The Old Bendigo Police Barracks is one of the oldest remaining buildings in Bendigo, offering a fascinating glimpse into the region's gold rush era and early law enforcement.
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Location: The barracks are situated on Camp Hill, the historic site of Bendigo's Government Camp, located near Gaol Road and Rosalind Park.
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Construction: The building was erected in 1860 by the Public Works Department at a cost of £2,900. It was constructed to replace the original wooden slab building that stood on the site.
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Architecture: Designed as a two-level structure, the building is made of local sandstone with brick window dressings. Because it is partially set into the hillside, the upper floor originally housed the barrack room and offices, while the lower floor contained the messroom and kitchens. Today, it stands as an excellent example of early public works architecture in the area.
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Historical Use: In addition to housing mounted police, the barracks actually served as the very first law courts on the Bendigo goldfields. It remained in active use by the police force until the 1920s.
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Later Life and Restoration: After being left unoccupied for several years, the building was utilized by Bendigo Senior High School as an art room between 1941 and 1967. Over the following decades, it fell into disrepair until external preservation works were undertaken in 1988. It was completely refurbished in 1999, and since 2000, it has been leased to Bendigo Senior Secondary College.
Today, visitors walking the paved path between Rosalind Park and Gaol Road can read an information sign detailing its rich history on the Bendigo goldfields.
