Central Deborah Gold Mine
Descend to the depths of Bendigo and explore a real gold mine which operated during the gold rush era.
Mine Experience Tour:
61m underground, 1.5hrs. $14.50 per student. Kitted up in a hard hat and miner's lamp, descend 61 metres underground with one of our friendly guides. With only the light on your helmet to light the path, your students will become enthralled by Bendigo's fascinating underworld as they explore the honeycomb of hidden underground tunnels. Our tour guides cover Bendigo's gold history, the geology of the rock formations they encounter, demonstrate the old mining methods and explain what it was like to be a miner during the harsh gold rush era. This tour is wheelchair accessible.
Underground Adventure Tour:
85m underground, 2.5hrs. $47.00 per student. We'll kit you up in overalls, boots, a miner's hat and cap lamp to follow the gold bearing reef formations from Level 2 right down to Level 3, 85 metres underground. Your students will gain a real insight into how the gold bearing ore was extracted from the mine and the geology associated with the famous Bendigo Saddle Reef formations. Your students will be mesmerised by the lure of gold and the stronghold that it had over people as they explore the underground tunnels, drifts and stope workings that still contain gold veins. They will even get to climb ladders, work a mine drill and fossick for gold with finder's keepers! This tour also includes a 'miner's lunch' served in the Underground Function Room where students will get a delicious taste of what life was like working underground.
Guided Surface Tour:
45mins. $7.50 per student. Be guided on a tour of the surface which is dominated by a huge 22 metre high poppet head and contains many original buildings and equipment that were essential to the operation of Central Deborah in its mining days. Explore the old Blacksmith's Shop, the First Aid Room and the Carbide Lamp Room. You will be impressed by the Engine Room which contains the Winder that was installed in 1945 and is notable as the only complete working example in Australia (it is still used daily by our mine crew). Then give students some time to master goldpanning and see how much gold and treasurers they can find.
Bendigo Tramways
Step aboard a living piece of history that has been entwined with the city's identity since 1890 and get a glimpse of Bendigo in its heyday.
Vintage Talking Tram Tour:
1hr. $9.75 per student. There is no better way to see the sights of Bendigo than aboard a beautifully refurbished Vintage Talking Tram. Sit back and relax as your students learn about Bendigo's colourful gold rush past.
Anzac Centenary Tram:
1hr. $9.75 per student. Hear the story of Bendigo as it was during World War One aboard one of Bendigo's famous Vintage Talking Trams. Gain insight into what life was like on the frontline for soldiers, discover the pioneering role that Bendigo women played in the war effort, and come to understand how WW1 transformed the lives of families on the home front.
Dja Dja Wurrung Tram:
1hr. $9.75 per student. For thousands of years, the Bendigo region has been the home of the Dja Dja Wurrung People. For them, Country is more than just the landscape – it is a living entity which holds the stories of creation and histories that cannot be erased. Discover the fascinating traditions of the Dja Dja Wurrung and hear a story more than 40,000 years in the making.
Depot & Workshop Tour:
45mins. $4.50 per student. From trams that have been used for housing and have carried royalty, to trams that have survived two world wars, your group will discover the colourful history of our iconic tram fleet. See first-hand the craftsmanship and techniques that are involved in restoring each tram to its former glory and find out more about the unique characters of the Tramways. While at the Depot be sure to meet our most popular staff member, Birney the Cat!
Bendigo Joss House Temple
From a few years after gold was discovered in 1851 to the present day, the Chinese community has been part of the proud history of Bendigo.
Bendigo Joss House Temple Guided Tour:
1hr. $4.00 per student. At the heritage-listed Bendigo Joss House Temple you can discover more about Chinese beliefs and the story of the Chinese who came to Bendigo in search of gold. The Bendigo Joss House Temple, a Chinese place of worship, was constructed in the 1870s. Originally part of the Ironbark Chinese Camp, it is one of the few remaining buildings of its type in Australia. The Bendigo Joss House Temple represents an important part of Victoria's history as Bendigo became home to a large Chinese settlement during the gold rush years.
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