On the road again and what a difference it was from Avoca to Bendigo. Stayed at a free camp camp outside of Bendigo called Happy Jacks Recreation Reserve, nice place but no power or water, no worries we are fully self contained.
Did the tourist thing and headed for the Info Centre, the guy there said we had to take a look at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, so we did. This is a church that takes your breath away it and is the second tallest church in Australia. The ground breaking took place in 1897, work ceased from a lack of funds in 1908 and it was not until 1954 that construction recommenced, finally completed in 1977. This Cathedral has a Gothic style about it and is absolutely massive. On an upstairs balcony behind the pews stands a large pipe organ built by Bishop and Son of London, and was installed in 1905.
Here is a little known fact the bells were only installed and officially rung for the first time in September 2001.
Monday we went to Bendigo and did the Heritage Buildings of Bendigo Walk. Some of the buildings included the former Post Office (now the Visitors Centre), Law Courts, Town Hall, a couple of pubs and the Soldiers Memorial Hall and gardens. There were many Banks that were built during the time of the gold rush and they commissioned elaborate buildings to signify prominence and wealth, for the peace of mind to the customers.
Tuesday we went to The Golden Dragon Museum and learnt a great deal of history about the Chinese in Australia, who worked the gold fields of Bendigo, many had come from the Canton Province. News of the rich gold strike in Bendigo had reached the Province and with many families suffering economic upheaval and hardship, sent their young and fit to Australia to work the gold fields. These earnings sent back to China helped the poverty stricken families as well as assisting in the building of a railway. It was these small beginnings that a vibrant Chinese Community developed in Bendigo. The Chinese dubbed the gold rush "Dia Gum San" (The Big Gold Mountain). It was only after the Second World War and the easing of the immigration Policy set up in 1901 (The White Australia Policy) that Chinese Immigrants have been allowed to settle here as naturalised citizens.
The museum houses a great many displays from cooking utensils, pharmacy equipment, money, Jade and wood elaborate carvings as well as clothing from every day wear to the delicate embroidery of ceremonial costumes and gowns.
The museum is home to Sun Loong, the largest Ceremonial Chinese Dragon in the world. It was the replacement for Loong the oldest Chinese Dragon in the world. Sun Loong was commissioned in 1969 as the original dragon was getting to frail and brittle to use anymore. The new dragon is over 100 metres long and has 6,000 silk scales and 90,000 hand cut mirrors sewn on to them. For a performance it takes more than 50 people to manipulate it to dance, the head alone weighs 30 kilos. Sun Loong was modeled on the first Bendigo Dragon, Loong he was bought out to Australia toward the end of the gold rush era, and dates back to the Qing Dynasty who ruled from 1644 to 1912.
The museum also houses the Yi Yuan Garden (Garden of Joy). Built as a joint project with the city of Boading, China. Based on the Imperial Palace of Beijing, the architecture and construction is authentic in every way. The garden houses a Buddhist temple called The Kuan Yin Temple and is dedicated to Guan Yin, Godess of Mercy.
Did the tourist thing and headed for the Info Centre, the guy there said we had to take a look at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, so we did. This is a church that takes your breath away it and is the second tallest church in Australia. The ground breaking took place in 1897, work ceased from a lack of funds in 1908 and it was not until 1954 that construction recommenced, finally completed in 1977. This Cathedral has a Gothic style about it and is absolutely massive. On an upstairs balcony behind the pews stands a large pipe organ built by Bishop and Son of London, and was installed in 1905.
Here is a little known fact the bells were only installed and officially rung for the first time in September 2001.
Monday we went to Bendigo and did the Heritage Buildings of Bendigo Walk. Some of the buildings included the former Post Office (now the Visitors Centre), Law Courts, Town Hall, a couple of pubs and the Soldiers Memorial Hall and gardens. There were many Banks that were built during the time of the gold rush and they commissioned elaborate buildings to signify prominence and wealth, for the peace of mind to the customers.
Tuesday we went to The Golden Dragon Museum and learnt a great deal of history about the Chinese in Australia, who worked the gold fields of Bendigo, many had come from the Canton Province. News of the rich gold strike in Bendigo had reached the Province and with many families suffering economic upheaval and hardship, sent their young and fit to Australia to work the gold fields. These earnings sent back to China helped the poverty stricken families as well as assisting in the building of a railway. It was these small beginnings that a vibrant Chinese Community developed in Bendigo. The Chinese dubbed the gold rush "Dia Gum San" (The Big Gold Mountain). It was only after the Second World War and the easing of the immigration Policy set up in 1901 (The White Australia Policy) that Chinese Immigrants have been allowed to settle here as naturalised citizens.
The museum houses a great many displays from cooking utensils, pharmacy equipment, money, Jade and wood elaborate carvings as well as clothing from every day wear to the delicate embroidery of ceremonial costumes and gowns.
The museum is home to Sun Loong, the largest Ceremonial Chinese Dragon in the world. It was the replacement for Loong the oldest Chinese Dragon in the world. Sun Loong was commissioned in 1969 as the original dragon was getting to frail and brittle to use anymore. The new dragon is over 100 metres long and has 6,000 silk scales and 90,000 hand cut mirrors sewn on to them. For a performance it takes more than 50 people to manipulate it to dance, the head alone weighs 30 kilos. Sun Loong was modeled on the first Bendigo Dragon, Loong he was bought out to Australia toward the end of the gold rush era, and dates back to the Qing Dynasty who ruled from 1644 to 1912.
The museum also houses the Yi Yuan Garden (Garden of Joy). Built as a joint project with the city of Boading, China. Based on the Imperial Palace of Beijing, the architecture and construction is authentic in every way. The garden houses a Buddhist temple called The Kuan Yin Temple and is dedicated to Guan Yin, Godess of Mercy.
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