celebrating our region
culture, creativity and sustainability
Bendigo and the region has been recognised by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Gastronomy
It joins 245 other creative cities around the world. The designation recognises our region’s diverse food culture and our community’s commitment to local, sustainable, delicious and creative produce.
A Creative Region
Greater Bendigo embraces the cultural and creative industries as fundamental to our City’s future liveability, economy, social cohesions, health and well-being. We are a community that inspires a culture of creativity, activates our spaces, nurtures and supports talent, champions inclusiveness, showcasing the stories of our rich culture, our Traditional Owners and First Nations to the world.
Bendigo & Region Gastronomy Guide
Discover the interactive guide to our region’s gastronomy
Our Stories
Bendigo, A Place Full of Gastronomic History
It is no surprise that Bendigo was designated Australia’s first UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy in 2019. Our gastronomy story is about growing, sourcing, cooking and sharing food. It is how our culture and heritage is represented and shared through what we eat, drink, the places we share meals, and the memories we […]
Bendigo is going to Hollywood!
Some of our region’s best produce will have a starring role in this year’s G’Day USA Gala event, showcasing Bendigo and central Victoria as Australia’s first UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy. The G’Day USA Gala includes a dinner for 460 guests, who will all receive a Bendigo Gastronomy VIP artisan gift bag featuring […]
A School Putting Gastronomy Front and Centre
As you walk through the doors of Kaliana, you are met with a quiet hive of activity. In particular, the canteen staff are hard at work in readiness for lunch service. The difference in this canteen is that it’s not volunteer parents preparing the food, instead, it’s the kids doing all the work. As is […]
Healthy Landscapes – Short Course Kicks Off.
On Friday, September 9, 2022, the Healthy Landscapes program kicked off the first day of the Holistic Grazing Management Course. I joined a new group of engaged, enthusiastic and intrepid food and fibre producers from across Macedon Ranges, Hepburn Shire and the City of Greater Bendigo, coming together to learn about how principles of regenerative […]
How do we Eat Djaara Country Healthy?
Authors: Will Tait and Jodi Newcombe So here we are, bringing this five-part blog series to a close. In our opening blog we described how our collective – the Carbon Arts team in collaboration with Dja Dja Wurrung woman Bec Phillips – is motivated by the question: “How do we eat Djaara Country healthy?” We […]
Land of Milk and Honey
Authors: Will Tait and Jodi Newcombe We are gathered at Bar Midland in Castlemaine with a collection of primary producers to discuss the concept of ‘Eating Djaara Country Healthy’, while proprietor and project collaborator Alex Perry delights us with appropriately-themed delicacies. After the first round of introductions Richard Collins explains the troubling times he’s been […]
Planting Seeds for New Beginnings
It’s 9.00am, I walk through the doors and am welcomed by a security guard. This is the first time I have started my workday with a full body Xray, a duress alarm on my belt and a meander around a series of kitchen gardens with a slight feeling of apprehension. On this day however, the […]
Pest Control on a Plate
Authors: Will Tait and Jodi Newcombe In early 2021 we gathered to begin developing what would become Djakitj Larr – the afternoon of storytelling and creative conversation that gathered stakeholders of the City of Bendigo’s UN Creative City of Gastronomy designation. Dja Dja Wurrung woman Bec Phillips had just joined the team, and one of […]
Pasture Cropping Field Day in Huntly
On Wednesday, July 13th, 2022, 42 landholders came together in Huntly Memorial Hall to hear from the venerated farming expert, Colin Seis, at the Managing Pastures: Multi – Species Cropping Field Day. Some of the key messages in the discussion were about improving soil health using grazing animals, utilising multiple plants in a pasture and […]
Breaking Bread
Authors: Will Tait and Jodi Newcombe There’s an area of grassland on Parkside Run Farm that’s never been treated with chemicals. Carly Noble cuts and bales what grows there, and feeds it to her animals. She notices that they don’t sniff at it suspiciously like they do with a bale that’s been grown in soil […]
Lifting Spirits Through Creativity
Susie Marcroft is an inspiring artist who works across installation and ceramics. Her artworks explore the abstract notions of consciousness and empathy that reject reductionist paradigms. Through her work Susie shows us an alternative ethics, one that preferences our focus on care (tending to each other and holding space) rather than economics. Having moved back […]
What’s on the menu in 2072?
Authors: Will Tait and Jodi Newcombe On 24th May 2021, the 100 attendees of Djakitj Larr were invited to place a stone in their hand, representing Djaara Country, and make a personal commitment to do something of benefit to the living land that sustains us all. Our collective – the Carbon Arts team in collaboration […]
“In times of plenty, we celebrate together and good food is shared. There is a season for all things which guides how we live. We invite you to join the Dja Dja Wurrung and the wider community to nurture and fulfil your Murrup (spirit) together on Djandak (Country)”.
– Natasha Carter & Drew Berick
