Bendigo opens doors to iconic places for Australian Heritage Festival

Starting this weekend with tours of Specimen Cottage in Hargreaves Street, the Australian Heritage Festival gives people a chance to explore places attached to Bendigo's history.

National Trust Bendigo Branch president Peter Cox said people loved hearing stories related to the city's old buildings.

"That's why its so important to preserve our buildings, they often depict stories and it's much easier to acknowledge them (when the buildings are still here)," he said.

"Specimen Cottage was the first built house built in Bendigo and is now headquarters for the Bendigo Historical Society."

Mr Cox said two Bendigo tours will give people rare access to some iconic spaces.

"Two buildings that have rarely been opened to public are the old School of Mines building with its domed library in Pall Mall and the shearing shed at Ravenswood Run," he said.

"We understand that shed has never been open to public and that tour is booked out. The shearing shed is made of stone and brick, still operates and is very historic.

"People snapped up the opportunity to make that tour. It is only open for one session for 25 people and tickets were gone almost immediately."

Mr Cox said there is no shortage of tours over April and May.

"Whats interesting about the festival, is that while it is sponsored by National Trust, so many organisations run events in Echuca, Maldon, Castlemaine and Chewton - right through the region," he said.

Other highlights on the Bendigo program include a session about the pioneers of Eaglehawk at the borough's town hall (April 21 and May 19), a tour of the botanical gardens in White Hills (April 27) and An Oracle on Bendigo's History where a panel of historians discuss their favourite historical topics and take questions from the audience.

The full program can be found at www.australianheritagefestival.org.au

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