The Bull and Mouth – Maryborough

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The Bull and Mouth is located in the centre of the township.

Disability parking is available just across the road in Nolan St, or behind the building in Clarendon St.

There are two accessible entrances to the hotel. One into the main bistro area of High St and a second into the back of the bistro from the car park at the rear of the building of Clarendon St.

The bistro is well laid out giving a large selection of seating options for all group sizes. The counter has easy access and all meals are brought to the table. The menu caters for all dietary requirements. The bistro is linked to the lounge area by a short internal ramp with handrails.  There are two accessible toilets. One is at the rear of the bistro and a second down the corridor opposite the lift at the top of the ramp.

Golden County Motel and Caravan Park – Maryborough

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The Golden County Motel is located on the outskirts of Maryborough, approx. 1.4 kilometres from the town centre. It has an accessible unit with a private concrete car park next to the unit allowing easy, direct access. It has a queen and single bed allow for a variety of configurations from families to a person with a disability and carer.

The bathroom consists of a separate shower and toilet area. The toilet has handrails on the side only. The room has good circulation space.

The shower is a full roll in with a small fixed fold down seat. The shower controls are hot and cold knob type within easy reach of the seat. The shower head is detachable on the long flexible hose.

Comments

The room is an older design that may not suit all people with a disability. The addition of a handrail at the rear of the toilet and a change of shower taps to a “cross” type with larger handles would cater for higher level disabilities.

Dunolly Historic Precinct

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During the gold rush of the 1850s and 60s, more gold nuggets were discovered in Dunolly and the surrounding district than anywhere else in Australia. The allure of gold still brings prospectors from far and wide trying to find their fortune.

Today, Dunolly’s attractive main street, Broadway, is lined with kurrajongs and gold rush architecture.

The township has a great variety of historic buildings but the old courthouse is a must see. The front entrance is stepped, but there is ramped access around the side of the building. Inside all of the doorways are wide giving access to the main chamber, judges room and clerks office.

At the back of the site are the old stables. They are reached across the lawn area behind the courthouse. The stable doors are wide giving good access to the interior.

Dunolly Bakery

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If you are looking for a great lunch stop then you cant go past the Dunolly Bakery located in the main street.

Disabled parking is available in the street and there are well-defined crossing and curb cuts along the length of the historic town. Entry to the bakery is via a wide level entry door. The store is split level between the counter and café area which is ramped with handrails. At the rear of the café is a large accessible toilet.

The display cabinets have good visibility and there is a lower countertop near the cash register.

The café is spacious with good circulation space and the chairs are all movement giving a variety of seating options.

Central Deborah Gold Mine

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Central Deborah Gold Mine was one of over 5,500 registered gold mines on the famous Bendigo goldfields. It operated from 1939-1954 and successfully extracted 929kg of gold. Today, you can explore the underground workings and discover what life as a miner was really like.

The Central Deborah Gold Mine has a number of accessible experiences.

The mine surface exhibits are accessible via a series of gravel pathways. The paths are a fine gravel that is well compacted. All buildings are ramped and all displays are easy to access. Most of the static displays are pictorial or machinery making them suitable for all cognitive abilities.

At the rear of the site, there is a gold panning area. The panning is done in a raised tank that is suitable for both people standing and those seated in a wheelchair.

An accessible toilet is located near the main building.

The Mine Experience Tour is wheelchair accessible.

The tour is accessed via a large industrial lift and descends to a depth of 65 metres. The tour is 75 minutes in length and there are toilets available for the duration of the tour. The tour tunnel is wide and high. The surface is smooth but the only lighting is via head torch. Parts of the mine are wet and muddy, gloves are advisable.

Golden Dragon Museum

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The Golden Dragon Museum is a living history of the Chinese people of Bendigo and now as the hub of Chinese cultural activity in Australia the museum allows visitors to experience first-hand Chinese arts, history and culture.

Chinese history and heritage have been a core part of Bendigo since the gold rush. The Golden Dragon’s inevitable collection brings that history to life. 

There is an accessible entry just prior to the main set of steps over the levy.

Inside the main foyer are the gift shop, tea rooms and an accessible toilet facility.

The museum is entered through a wide doorway. The main exhibition hall is circular showing off the dragon and display costumes. Around the lower level are a series of display rooms, all of which are easily accessed.  The displays are mainly pictorial making them suitable for all cognitive levels and non-English speaking visitors.

A large doorway leads through to the exhibition hall housing an expansive collection of artefacts. The hall is well laid out making it easy to navigate by people using any form of mobility aid.

Outside the museum are the Chinese Gardens.

The entry is ramped and concrete paths are throughout the garden. There is a ramp leading up to the pavilion at the end of the garden.

Within the precinct, there is also a Chinese temple with ramped access to the door. Wheelchair users cannot enter the building due to the Chinese Door Sill at the entrance.

Bendigo Art Gallery

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Bendigo Art Gallery in Bendigo, founded in 1887, is one of Australia’s oldest and largest regional art galleries.

The parking area behind the Art Gallery of Goal Road has designated disabled parking spaces giving access to Gallery Café and the Art Gallery.

The main entrance is off View Road and ramped access is available.

The main gallery spaces are large giving plenty of room and ease of movement around the gallery.

An accessible toilet is located just past the reception counter and gift shop.

Rosalind Park – Bendigo

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Rosalind Park was the site of the Government Camp of the 1850s and so became the focus of public life and administration. Prior to 1851 the area we now call Rosalind Park was a grassy woodland with large River Red Gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) lining the Bendigo Creek that was a chain of deep permanent fresh water pools. The creek would have been an important source of food and water for the Dja Dja Wrung people who lived in this area. The park comprises 60 acres of grassy open spaces.

Accessible Toilets are located in Park Rd opposite the Conservatory Gardens and behind the Post Office Gallery off Sidney Myer Place.

The Conservatory Garden is known for its bulbs. The garden is flat and can be traversed via a fine hard packed gravel path to the conservatory building or across the lawns which have a hard underlying surface. The conservatory building has wide accessible paths through it and large double door entry.

Across the Bendigo Creek, the garden is flat and traversed by a series of wide asphalt paths. The fern garden has gravel paths with an accessible route. Some of the paths or not step free. Parts of the Fern Garden can be muddy and wet.

The paths to the Poppet Head from the garden are steep. To revisit the Poppet Head it is best to park behind the Bendigo Art Gallery of Goal Road.

Percy and Percy

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Percy and Percy is a café located on the corner of Baxter and Hargreaves streets. Access is from Hargraves through the gate and door at the rear of the building. There is seating both inside the building and outdoors in the rear garden. An accessible toilet is located in the garden area. Seating is available under the front veranda.  The café has full table service.

Handle Bar – Bendigo

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Back in 2014, a few friends came across a vacant, under-utilised area of land in middle of the Bendigo CBD.

Hidden behind a row of shops, the space was only visible from the rear utility areas of surrounding shops. The idea soon came that this unused plot could be turned into a creative commercial space, providing live entertainment and a simple beverage offer in a relaxed garden setting. Essentially a casual garden bar with a focus on independent beer and regular free entertainment.

A small wooden ramp on the entry door gives access to the bar. The bar is ramped throughout and contains a fully accessible toilet at the rear. There are plenty of seating options throughout the venue. The bar is open Thursday to Sunday.