|
BENDIGO
The
huge
amount
of
gold
discovered
at
Bendigo
has
also
left
an
extravagant
mark,
making
it
the
most
splendid
mid-19th
century
Victorian
city
in
Australia.
When
you
drive
through
the
main
street
of
Bendigo
you'll
be
struck
by
the
city's
obvious
pride.
Flamboyant
in
appearance,
the
journey
down
its
side
streets
unveils
even
more
remarkable
buildings
-
baroque
mansions,
gothic
cathedrals
and
Georgian-style
homes.
Bendigo
was
the
greatest
goldfield
of
all
in
Victoria.
Extending
over
360
square
kilometres,
it
comprised
about
35
gold-bearing
reefs
with
a
total
output
of
more
than
22
million
ounces.
These
riches
built
a
grand
city
which
is
often
regarded
as
the
best-preserved
example
of
Victorian
architecture
in
the
State
-
and
possibly
Australia.
Any
city
in
the
world
would
be
proud
to
boast
Pall
Mall
and
its
handsome
buildings.
The
affluence
and
taste
is
also
reflected
in
elegant
villas
such
as
Fortuna,
the
home
of
mine
owner
George
Lansell.
Known
as
the
'Quartz
King',
he
was
a
larger
than
life
goldmining
entrepreneur
whose
shafts
were
always
the
deepest
and
whose
enthusiasm
spread
and
filled
the
city
with
optimism
and
excitement.
Humble
single-fronted
miners
cottages
now
house
fine
art,
as
does
the
outstanding
Bendigo
Art
Gallery.
Here
you
are
offered
an
insight
into
the
European
settlement
in
this
area.
The
Gallery
contains
significant
European
and
Australian
art
collections
and
has
the
largest
Louis
Buvelot
collection
in
the
country.
In
total
contrast,
a
large
portion
of
Bendigo's
rich
heritage
is
due
to
its
Chinese
associations.
The
Chinese
arrived
in
Bendigo
in
1854
and
China
Town
was
once
found
in
Bridge
Street.
Today,
however,
it
is
the
Golden
Dragon
Museum
which
contains
the
treasure-trove
of
Chinese
ceremonial
regalia,
including
the
dragons
Loong
and
Sun
Loong.
If
you
visit
Bendigo
during
the
Easter
break
you
can
see
the
Easter
Monday
Chinese
Procession
where
Sun
Loong,
carried
by
60
people,
is
paraded.
The
brilliant
red
Chinese
Jess
House
is
an
equally
startling
find.
Bright
banners,
sacred
offerings
and
a
variety
of
tiny
alters
are
found
inside.
You
can
also
see
aspects
of
Chinese
life
portrayed
in
wax
at
the
Dai
Gum
San
Wax
Museum.
Situated
right
in
the
heart
of
the
city
is
the
Central
Deborah
Mine
shaft
which
passes
through
17
levels
to
a
depth
of
almost
400
metres.
The
last
deep-reef
mine
in
the
area
to
close,
it
has
been
fully
restored
and
is
a
working
exhibit
for
the
public.
Linking
many
of
these
attractions
are
the
vintage
'talking'
trams.
You
can
listen
to
a
taped
commentary
on
the
sights
you
will
pass,
identifying
points
of
interest
along
the
way.
This
eight
kilometre
tram
tour
starts
and
ends
at
the
Central
Deborah
Mine.
While
you
are
here,
why
not
supplement
your
visual
experience
with
some
of
the
town's
many
gourmet
pleasures.
Wine
connoisseurs
will
delight
at
the
boutique
wineries
scattered
throughout
the
hills
and
valleys
surrounding
Bendigo.
Other
attractions
include
Bendigo
Pottery,
Australia's
oldest
pottery
still
in
operation
and
Sweenies
Creek
Pottery.
At
Sandhurst
Town,
a
short
drive
from
Bendigo,
you
can
relive
the
gold
rush
days
in
this
faithfully
re-created
mining
town.
BALLARAT
Born
out
of
the
frantic
days
of
the
goldrush,
Victoria's
largest
inland
city
has
matured
into
a
gracious
collection
of
elegant
public
buildings,
fine
parks
and
landscaped
gardens.
Ballarat
is
situated
just
110
kilometres
west
of
Melbourne
-
a
short
hour's
drive.
From
its
initial
gold
find
in
1851,
the
area
produced
27
per
cent
of
Victoria's
gold
by
the
turn
of
the
century.
The
initial
fields
to
be
exploited
were
the
alluvial
fields
of
Ballarat
East.
In
the
years
following,
the
rich
leads
buried
under
the
Sebastapol
Plateau
were
to
produce
enormous
yields.
The
resulting
need
for
heavy
machinery
meant
a
growth
in
local
industries
such
as
Cowley's
Eureka
Iron
Works
and
mining
suppliers
like
The
Phoenix.
These
manufacturing
concerns
created
a
permanence
for
Ballarat.
Not
only
did
the
Goldfields
bring
wealth,
but
along
with
it
came
turmoil.
In
fact,
one
of
the
greatest
dramas
in
Australian
history
occurred
on
the
Ballarat
goldfields.
The
Eureka
Stockade
remains
the
only
armed
civil
uprising
against
the
government
in
| 
