Bendigo Military Museum

29/05/2026

The Bendigo Military Museum is thrilled to announce that we've been recognised in Tripadvisor’s® Traveler's’ Choice Awards Best of the Best for 2026, ranking in the top 10% of attractions worldwide. 😍

Come discover Central Victoria's rich military history, we're open daily from 10am-4pm.🎖

22/05/2026

Bendigo is a city that runs because of the dedication and generosity of its volunteers, and Bendigo Military Museum is no exception. From our guides sharing hundreds of stories with visitors, to our award-winning cataloguing team caring for a collection of more than 30,000 items, the museum simply could not function without them.

This National Volunteer Week, we celebrate our incredible volunteers and thank them from the bottom of our hearts for the passion, time, and care they bring to the museum every day. Your contribution helps preserve and share our community’s military history for future generations. THANK YOU for everything you do!

21/05/2026

15/05/2026

Just before Anzac Day, the 4-year-old kinder class at Aspire Early Education and Kindergarten White Hills presented the museum with a collection of artworks inspired by the books Anzac Ted by Belinda Landsberry and Lest We Forget by Kerry Brown.

We were delighted to accept these thoughtful creations and the heartfelt messages the young artists shared alongside them. Their reflections on remembrance, service, and kindness were truly touching, and we are very pleased to have the artworks on display at the museum.

Thank you to the children and educators at Aspire White Hills for this wonderful contribution.

30/04/2026

Australian author Peter Mitchell returns with I’ll Walk Beside You, the powerful follow-up to his acclaimed 2025 novel Under the Same Moon.

Join the book launch on Wednesday 13 May at 6pm at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria in Melbourne for an evening exploring one of the most desperate chapters in Australia’s history. Drawing on never-before-seen letters, diaries, and oral histories, Mitchell weaves a moving account of soldiers at war alongside the parallel love story of real-life couple Jean and Cal.

Attend in person or online via Zoom (online event begins at 6:30pm).

🎟️ Secure your tickets here: https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/event/book-launch-ill-walk-beside-you-by-peter-mitchell/

25/04/2026

Bendigo ANZAC Day Morning March and Service Bendigo Military Museum

24/04/2026

2026 Bendigo Dawn Service

Bendigo Military Museum

24/04/2026

Unveiled a century ago, the Bendigo Roll of Honour stands as a powerful tribute to local service and sacrifice.

When the Soldiers' Memorial Institute opened in 1921, plans for a permanent Honour Roll were delayed due to limited funds. In December 1924, RSL President Major G. V. Lansell launched a public appeal, inviting families and friends to contribute ten shillings and sixpence to have names included.

By April 1926, the project was complete. On ANZAC Day, 25 April, Mr R. A. Rankin unveiled the finished Honour Rolls, lining the loggia walls. Crafted by Melbourne artist Thomas Joseph Schofield, the panels carried 2,972 names - including 42 nurses.

The Roll reflects a community effort, and with that came imperfections: some names appear more than once, others contain spelling errors, and not all who served are recorded.

Think of what these panels have seen over the last 100 years - the everchanging streetscape of Pall Mall, the Easter festival parades, the ceremonies to commemorate the service of countless members of the Bendigo community. The names on the Bendigo Roll of Honour form a lasting and deeply human record of Bendigo's story.

24/04/2026

For the information of interested persons.

23/04/2026

This ANZAC Day, we pause to honour and remember. 🏵

The Bendigo Military Museum will be open from 6am to 10am, with entry by donation, following the Dawn Service. We invite you to join the community in commemorating those who have served and sacrificed.

Dawn Service:
March from 5.45am, service at 6.00am on the Forecourt of the Soldiers Memorial Institute
Morning Service:
March at 10.15am along McCrae Street, followed by the official service at 11.00am

Lest we forget. 🎖

22/04/2026

Throughout this series of posts, you may have noticed the beautifully handwritten pages of the Bendigo Book of Remembrance, offering a meaningful connection to those commemorated on the Honour Roll outside.

Containing 2,972 entries, each record lists a serviceperson's name alongside the person who nominated them - their relationship and address - capturing a powerful snapshot of community and memory. Each entry was carefully and meticulously inscribed by Mrs Maude Collins, who worked for the Bendigo Advertiser, and was completed in time for ANZAC Day 1926.

On that day, the book - surrounded by wreaths - was placed in the alcove of the Soldiers' Memorial Institute for the unveiling of the Honour Rolls. Originally displayed in the foyer, with a page turned daily, it invited ongoing reflection and remembrance.

Today, the book and its cabinet are preserved in the Building and RSL History Room, continuing to honour those who served.

This remarkable tribute was donated by Major George. V. Lansell VD, ensuring these names - and the community behind them - are never forgotten.