Bendigo Open House
We’re heading to Bendigo on the weekend of 27+28 October 2018!
The inaugural Open House Bendigo Weekend program opens 23 buildings including outstanding private homes by e+ architecture, significant heritage redevelopments including architecture tours by Y2 Architects of Ulumbarra Theatre, Bates Smart-led tours of the major Bendigo Hospital development, and a special preview of the Soldiers Memorial Institute extension by Lovell Chen. See the full list below or download a pdf here:
Download the 2018 Open House Bendigo Weekend Program
Bendigo Tramways Depot and Workshop
Architect: Kelleher Associates, Michael Taylor
The Bendigo Tramways Depot was built in 1901 for the Electric Supply Company of Australia Ltd. At the time of building, the property also included what is today the Bendigo Woollen Mills, which housed the steam engines, generators and boiler until 1972. In addition to the tramway shed, the facility included cooling ponds, a blacksmith’s shop, carpenter’s shed, elevator house, and other support buildings. The Tramways Depot and Workshop may not have survived until today had it not been for the Bendigo community’s will to keep the trams running in Bendigo once they were shut down as a public transport option. This led to the introduction of the tourist tram service in 1972. The tourist tram service will celebrate 46 years of service in 2018, which has resulted in this building now being recognised as the oldest operating tram depot in Australia. The tram shed has undergone numerous additions in recent times including the addition of the engineering workshop (2003), shed extension and the modification of buildings to make the site more suitable for tourism activities (2011). Bendigo Tramways is known nationally and internationally for its heritage tram restoration capabilities and its rare collection of heritage trams.
Join the Workshop Manager and the Tramways CEO on a specialist in-depth tour, bookings essential. (No bookings required for self-guided and conductor led tours)
Need to Know
- Open: Saturday 27 October 10am–4.30pm & Sunday 28 October 10am–4:30pm
Heritage Listed: Yes
- What’s Open: Musuem, workshop.
- Special Note: Enclosed shoes advised.
- Tour Type: Guided + Self-guided
- Tour Details: Self-guided tours of tram depot and trams available during the opening hours. Guided conductor led guided tours at 10am, 11am, 2pm and 3pm running for 45 minutes. Groups are limited to 15 people at a time, arrive early to avoid disappointment.
- Access: Pram accessible, Limited mobility access
- Building Type: Transport
- Facilities: Toilets, Child access
- Special Programming: Join the Workshop Manager and the Tramways CEO on a specialist in-depth pre-booked tour: 12pm Saturday and 12pm Sunday only. First release Monday 8 October 8.30am until booked out, second release Monday 15 July 8.30am until booked out, small booking fee applies. https://www.universe.com/events/bendigo-tramways-special-tours-tickets-bendigo-FMRHGP
- Year Built: 1901, 2003, 2011
- Photo Credit: David Field