Bendigo - Celebrate Vahland Heritage Tour (Bendigo Views)
Stroll up View Street and raise your eyes to the churches and mansions built overlooking the mines that once made Bendigo wealthy.
Walking Time: 2 hours
Distance: 7.7 kilometres
Bendigo became one of the world's wealthiest cities after the discovery of gold in 1851. Its history can be traced on View Street from Camp Hill to the flourishing arts precinct at the heart of a magnificent 19th century city.
William Charles Vahland arrived in Sandhurst, as Bendigo was then known, Hannover in 1854. A young man of 26, Vahland had no luck finding gold but soon put his architectural training into practice and opened his first business in Sandhurst.
Celebrate Vahland Heritage Tour (Bendigo Views) Map
Bendigo's European settlement began at Camp Hill, now Rosalind Park, where the government buildings were located. Miners made their way up View Street past the goverment buildings on to the Eaglehawk goldfield. Traders built their stores on the left of View Street. There was Henry Jackson's store (1861), which sold provisions to miners, and the 'Atkinson' buildings (1877) for Harry Atkinson's dispensary (1) (20).
Hotels abounded. Park View Hotel (1872) had a view of Rosalind Park and the Post Office Hotel (1870) was named for its counterpart across View Street (23) (2). The Rifle Brigade Hotel (1887) and the Volunteer Rifles' Orderly Rooms (1867) opposite it were both designed by Vahland (19) (21).
Organisations with solemn aims built next to the government buildings on View Street. There was the Temperance Hall (1861), which promoted abstinence, and in front was a water fountain (1862, now in storage) also designed by Vahland (4). Vahland was a member of the Freemasons and designed the Masonic Hall and Temple (1873-74) (22).
Gentlemen of influence socialised at the Sandhurst Club (1893), a private club that exists today (3). Barrister Robert Strickland had his residence (1871) built on View Street close to Camp Hill and the courts (5).
Bendigonians headed to the Royal Princess Theatre (1873, demolished 1963) for entertainment (6).
The community wanted a place for the arts. Vahland made additions to existing buildings and so the Masonic Hall became a theatre (1889-90) and the Volunteer Rifles' Orderly Room became a picture gallery (1890). These buildings are now The Capital Theatre and the Bendigo Art Gallery.
The clergy built on Forest Street, parallel to View Street. Vahland's family were parishioners of All Saints' Church. He rebuilt the church to the original architect's plan (1858). Vahland designed a new church in 1869 but only the foundation stone was laid (7). Vahland added a transept (1877) to the Wesley Church, which was also part of a larger design that was not completed (8). The Congregational Church (1890) was built entirely to Vahland's design, with its bellcote aiming for the heavens (9).
Over the hill are more modest religious buildings. There was the parsonage (1875) of the Rowan Street Primitive Methodist church and one of Vahland's earliest designs, the Lutheran church, school (1857) and manse (no date) (7) (12)
The wealthy and influential built their villas on the ridge of Rowan and Mackenzie Streets. 'Euroma' (1870) was built for mining investor William Tipper and 'Montanvert' (c.1858-88) for councillor and mayor Alexander Bayne (11) (13). 'lllira' (c.1884-87) was built for wine and spirit merchant Robert Moorhead and 'Marlborough Lodge' (1869) for hospital funds collector Henry Hawkins (18) (15). John Boyd Watson, owner of Kent mine, had impressive offices (1875) built to the rear of his 'Kent' house (16).
North of Rosalind Park the terraces curved and created gracious suburbs greened with street trees. One of the first houses Vahland designed was his own home (1857), which he added to over the years as his family and practices grew. (31). The post office in View Street was dismantled and rebuilt in this area by Vahland (1867) with additions to make it a residence (30). Other villas included 'Strachlachlan' (1858) for local police magistrate Lachlan MacLachlan and the impressive 'Hustler's Terrace' for fellow German Jacob Cohn (1874) of Cohn's Brewery (29) (28). Vahland may have designed 'Kisbou Court' (1869) for David Stuart and did make additions to the house of printer and councillor George Young (additions 1880) (26) (27).
Schools like Sandhurst Grammar School (1886) were established to cater for this new wealthy class (24). 'Osborne' (1869) was built as a school for Daniel Kennedy and Andrew Thunder offered his house as a school for the Convent of Mercy (1865) (10) (25). 'Lister' (1881) was originally built for mining speculator William Milne, but Marian Aherne and Alice Hill bought it and established it as Girton College in 1884 (33). Girton College, now in a different location, continues to educate Bendigo children.
Bendigo's medical facilities were built over decades. The Bendigo Benevolent Asylum (1864) and Bendigo Hospital (1858, demolished 1989) sites retain a number of Vahland's buildings and fencework with some modern replacements (32) (33) . Now incorporated into Bendigo Health, both sites are undergoing major redevelopment that will see these Vahland buildings restored and reused.
(5) These buildings are privately owned. Please only view from the public domain.
(33) These buildings have been demolished
Explore other areas of Greater Bendigo with these brochures: - City Centre, Bendigo Views, East, Eaglehawk, West Bendigo.
This brochure is available from the Bendigo Visitor Information Centre.
Location
51-67 Pall Mall, Bendigo 3550 Map
