A Beginner's Guide to Bendigo - Chapter 1 View St. and Rosalind Park

It occurred to me as I looked over my blog entries from months past that I haven’t really written anything about Bendigo.  This is an oversight that I really need to remedy.  Also, as my family and I did not travel afar during the last term break I was able to spend a few days driving, walking and generally cavorting throughout this central Victorian city.

Bendigo has a much different feel as you wander through its city centre on a workday compared to the weekends.   For starters you have to pay for parking and all the free parking in the neighbouring blocks is occupied by just after nine, which is not that much different than Calgary (although at a few dollars an hour for leaving your car unoccupied on the street here in Bendigo is much cheaper than Calgary’s exorbitant prices.)

Once you find a place to leave your car, Bendigo has a few interesting sites to ambulate to in town.  The arts district along View St. runs perpendicular, down a hill, and into the city centre.  This takes you along numerous galleries, cafes and shops.  I haven’t spent as much time as I would like exploring some of these galleries and cafes, but from the feedback from locals it is something I should do before leaving.

Situated behind the arts district is Rosalind Park.  Ambling through the park will reveal to you views of the city centre.  If you choose to climb the old mining platform that is in the park you will be rewarded with some terrific  360 degree views of the area and Bendigo cathedral.

Also located in the confines of the park is Bendigo Senior Secondary School, the major public senior high school in the city.  It is a breath-taking building that harkens to days past when the majesty of school buildings reflected their importance in society.  It is hard to walk by the building, even today, and not feel a sense of pride well up for the students who attend the school.  I imagine there are not enough public schools today whose mere appearance evokes the same level of awe in its viewers.

 

Finally, situated at the end of the arts district is the Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo’s home to VFL football and A grade cricket.  Built in 1897 the building harkens back to Bendigo’s English heritage and is usually occupied during the winter weekends by the football teams that call it home.