Historical information

Sandhurst Trustees Bendigo Easter Festival.

The aim of The Bendigo Easter Festival is to increase awareness of, and attendance at the Bendigo Easter Festival amongst regional, intrastate, and interstate audiences by 2006.

Bendigo Easter Festival - Australia's oldest festival ... .... ..

Gold, gold, gold. The year of 1871 was a great year for Bendigo. Parks were laid out, trees lined the streets. Although acknowledged as starting in 1869 the Easter Festival was considered an annual event by 1871.

Under brilliant illumination the whole of the Camp Reserve (now Rosalind Park) was filled with a bewildering variety of groups, exhibits and individuals all eager to be involved in such a worthwhile cause. There were sports meetings, theatricals, bazaars and instrumental items as well as dancing and carnival rides. On Easter Monday, as it is today, there was a grand procession that included a variety of bands.

1871 also marked the first year that the Chinese joined in the festivities. Originally the Chinese participated in the procession by dressing in richly embroidered costumes, and carrying colourful banners in all shapes and sizes, which were specially made for them in China.

In 1889, the Chinese were given their traditional place in the Parade, the end. They created a wonderful spectacle with their colourful costumes, banners and flags, and in 1892, Loong, the dragon appeared. The Bendigo Easter Festival had been fortunate in that it bad such a lively Chinese community in its midst.

At the time of course, Bendigo was known as Sandhurst, and it was not until twenty years after the first Easter Festival that the town was known as Bendigo. These days with sponsorship from the Sandburst Trustees, the Festival is known as the Sandhurst Trustees Bendigo Easter Festival.

132 years later, the Sandburst Trustees Bendigo Easter Festival has had many changes. But loyal followers have never been disappointed. This year people saw the traditions upheld with family entertainments and not Loong, but Sun Loong, meaning new dragon, a 100m long Imperial Dragon who was created to take the place of the aging Loong.

Physical description

Sandhurst Trustees Bendigo Easter Festival Administration Documents - Annual Reports

This Item includes the following Documents:

11213.5a1 2001-2003 Booklet Cover

11213.5a2 Annual Report Booklet 2001-2002 - 12 pages

11213.5b Annual Report 2003 - 16 pages

11213.5c Annual Report 2003-2004 - 16 pages

11213.5d Financial Management Report 2003-2004 - 8 pages

11213.5e Event Review 2003

11213.5f Parmalat Gala Parade Entrants and Commentary 15 pages 2003

11213.5g About the Bendigo Easter Fair Festival and Membership Drive for 2004-2005

11213.5h Marketing Plan November 2003

11213.5i The document outlines the planning for a Chinese Autumn Festival event at the Chinese Museum in Bendigo, designed to precede the Awakening of the Dragon ceremony during the Bendigo Easter Fair. Sunday 20th April 2003

11213.5j A summary of the relocation process, access logistics, and contact protocols for using the Bendigo Easter Festival storage at the Bendigo Advertiser Building in 2004

11213.5k Reports, feedback and requests for Sponsorships 2005

11213.5l This four page document outlines sponsorship opportunities for the Coliban Water Day at Lake during the Bendigo Easter Festival for 2005-2006.

11213.5m Bendigo Easter Fair 2003 Professional MC Plan - April