Members of the public were invited to vote for their favourite work while the exhibition was on display at the gallery, between May 31 and June 29.

Long Hair is a self-portrait of Yi Wang, who is depicted wearing a traditional Chinese silk gown embroidered with a dragon.

‘‘The portrait has that wonderful sort of oriental feel - and a lot of the people found that very appealing,’’ gallery curator Tansy Curtin said.

‘‘People in Bendigo wanted to show they have a very different idea to that of Sydney.’’ The winner of the People’s Choice Award at the Art Gallery of New South Wales was artist Vincent Fantauzzo for his portrait of Heath Ledger.

Yi Wang will receive a $1000 gift card from Myer, the principal sponsor of the Archibald Prize.

Baillieu Myer, son of Myer Emporium founder Sidney Myer, said it made sense to hold the Archibald Prize in Bendigo, once the announcement was made it could not be hung at the Myer Mural Hall in Melbourne due to refurbishment works.

‘‘It is very appropriate, I think, as Myer started in Bendigo,’’ Mr Myer said.

‘‘And we’ve had long links with Bendigo and the art gallery, so this year it came here.

‘‘I am thrilled it has been so well received.

‘‘It’s a great idea to get it out into a regional city - and there’s no better place than Bendigo to stage the Archibald,’’ he said.

More than 42,000 people visited the Bendigo Art Gallery over its four week exhibition to view the Archibald entries.

President of Bendigo Art Gallery’s board of management John Higgs and Myer Bendigo operations manager Paul Dynon were also there for yesterday’s Public Choice announcement. A local’s name was also picked from a barrel to receive a $500 Myer gift card. The winner is Matt Weatheritt.