Bendigo Mural off a wall for Mural Monday

 

Painted by a well-known cartoonist who wanders the same shopping centre aisles as I do. In a city the size of Bendigo, that is hardly surprising. There is, after all, only one real shopping town—the place where everyone eventually drifts, like leaves circling toward the same quiet eddy.

Under the bright, practical lights of the mall, art and groceries mingle without ceremony. A trolley rattles past a newsagent window; someone pauses over a display of fruit; somewhere nearby, the cartoonist who once filled newspapers with laughter is simply another shopper comparing prices or lingering over a cup of coffee.

And yet it gives the painting a small secret glow. Knowing the hand that made it might also reach for a loaf of bread in the same place you do—might stand in the same queue, glance at the same shop windows—shrinks the distance between art and ordinary life. In a town like Bendigo, creativity does not live in distant studios. It walks the same tiled floors as everyone else, quietly carrying its sketchbook among the shopping bags.

Sony A7RV

FE 50mm f1.2 GM

Linking Mural Monday

Bendigo Penny Weight walk Mural for Mural Monday

 

In the curve of Penny Weight Walk, where Bendigo’s laneways murmur to brick and shadow, she waits.

Crimson and unyielding, her face burns softly against the wall. Eyes closed—not in retreat, but in listening. As if some inward hymn steadies her breath. Sunset lives in her skin; the artist has pressed fire there and left it glowing.

Her neck lifts in a long, ancestral arc. Around her, flowers riot—roses folding into lilies, pale frangipani brushing feverfew—petals and vines circling her stillness like a living crown.

Shoppers pass. Footsteps scatter. Yet a hush gathers in her red silence, fierce and tender at once. She does not open her eyes.

The mural is already awake.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Mural Monday

Regent Honeyeater spotted at Crusoe Reserve, Bendigo for Saturday Critter

 

This bird is the Regent Honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia), a critically endangered species native to south-eastern Australia. Distinguished by its striking black-and-yellow plumage, the distinctive warty skin about the eyes, and a strong, curved bill adapted for feeding on nectar, the Regent Honeyeater is one of the nation’s most imperilled birds. Its numbers have diminished drastically in recent decades, largely as a consequence of habitat loss and the fragmentation of the eucalypt woodlands upon which it depends.

During the period of pandemic restrictions, I took to visiting the Crusoe Reservoir daily as a means of physical exercise and quiet reflection. Situated near Kangaroo Flat on the outskirts of Bendigo, Victoria, the reservoir was constructed in the 1860s to supply water for gold mining and township use. Today, it forms part of the Greater Bendigo National Park and serves as a place of both recreation and environmental significance. Encircled by walking trails and woodlands rich in birdlife, it provides a refuge for native flora and fauna, as well as a glimpse into the region’s goldfields heritage. My regular walks there afforded me not only the benefits of fresh air and exercise, but also the chance to observe the delicate balance of nature in a landscape that has long borne the marks of human history.

Pentax K10D

FA 300mm f2.8 

Linking Saturday Critter

Abandoned Old Gillies Pie Factory in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia for Treasure Tuesday

 

The Old Gillies Pie Factory in Bendigo, Victoria, stands as a testament to the city's rich industrial and culinary heritage. Established in the mid-20th century, this factory was once the heart of a thriving pie-making enterprise that left an indelible mark on the local community.

Origins and Growth

The Gillies Pies brand was founded by three brothers—Les, Alan, and Norm Gillies—who relocated from Charlton to Bendigo following the 1940s drought. They began their venture with a modest bakery on Mitchell Street, gradually expanding their operations to meet the growing demand for their delectable pies. In 1958, the brothers acquired the Black Swan Hotel building, transforming it into a mass production facility. This site would later become known as the Old Gillies Pie Factory.

Community Impact

The factory wasn't just a production site; it became a local institution. The "pie window" at Gillies Corner, their second shop, often saw queues of eager customers winding down the street, drawn by the irresistible aroma of freshly baked pies. At its peak, Gillies Pies employed around 200 people, with retail outlets spreading across Victoria and distribution reaching as far as Melbourne.

Decline and Closure

Despite its success, the company faced challenges in the latter part of the 20th century. Operations eventually ceased, and the factory fell into disrepair, becoming a canvas for graffiti and a spot for urban explorers. In 2016, the last link to the iconic brand was severed when the remaining factory operations in Bendigo were shut down, marking the end of an era.

Preservation Efforts

In recent years, there have been efforts to preserve the legacy of the Old Gillies Pie Factory. Local history enthusiasts have lobbied for the site's restoration, aiming to maintain its "naturally decrepit" state as a nod to its historical significance. These endeavors highlight the community's desire to honour and remember the factory's role in Bendigo's history.

Sony A7RV

Laowa 9mm f5.6

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Lake Weeroona Bendigo for Water H2O Thursday

 

The colour is nice around where I live

Sony A7RV

FE 24mm f1.4 GM

Linking H2O Thursday

Canola fields against a sky for Skywatch Friday

 

Heading to Japanese Sake Festival this weekend. Not likely a good chance for landscape photos with the gloomy weather.

This shot was shot while I used to do daily travel to various country towns.

Sony A7RV

FE 50mm f1.2 GM

Linking Skywatch Friday

Great Stupa of Universal Compassion Bendigo for Skywatch Friday

 

This is spherical panorama looking sleek in the magic hour

DJ Mini Pro4

Linking Sky watch Friday

I always envy TV Rom Com where the main cast family members are always decent human beings. The relatives I encounter always treat me like a bank account. 

Lake Weeroona Bendigo for Water H2O Thursday

 

I have been busy in the past fortnight. I will be very busy until next Sunday going overseas. Trying to clean up my referrals before leaving the country.

Sony A7RV

FE 14mm f1.8 GM

Linking Water H2O Thursday

Off View Street, Bendigo for Treasure Tuesday

 

The peeling paint seems to appeal to the current generations. 

Sony A7RV

FE 14mm f1.8 GM

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Mural Art at Penny Weight Walk in Bendigo for Mural Monday

 

Very long neck lady. 

Panasonic G9

Leica 15mm f1.8 

Linking Mural Monday

Coffee shop chalk sign for Sign 2

 

North Victoria is flooded. I cannot freely travel as I like. This coffee shop at local Marketplace always has this colourful chalky sign. Though bad coffee and unimpressive cake selection, the colourful sign does lift my mood every time I passerby 

Linking Sign 2

Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, Bendigo for Treasure Tuesday

 

Taken yesterday afternoon. Only 12km from where I live in Bendigo. A nice view in deed.

I have treated a few monks from this sanctuary. 

DJ Mini Pro4

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Penny Weight Walk Mural in Bendigo for Mural Monday

 

I know this is done by a local artist who is quite well known in Bendigo. I just cannot remember his name any more.

Sony A7RIV

FE 24mm f1.4 GM

Linking Mural Monday

Tree as treasure for Treasure Tuesday

 

This is from a park in Bendigo. I can feel the life in them. 

Sony A7RV

Laowa 9mm f5.6

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Honeyeater in Crusoe Reservoir for Saturday Critter

 

I am not a birder for sure. No patience for this.

Sony A7RV

FE 200-600mm f5.6-6.3

Linking Saturday Critter

Carpark Sign for Sign2

 

I was on the way to a dinner. This sign and the glass looks so rustic and aged. 

Linking Sign2

Canoe Rowing in Lake Weeroona, Bendigo for Treasure Tuesday

 

Their treasures are the canoes. Every time I walked the lake trail, they often went under the canopy of the trees off the central island. I loved the vibe,

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4

Linking Treasure Tuesday

Dai Gum San Shrine in Bendigo for Randomosity

 

This tiny garden in Bendigo has been under renovation since 2020. Finally it is completed. 

It does not look too bad.

Sony A7RV

Sigma 17mm f4 

Linking Randomosity

Bendigo Night Sign for Sign2

 

Since Christmas last year, this sign is becoming a permanent fixture in Rosalind Park. Whenever there is new festival in town, light projection changes. 

Sony A7RV

FE 50mm f1.2 GM

Linking Tom's Sign2

Night stall at Bendigo for Sunday Best

 

On a cold night at Bendigo, the neon light really gives a good mood.

Sony A7RV

FE 50mm f1.2 

Linking Sunday Best