Peter and Vicki's Travel Blog: Take the Vintage Talking Tram! See the dragon's! View Australia's oldest Pottery!

A fantastic ride and experience! A great way to see Bendigo and learn about its elaborate architecture, monuments and intriguing cultural heritage.

When the trams in Bendigo were taken out of service the people of the city banded together and reintroduced the trams as a tourist attraction - its fantastic! You not only get to ride on an old tram but the tram has an enlightening audio commentary as you travel around this fascinating city. We got a hop on/ hop off pass for 2 days which enables us to visit other attractions and interests. The main tram terminal has an excellent museum.

The tram we rode around on yesterday.
They use a different tram each day so all the trams in the tram museum
are seen operating - history on show!

Our driver was very informative on the history and operation of the tram
Certainly an art in driving one!
The back of the seats swing over so you can face the direction you wish to sit.
At the end of the tram line the driver changes ends of the tram to go back the other direction

The woodwork in this tram was amazing - they have restored and cared for the trams with
great love and respect for their place in the history of transport.

Shuttling along down the middle of the main street

Another restored and working tram - it even as stained glass windows in it!

Today we visited the Golden Dragon Museum presented by the Bendigo Chinese Association. It is well worth a visit as it is a living history of the Chinese of the Chinese people in Bendigo from the goldrush of the 1950s to the present day. As well as displaying Loong, the world's oldest Imperial dragon and Sun Loong, the world's longest Imperial dragon, the museum beautifully displays professional regalia, carved furniture and costumes embroidered with gold bullion thread. Definitely a very worthwhile visit! - interesting, colourful, informative and moving! The Chinese people who came to Australia and Bendigo in the goldrush had very difficult lives for all sorts of reasons!

The entrance to the Golden Dragon Museum
Opened in 1991

Ming Porcelain

Intricate lacquerware fish

The Scholar's Jacket - dates back to 1880 and is embroidered with silk and gold thread
So beautiful!

Sun Loong is so long its body circle the whole display area of the museum

Sun Loong stretches his legs annually at the oldest continuous fair - the Bendigo Easter Festival Gala Parade.
Parading on easter Monday over 120,000 people line the streets to watch him weave his magnificent Imperial body through Bendigo's CBD. This has been happening for many years.
115 volunteers are needed to be his legs, and traditionally the head is carried by a group of Chinese who take turns
as it weighs 29kilos

The 1946 parade

The 1980 parade

The 1929 parade

The displays are beautifully presented!

An honour - Loong was given the States highest level of heritage protection

Loong
The most celebrated dragon in Australia appeared in Bendigo in 1892
He was retired from the Easter Festival Parade in 1970
Loong appeared in Melbourne in 1901 to celebrate Federation and then again
in 2001 to March in the Centenary of Federation Parade

One of the oldest artefacts in the Museum - the Shang Dynasty bronze cups dating back to 1500BC

Click to enlarge

A Chinese bed chamber
The carving on the wooden furniture is incredibly delicate and intricate

The Yi Yuan Gardens - Garden of Joy!
Opened in 1996 and are at the entrance to the Golden Dragon Museum
The Classical Chinese Garden includes traditional Chinese architecture, decorative marble sculptures and
colourful hand painted mural
Beautiful and peaceful! - and joyful!

Click to enlarge

Based on the gardens in the Imperial Palace in Beijing,
the architecture and construction of the garden is authentic in every way

The Ba Xian (the Eight Immortals)
The Chinese always depict a group for good luck

After enjoying the morning in the Golden Dragon Museum we wandered though the CBD again before heading to the famous Bendigo Pottery

Bendigo gaol

Tom Flood Sporting Complex

The cyclists were out for some training - love the pacing capsules!

The old Colonial Bank building - my favourite,
lovely architecture!

George Lansell played a very important role in the development of Bendigo
His statue proudly stands in Rosalind Park along with Queen Victoria and George V!

Did you know Bendigo was originally called Sandhurst!
Click to enlarge - the story tells how it became "Bendigo"

St Paul's Anglican Cathedral and Rectory

Bush's Store established in 1857

A Chinese place of worship which was constructed in the 1860's. Originally part of the Ironbark Chinese Camp, it is one of the few remaining original buildings of its type in Australia.

Constructed using locally handmade bricks and painted red-symbolising happiness, strength and vitality -the Joss House is considered a significant and unique part of bendigo's cultural history.

Click to enlarge

The main temple is dedicated to Guan Di(Kwan Gong), the god of war and prosperity. The Chinese saw him as a wise judge, guide, protector, and provider of wealth and prosperity; factors sought by the Chinese inhabitants of this strange land.

We really enjoyed our visit to the famous Bendigo Pottery - Australia's oldest working Pottery

Click to enlarge

George Guthrie
He had no luck finding gold in Bendigo for, but the white clay he found in the creek made his day!!!

Click to enlarge

We took a step back in time and learnt about the production processes, machinery, working conditions and
traditional skills of the Pottery from its beginning in 1858 to the present day.

The pottery has the most significant collection of historic kilns in the world.

The Interpretive Museum is built around the old kilns and contains displays of equipment used over the years and the products made at the Pottery since its beginning. The videos (one you watch inside one of the huge kilns!) and soundscapes are really informative.

There are also viewing areas of the current production areas so you can see the Pottery in action.