja Dja Wurrung People.

The Bendigo region has been home to the Dja Dja Wurrung People for tens of thousands of years. Today their stories are shared through performance, public art installations and the city pays homage to their language through the naming of significant places. 

Connect and learn about our First Peoples with a Tour by Djaara – Ulumbarra CBD Walking Tour. View Scarred Trees, inspiring artwork by First Nations artists, the collaboration between State Government and local First Nation communities. 

Jump onboard the Dja Dja Wurrung Talking Tram, featuring the artwork of Dja Dja Wurrung, Yorta Yorta and Jaru artist Natasha Carter, and take a ride through the city streetscapes.

Admire beautiful artwork and stories at Djaara Lights, located along Oscars Walk. And visit Djaa Djuwima, a dedicated and permanent First Nations Gallery hosting curated exhibitions exploring identity, heritage, connection and storytelling.

10. Bendigo Joss House Temple is one of Australia’s oldest temples of its kind.

Bendigo’s heritage-listed Joss House Temple, a Chinese place of prayer, was opened in 1871 during the gold rush with the large arrival of Chinese immigrants to the goldfields. Standing for over a century, it is one of Australia’s oldest remaining temples of its kind. The temple is rare as a surviving artefact of that culture and period when so little else remains. 

Constructed with locally handmade bricks and painted red, symbolising the traditional Chinese colour denoting strength and vitality, the Joss House provides a glimpse into Chinese culture and tradition.

Visitors are welcome to explore the temple’s different rooms and hear about the intriguing beliefs and rituals once practised here. The Bendigo Joss House Temple is open Saturday and Sunday, 10.30am – 3pm.