Results of Chinese Australian history and culture expert Dr Sophie Couchman's evaluation will inform the management, research, display and development of the museum's collection.

"Dr Couchman's expertise will help us better identify and understand the treasures we hold, their importance in a broader context, and how we can draw on this amazing resource to create exhibitions for display both here at the museum and others that will tour nationally and, in time, internationally," Hugo Leschen, the Golden Dragon Museum's chief executive officer, said.

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There are more than 30,000 objects in the museum's collection.

Bendigo's imperial dragons are among the most well-known collection items. Their processional regalia was the subject of an earlier significance assessment, in 2008.

Mr Leschen said the latest significance assessment built on the targeted work Michelle Summerton did 13 years ago.

Dr Couchman said the project had given her the opportunity to explore the museum's rich and diverse collection in detail, so she would be able to pin-point exactly why and how it was significant.

She had visited the museum, which opened in 1991, several times before.

"These are challenging projects. They involve not only understanding the collection's historic, artistic, research value and social or spiritual value, but also its rarity and representativeness, condition and completeness, its provenance and finally its potential to help tell stories about ourselves and our past," Dr Couchman said.

"A collection's significance often evolves over time and the ongoing use of some major objects such as Dai Gum Loong by the Bendigo Chinese and other community members for annual parades and rituals helps to make the Golden Dragon Museum's be very much a living collection."

Parts of the collection date back to some of the city's earliest Chinese settlers.

"The collection at the Golden Dragon Museum is something that the local Chinese community and all the people of Bendigo have treasured for generations," Mr Leschen said.

The museum's collection builds on that of the Bendigo Chinese Association, with notable additions such as the Horrie Bridges Collection of Chinese currency and the John St Alban Collection.

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Bendigo Bank's Community Enterprise Foundation contributed $5500 towards the significance assessment, which included a three-day site visit.

"Bendigo Bank is excited to play a role in understanding the museum's diverse collection," Justine Minne, the bank's regional Victoria and Tasmania state manager, said.

"We hope that the grant will not only help the Golden Dragon Museum greater understand the significance of the collection they hold, but allow them to amplify their story to help everyone understand the importance of this collection to the Bendigo region and the Chinese Australian history and culture."

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