Bendigo - GONZALES

Julie and Joe Gonzales
Julie and Joe Gonzales
Julie and Joe Gonzales
Julie and Joe Gonzales
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Bendigo
We discovered that Frank had an old Chinese ceremonial drangon head on display at Frank and Christine's shop "Golden Groceries" in Portman Street Oakleigh (now under new management). So one day we decided to take Frank and Christine to Bendigo for a day trip to find out more about Chinese ceremonial dragon heads.

First, we drove to Castlemaine to have high tea at Buda House and then to catch a Victorian Goldfields Railway steam train to Maldon, via Muckleford. We looked around the shops at Maldon then, since Frank and Joe were interested in aquaponics and hydroponics, we visited an aquaponics farm on the way to Bendigo to see how to grow plants using fish as a source of nutrients. There, we discovered how to use syphons in a simple flood-drain hydroponics system. Then we went to the Bendigo Golden Dragon Museum where we saw many dragon heads and talked to an expert dragon head restorer. After, we visited the Chinese Cemetery at White Hills and then the Central Deborah Gold Mine. It was the most wonderful day!
Christine handling orders and sales at Golden Groceries in Oakleigh

Frank looking after the best organic vegetables in Oakleigh

Frank's very old Chinese ceremonial dragon head. Where did you get that, Frank?
Leaving Frank and Christine's house on our Bendigo Trip

High Tea at the Buda House in Castlemaine
Steam Train at Castlemaine station bound for Maryborough via Muckleford
Steam Train arrives at Maryborough
Visiting a hydroponics farm
Looking at a flood-drain tank auto syphon system

Checking out the aquaponic system and fish breading

Aquaponic vegetables

Arriving at the Bendigo Golden Dragon Museum

There be dragons here!

Is this a dog or a dragon?

Definitely a dragon!

Chinese shop vendors preserved in wax!
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