Bendigo's Golden Dragon Museum to undergo $1 million upgrade

The museum received the state government funding for upgrades to its front facade and restaurant on Friday.

Chief executive Hugo Leschen said funding presented a special opportunity for the space.

"This funding is going towards the front of house of the museum - the commercial kitchen, entrance desk and area, retail space and washrooms will all be refurbished," he said.

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Mr Leschen said the museum's restaurant had been closed for about two years but would reopen after the upgrades.

He said the restaurant would eventually expand to include outdoor dining.

"This opportunity is very special - being attached to the museum, part of this precinct and in Bendigo, we hope it will supplement what is already here but also take some new offerings," he said.

Mr Leschen said facade upgrades would help freshen up the museum.

"The building is a little bit old and a little bit worn and to get some serious funding to really bring it up to scratch and freshen it up means the whole front of house experience will look bright and fresh and very welcoming," he said.

"We look forward to visitation to continue to build and so we can continue to share the stories that our collection can tell. (We) look forward to welcoming more locals and more visitors to the museum and to Bendigo."

Mr Leschen hoped the upgrades would be completed by next year's Bendigo Easter Fair.

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Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards and Bendigo East MP Jacinta Allan announced the $1 million through the government's regional infrastructure fund on Friday.

Ms Allan said the museum would also use the money to create a new night-time dining experience.

"This project will reintegrate the front-of-house activity at the Golden Dragon Museum and help with the retail and the catering and commercial kitchen aspects of the museum, which is important to attract more tourists to come to Bendigo," she said.

"Bendigo has a rich cultural history and Chinese migrants were a really big part of Bendigo and central Victoria a century and a half ago and it's really important to know that link."

Ms Edwards said the regional development fund aimed to help stimulate the economy to allow organisations such as museums to survive COVID-19 and to grow.

"It's really important for our economy but also important for the Golden Dragon Museum to have the funding to expand and modernise and keep up with the increased visitation," she said.

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