Cape York Blog
Monday May 1st to Friday May 5th Bendigo
We really are heading northwards, but having a bit of a
detour at the beginning due to a wonderful social event in Bendigo. We are spending 4 nights with friends we
made in Shepparton when we all taught together at Shepparton South Tech School
back in the 1970’s. We get together once
or twice a year and this time we decided on Bendigo. It is a great city with lots of good things
to do.
Our highlights in the city were the Botanical Gardens,
Bendigo Pottery, Bendigo Art Gallery, great bike trails, Poppet Head lookout,
Rosalind Park, wonderful bakery and coffee shops, Central Deborah Gold mine,
the historic tourist tram, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Chinese Dragon Museum and
the house that Rick lived in when studying at Bendigo Institute of Technology
in the early ‘70’s
We spent one day visiting Harcourt and Castlemaine where
thanks to Gary, Val and David’s knowledge and contacts (They all grew up in
Castlemaine) we had a great tour! Just
out of Harcourt some rich model railway enthusiasts are setting up a tourist
railway about 3.5km long with the trains leaving from a one third model of the
Maryborough station. An incredible
project and it was great to see it under construction. It might be finished in a few years
time! We also visited the Harcourt
Heritage Centre where locals have set up an amazing museum and are doing in
depth research into local families.
In Castlemaine we drove around all over the place visiting
childhood homes of our tour guides, a Bourke and Wills monument (Bourke worked
in Castlemaine before heading off on the big expedition), many many beautiful
historic buildings, the enormous Don smallgoods factory and had lunch in the
repurposed woollen mill. In the Castlemaine
Diggings National Park we visited the remains of an amazing waterwheel and the
Pennyweight Flat cemetery set up for children of the diggers who died. It happens to feature in a song Rick’s choir
sings.
As usual there were great reminiscences to have, a general
catch up and great food washed down with copious quantities of wine, cider etc
etc. We even have a sensational Airbnb house
to recommend – 7 bedrooms and everything of top quality. It’s called “Stay Social”, in Queen St
Bendigo.
Denise
2023-05-04
Yay, so glad you're on your way. Castlemaine is so historical. I lived rhere from 1970 to 1974 - OT Fryerstown. Had a dress shop at 217 Barker St....past lives!
Patricia Gordon
2023-05-04
So close. Great start to your trip. Love all those places. Looking forward to more pics. Stay safe and enjoy it all.
Stephie
2023-05-04
Oh lovely to hear that you are on your way and not wasting a moment. Great to catch up with old friends. Have a wonderful trip and looking forward to the next exciting instalment. Bon voyage!
Lyn
2023-05-04
Love Bendigo and surrounds. Sounds like a great catch-up. Looking forward to travelling along with you on your next adventure.
Kev
2023-05-04
Looking forward to following your travels.
Richard
2023-05-04
Wish we were with you. Keep away from corrugations and rough roads Rick!
Rod
2023-05-04
Up, up and away!! Travel well. Hope you have tail winds and smooth roads.
Merran
2023-05-05
I would be exhausted already after that whirlwind tour! Bendigo is such an interesting place, I love visiting the pottery and once did a section of the Dry diggings walk from Ballarat to Castlemaine! Looking forward to your stories and travel safe xx