Historical information

1965 fire at the Bendigo Railway Station
A dull explosion in the refreshment room about 1:30 p.m. touched off the blaze, which quickly spread and burnt out the station in less than an hour. Just before the explosion a train carrying more than 200 Melbourne-bound holiday makers pulled out of the station. Scores of railways employees in other parts of the station did not realise the refreshment room was on fire until a signal box attendant gave the alarm.
Early estimates place damage at more than £100,000. Quick work by station staff saved many thousands of pounds worth of equipment before flames engulfed the building from end to end.
At the height of the blaze, a Bendigo fire brigade Station Officer, Vin Lapsley, fell 18 feet – and miraculously landed on his feet – after being overcome by smoke while directing a hose from a ladder on to the roof.
Mr. Lapsley was later treated for a broken bone in his right leg.

Physical description

Many images from by Arthur Pulfer copied to slides. Nineteen Slides of Bendigo images:
Bendigo Railway Station after fire 1965
New Bendigo Railway Station after the fire
Bendigo Town Hall and Bull Street
Bendigo Law Courts and Police Station from the conservatory gardens
Gold Panners Monument with the Bendigo Technical school in the background
Bendigo Cenotaph - set up for an event - Charing Cross - 1957
New Bendigo Chinese Dragon 'Loong' 1970
Easter Procession 1957
Golden Square High School September 1965 Hattam Street Bendigo
Opening of Golden Oaks retirement village September 1965 - Hattam Street Bendigo
High Street Golden Square, Bendigo - monument to the founding of gold in the area
Bendigo Showgrounds with the Benevolent Home and the Base Hospital in the background
Old Base Hospital Lucan Street Bendigo
Arnold Street former shop Bendigo
Alexandra Fountain Charing Cross Bendigo
Banner - Bendigo Training Centre
Bendigo House - address unknown