New gallery garden space takes shape in Bendigo

08/09/2023

Bendigo locals can now enjoy a new community and cultural space in the city’s arts precinct with the Dudley House Garden Activation courtyard upgrade, thanks to support from the Victorian Government.

The revamped gardens are located in Bendigo’s arts precinct near the Capital Theatre and Bendigo Art Gallery. The project has also been supported by the City of Greater Bendigo Council.

The Dudley House Garden is cherished by Bendigo’s creative community as a place to gather and showcase local and emerging art. The garden now features a refurbished courtyard with paved pathways, timber seats, a fire pit and a wide range of plants that match other community gardens across Bendigo.

The project brings new ways for visitors to use the space with additional power infrastructure located in the gardens’ old horse stables to unlock more space for outdoor reading and art activities.

The red brick building is one of Bendigo’s earliest and most intact structures from the 19th century and was originally built for the district surveyor who designed Bendigo’s street layout that is still used today. The space is now used as a community gallery and event space managed by Council’s venues and events business.

Dudley House is also used as a venue for Council’s Artist on View Program that supports local artists and arts groups in Greater Bendigo to present their work. The new gardens improve the visual appeal of Dudley House as a key location and creative space located on View Street in Bendigo.

The project is part of the Government’s investment of more than $41 billion across rural and regional Victoria since 2015.