Visiting Bendigo in Country Victoria

Good Food and Fine Art Just Outside of Melbourne

Aug 19, 2009 Merinda Wilson

Bendigo is a country town that has reinvented itself, with modern, vibrant eateries, unique shopping experiences and one of the best art galleries in regional Australia.

At first glance Bendigo looks like a lot of other small Australian cities, its wide streets lined with banks and chain stores and dotted with a few attractive old buildings. In the gaps, however, are the things that give Bendigo its cosmopolitan edge: the atmospheric cafes filled with locals, the stores selling regional produce, the redeveloped laneways and spaces set aside for simply being. Look below for a few Bendigo experiences that shouldn't be missed.

Restaurants, Cafes and Food Stores in Bendigo

Like a lot of regional towns and cities Bendigo is making the most of the country's 'clean green' image, with a number of food stores and eateries focused on providing local, organic and homemade products. As a result there is a lot of good food and distinctive local tastes out there to be enjoyed.

One of the highlights of Bendigo, food or otherwise, is The Dispensary Enoteca, a little bar/restaurant/cafe tucked up a side alley between Pall Mall and Hargreaves St. This cucina club sociale, as it calls itself, wouldn't look out of place in any of the world's style-conscious cities, its warm, inviting interior and lively atmosphere complemented by the soft blues music that permeates the room. The menu is both seasonal and regional, with some items, such as the chorizo sausage, made on the premises.

On Lyttleton Tce, Bendigo Wholefoods stocks organic fruits and vegetables, locally made jams, sauces and chutneys, local artisan breads, cheeses, organic beauty products and row after row of flours, legumes, dried fruits, nuts and grains of almost every possible variation. Nothing is cheap but for a delicious picnic with quality local food there's no better place to come.

Other good places include T'hooft on Lyttleton Tce, a cafe/bar that has, among other things, an extensive selection of Belgian beer and delicious Belgian waffles, and the Gallery Cafe in the Bendigo Art Gallery, where much of the menu is sourced from the chef's own company, BC3, which seeks to promote food from Bendigo and the surrounding areas.

Arts and Culture – Bendigo Art Gallery and The Capital

The Bendigo Art Gallery is a destination in its own right, a thoroughly modern and innovative space that often has exclusive, big-name shows, such as the recent 'Golden Age of Couture' exhibition from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. In addition to its temporary exhibitions there is a small but fine collection of contemporary Australia art, works by many of Australia's most prominent 20th century artists, and paintings, ceramics and furniture from 19th century Australia, Europe and Britain.

The Capital is the city's performing arts center, with theater, opera and classical music by some of Australia's most respected companies. Generally there are two performances – one music, one theater – a month, and these will run for one day or two at the most. Groups such as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Victorian Opera and the city's own Bendigo Theatre Company can be found on the program.

There are a couple of smaller art galleries in the city that are also worth visiting. The La Trobe University Visual Arts Centre is located in a striking silver building across from The Capital, and has two galleries and two sculpture courtyards that show works by contemporary Australian artists. Allan's Walk is an artist-run space - one of the few in regional Victoria - that promotes emerging artists, and has used its application program to launch the careers of 250 artists since it opened in 2000.

Independent Shops and Antique Stores in Bendigo

Without a doubt the most creative, original and beautiful shop in Bendigo is Bob Boutique on Williamson St, an independent store that sells handcrafted goods made by local and Australian artisans, as well as a few labels from overseas. In it lovely, light-filled space there are brooches and jewelery shaped like clouds, trees and birds, knitted owl tea cosies, bowls made from warped records, buttons, cards, snow domes, clothes, artworks and all manner of other quirky objects. There is also a regular art exhibition that features works by local artists and craftspeople.

View St is full of antique and curio shops, and although it feels slightly inauthentic (it has clearly been designed to portray the 'quaint country town' image) the stores themselves are full of interesting objects and are fun to look through. Libris has a wonderful old world feel, with its high walls of hand-bound notebooks, stationery and photo albums, while View St Bazaar is kitschy and chaotic, it shelves practically tumbling down under the weight of treasures old and new.

How to Get to Bendigo and Visitor Information

Bendigo is easily reached from Melbourne and makes an ideal destination for a day trip or a relaxing weekend getaway. For a day trip the best way to get here is by train, which takes just over two hours and costs around AU$30 for a return trip. For those planning to visit some of the region's wineries or combine a trip here with a visit to another regional town or area it would be better to hire a car.

The visitor information centre is located on Pall Mall and provides lots of maps and information about Bendigo as well as the surrounding wineries, national parks, biking and walking trails and goldfields tourist attractions.

Bendigo is a country town that is moving forward, embracing the concepts of slow food and socially-aware living as it seeks to establish a unique, contemporary identity. Be sure to slow down too to get the most out of this surprising and thriving little piece of Victoria.

Post-Bushfire Travel in Country Victoria

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