Microfilm Addy: Bendigo New Year's through the years, from brawls to bank robberies

We’ve trawled the microfilm archives to see how the city rang in the New Year 20, 30, 40, 70 and 100 years ago.

Constable assaulted: “I intended to kill him”

On New Year’s Eve, 1917, a man was put before the Bendigo City Court for what can only be described as the brutal bashing of a police officer in Quarry Hill.

The officer – stationed at the Quarry Hill police station – attended a house in Percival Street for a domestic disturbance.

A man, who was “in a terrible rage and was gnashing his teeth”, punched the officer to the face, kneed him in the stomach multiple times, and assaulted him on the ground while shouting “I am going to give you a doing!”

The officer managed to escape and was helped by a woman across the road. The attacker was committed to stand trial.

Attack on Chinese: ‘Larrikins’ heavily fined

Two more men appeared in the Bendigo court on New Year’s Eve, 1917.

The Bendigo Advertiser described their crimes as stemming from “an outbreak of larrikinism”.

The only details were that the men, both from Melbourne, came to Bendigo to “spend a merry Christmas” and “started by making matters lively for the Chinese” on Bridge Street.

Another man smashed the window of a store owned by a Chinese man, also on Bridge Street. The accused also tore the coat of a Chinese man nearby.

He told police a Chinese man had stabbed his hand. He later admitted it was from broken glass, and he was fined.

City celebrates despite post-war mallaise

An editorial on the front of the Bendigo Advertiser on January 1, 1948, spoke of the “troubles that persist” throughout the world. It was a time of uncertainty for all.

Heavy rain made for an “unavoidably dull” Christmas, but New Year’s Eve itself was anything but.

The Bendigo Pipe Band held its annual ball in Town Hall, a Mad Hatter’s Ball was held in Kangaroo Flat, a party at the Lanselltowe mansion raised funds for a Bendigo Hospital nurse, and Eaglehawk greeted the new year with “gay enthusiasm”, holding community songs at the local Town Hall.

22 nabbed by police

“It was the wildest New Year’s Eve in 15 years and the police had been ‘flat out’.”

Twenty-two people were locked up in the Bendigo Police Station for New Year’s 1978, mostly for drunkenness, missile throwing, offensive behaviour and driving offences.

Several brawls broke out on Pall Mall, a woman was “crushed by two fighting men” who fell on her, three shop windows were smashed and what appeared to be tear gas was thrown into the crowd at Charing Cross.

A smoke bomb detonated at midnight as car horns sounded throughout central Bendigo. More than 20 people splashed around in the Alexandra Fountain, which was later littered with broken glass from smashed bottles.

There was also news of the drowning of a young boy in a dam in Chewton.

Thunder and lightning give 1987 a ‘spectacular send off’

Rain appeared to be the only way to stop the usual New Year’s shenanigans in central Bendigo, according to the Addy.

But just as midnight was about to ring in 1988, the rains stopped and thousands crammed around the Alexandra Fountain to welcome the new year with “corks, squeals, shouts, splashed drinks and embraces”.

Five were arrested before midnight for being drunk and disorderly.

Elsewhere, news that Bendigo Pottery was to be sold dominated the front page. A government union and public co-operative was proposed to take over the tourist attraction.

Passers-by on Hargreaves Mall were asked their opinion of the 1988 bicentennial. The conclusion? Most couldn’t care less.

Coins stolen in morning haul

While most were preparing to send off 1997, a group of thieves broke into the Bendigo Bank branch on Napier Street in White Hills and stole a “large amount of coins”.

In fact, they attempting to steal so many coins that they had to leave two carry bags behind in their haste to escape. One had the word “Dad” written on it in black texta.

It was the first bank robbery for at least two years. Fortunately, such events a rarity these days.

Police arrest 46 in Bendigo New Year’s celebrations

Much like 1978, the arrival of 1998 heralded drunken and violent behaviour throughout the Bendigo CBD.

There were 12 arrests before midnight, 13 between midnight and 2am, and 21 between 3am and 6.50am – a grand total of 46 people locked in the cells.

Police described the offences as relating to “drunkenness and minor street offences”.

All old copies of the Bendigo Advertiser are available to view for free in the Bendigo Library’s microfilm collection.