THIS year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Reverend Henry Backhaus, the first parish priest of Sandhurst.
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To celebrate the bicentennial, events are being held across the city this week.
On Monday, the Bendigo Historical Society and students from both St Liborius and St Kilian’s Primary Schools enacted moments from Reverend Backhaus’ life.
A sound and light show will be held tomorrow at the Conservatory Gardens with City of Greater Bendigo mayor Alec Sandner and Bishop of Sandhurst Les Tomlinson in attendance.
Reverend Backhaus was born in Germany in 1812 and moved to central Victoria in 1852.
During his 30-year residence in the region he invested in land, and the diocese received income from his estate for more than 100 years.
Reverend Backhaus died in 1882.