Historical information

The first Bendigo Easter Fair was held on 10th and 11th April, 1871 and remains one of Australia’s longest running annual community events taking place over the Easter long weekend. Its purpose was to raise funds in aid of two local charities; The Bendigo Hospital, and The Bendigo Benevolent Asylum. The fair features events throughout the City with celebrations culminating in a parade on Easter Sunday. The parade features a variety of commercial and community groups including a large processional dragon which has been an integral part of the annual parade since 1892. The three principal golden dragons featured over the past 130 years are Loong (1892–1970), Sun Loong (1970–2019) and Dai Gum Loong (2019–present) which are housed at the Golden Dragon Museum in Bendigo.
The Bendigo Easter Fair Society is custodian of the Bendigo Easter Fair and continues to support the City of Greater Bendigo’s largest festival. Each year the City produces a poster to advertise the upcoming fair and this one from 1943 reflects the war time sentiment which existed by featuring service men and women as well as the Chinese dragon.

Physical description

Commercially printed colour poster advertising the Bendigo Easter Fair featuring a woman riding a chinese dragon on the left hand side of print with two smaller images, one of service man in uniform bottom left and woman factory worker top right. The title appears in red lettering at top with details of the events appearing in the centre and lower sections on the right.

Inscriptions & markings

Bendigo Easter Fair / 1943 / Carries On / and again invites all to keep smiling in the Nation's testing time, as all unite to aid its Charities. / Easter Saturday / April 24th / Monster Spectacular Street Carnival / and Popular Girl Contest / Easter Sunday / April 25th / Attend the specially patriotic Band gathering / in the upper reserve / See the unique oriental awakening / of the dragon at the Chinese Quarters / Patriotism, Pageantry, Music, and / Special Features throughout the Fair