The story of this little, laid-back town begins before the European settlement happened when it was known as Jaara Jaara country by its traditional landowners.
The town was inducted as Australia’s first Unesco Creative City and Region of Gastronomy in 2019, thanks to more than 100 producers and 60-plus cellar doors and breweries in the region.
Bendigo- a regional Victorian town, around 2 hours drive from Melbourne, has a starring role to play in the region’s history for being the place where gold rush legacy met contemporary culture, where grand Victorian architecture lines streets that buzz with restaurants, galleries and live music.
The wealth that poured out of Bendigo’s gold mines in the 1850s built the grand public buildings, wide streets, ornate hotels that define the place today, not to mention the “golden” contribution to its economy. The gold mine that made Bendigo – Central Deborah Gold Mine – is now the city’s most compelling tourist attraction. The underground tour is the sweet spot – fascinating, accessible and genuinely atmospheric.
The discovery of gold in the Bendigo Creek in 1851 sparked a rush that transformed the region forever. Among the thousands drawn to this new frontier were Chinese miners, who would play a pivotal role in shaping the history and culture of this place. Their journey, challenges and enduring legacy form one of the most compelling stories of the Australian gold rush.
Deep in a dun-coloured ironbark forest called the Whipstick looms the sublime Great Stupa of Universal Compassion. The stupa is a pagoda-like structure that houses Buddhist relics. This particular stupa near Bendigo contains precious pearl-like objects formed from the ashes of cremated Buddhist masters. Around the stupa is a village-like settlement, including a peace park, memorial walls, a museum, a library, a cafe, gardens, and a retreat.
How did it get here? The original vision came from a Tibetan Lama, Thubten Yeshe, who was co-founder of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). He had visited Bendigo in 1983 and was impressed by the strong community support for a Buddhist centre. On his death, the vision was fulfilled by his co-founder, Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
The vision was to replicate Tibet’s 600-year-old Gyantse Stupa (Kumbum), featuring nine tiers, 78 chapels, and 108 gates. It’s intended to work as a three-dimensional mandala that enhances its spiritual powers.
The most precious statue in the stupa is the Jade Buddha, carved from a rare jade boulder known as “Polar Pride,” discovered in Canada in 2000 and worth $1 million. This stone promised to realise Rinpoche’s vision of a Buddha that would “… illuminate the world and bring inconceivable peace and happiness and help prevent the destruction that is happening so much in the world, including war.” This dream was finally realised under the supervision of Ian Green. Master carvers in Thailand created the statue, which is 2.7 metres high and weighs four tons. Mementos were carved from offcuts to raise funds. It was formally consecrated by the Dalai Lama in 2009 and now sits on an alabaster throne.
Quan Yin represents the compassionate aspect of the Buddha. This 7-metre-tall statue was sculpted in Vietnam in poly-marble and hand painted here at the stupa.
Each prayer wheel inside the Stupa contains 20 million ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ mantras. You can spin the wheels (hand-made from copper in Nepal) to pray for compassionate energy for the world.
The 1000 Arm Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit) represents the compassion of the fully enlightened mind. Chenrezig is the special deity of Tibetans and Mongolians, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama is seen as a manifestation of Chenrezig. The arms and eyes of the statue signify the readiness to benefit sentient beings.
You will definitely also be delighted by the remarkable sights and sounds of Bendigo as your vintage tram tells you entertaining stories about the city founded on one of the world’s richest goldfields while passing monuments like the impressive Alexandra Fountain, the majestic Sacred Heart Cathedral and the stately promenade Pall Mall.
This hop-on, hop-off tour stops throughout the city allowing you to explore many of the parks, attractions, shopping and dining facilities that Bendigo has to offer.
Bendigo Tramways is a living piece of history that has been entwined with the city’s identity since 1890 and provides a glimpse into the Bendigo of old. No other Australian city which closed its tramway system left track, trams and a depot behind in the manner that Bendigo did.
Watch out for one of Australia’s most significant memorial museums, the Bendigo Military Museum, housed within the striking and architecturally iconic Soldiers Memorial Institute.
Through world-class displays, the Bendigo Military Museum commemorates the service and experiences of Central Victorians who served in both World War I and World War II, alongside rotating exhibitions that showcase individual stories and unique collections throughout the year.
Step inside to explore a world where every artefact tells a heartfelt story. Feel the weight of a soldier’s equipment, hear the roar of gunfire in the trenches, read deeply personal letters sent home, and reflect on the sacrifices the local heroes have made on behalf of their communities for more than a century.
So, whether you want to feel the gentle sway of the tram beneath your feet, hear the ding of the bell and watch Bendigo unfold through the front window as you take the controls or taste a strong, hot coffee while walking down the city centre or if you’re a rail enthusiast, history lover or simply searching for a truly unique adventure, this hands-on experience is an Australian exclusive unlike any other and Bendigo for me will remain a powerful place to connect, learn, and reflect together.
