The Bendigo District Astronomical Society provided solar glasses and telescopes with special filters to help make the rare event one to remember.

Discovery Centre Planetarium co-ordinator Craig Kendal said clear skies provided the perfect conditions to view the eclipse, which attracted both young and old Bendigo residents, as well as visitors just passing by.

“There was one woman from out of town who was waiting for a bus and asked what was going on,” he said.

“She was quite excited by it all.”

A sausage sizzle kept hunger pangs at bay as onlookers watched the moon eclipse 50 per cent of the sun. It was the first time since 1976 that an eclipse had been visible from Bendigo.

A projector was also set up to give people the opportunity to witness the total eclipse over Cairns, which took place just before 8am.

Mr Kendal said the phenomenon was one that was shared by countless people across the world.

“It’s a shared experience – that’s part of the appeal. If you can see the sun, you can be part of it.”

The next partial eclipse will be an annular event where 35 per cent of the sun is obscured, and is set to take place in May next year.