The Victorian Exploring Expedition didn't actually pass through Bendigo, as Burke feared that stopping in the goldfields towns would delay them on their journey northwards. Instead they passed to the east, going from Mia Mia to Elmore. But that didn't stop Bendigo from holding commemorative activities over the weekend from 27-29 August 2010.

On Friday 27 August 2010, the Star Theatre in Eaglehawk was booked out for a showing of the 1985 Burke and Wills film, introduced by Dr Peter Thorne, Vice-President of the Royal Society of Victoria. Ensconced in the beautifully comfortable sofas the audience enjoyed the film, and the supper provided in the interval.

The Royal Society also held second of their "Science along the Track" programs in Bendigo, with a "Why do Science" careers discussion for students held at Bendigo Secondary College on the Friday, a fascinating lecture on stem cell research by Dr Mary Familari in the Library on Saturday morning followed by a "Meet a scientist" lunch.

The Royal Historical Society of Victoria were also in Bendigo for the weekend holding their annual conference, which included a bus tour of the Burke and Wills camps. Other events commemorating the anniversary were a literary luncheon at the Library on Friday and a talk about the George Lambert painting at the Gallery on Saturday. For the record, the Bendigo brochure for the weekend is here.

Gary Esnouf contributed the following account of the bus tour...

The bus trip of local Bendigo Burke and Wills sites was organized by the Royal Historical Society of Victoria in conjunction with their Annual Conference. The trip checked out a tree where Howitt reputedly camped on his way north on the Relief Expedition, as well as the camp site at Mia Mia before a great lunch at the Redesdale pub. In the afternoon we visited the campsite at Knowsley as well as Kennedy's (Barnadown) where we were greeted by a direct descendant of the Kennedy who operated the punt the expedition used to cross the Campaspe. The day finished with a visit to the memorial erected in the Bendigo Cemetery.