Park to play major role in Bank's 150th birthday celebrations

Rosalind Park - one of Bendigo’s most historic landmarks - will play an important role as host to the 150th celebrations of Bendigo Bank – one of the city’s oldest and most important corporate citizens.

Work will start to today on the construction of a giant marquee in Rosalind Park that will house a number of key events from July 8 to 11 including a community open day to celebrate the Bank’s 150th anniversary.

The marquee, to be located just inside the View Street entrance to the park, will be about 90 metres long and 15 metres wide. The marquee will take four days to build and four to dismantle and will be up for about a week.

City of Greater Bendigo Acting CEO Jan Boynton said for the past 150 years Bendigo Bank has been one of the city’s most revered corporate citizens.

“Bendigo Bank is almost as old as Bendigo itself and the City is delighted to work with the bank to help celebrate this important historic milestone, however we are conscious that the celebrations may cause inconvenience to some park users over the next couple of weeks.

“We apologise upfront for any inconvenience but encourage the community to support our decision and join with the Bendigo Bank in celebrating this major milestone,” Ms Boynton said.

Bendigo Bank spokesman Owen Davies said the bank was conscious it had been granted a rare privilege in being able to access Rosalind Park.

“We approached the City of Greater Bendigo because we wanted our celebrations to be in a highly visible location where we could involve the whole community.

“The City has gone out of its way to help us achieve that and we are looking forward to a great week of celebrations.”

Mr Davies said the bank aimed to avoid any damage to the park and has assured the City of Greater Bendigo that it will rectify any impact to the park’s grass coverage when the marquee is removed.

Bendigo Bank’s 150th celebrations include:-

• Tuesday 8 July: 
  More than 600 delegates from around Australia will gather in the park for a dinner to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Bendigo Bank’s Community Banking movement.
  
  
• Wednesday 9 July:
  Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens will deliver the keynote speech at the bank’s 150th anniversary dinner in the Bendigo Town Hall. 
  
  
• Thursday 10 July:
  The focus returns to Rosalind Park when the marquee hosts Bendigo Bank staff for further celebrations. 
  
  
• Friday July 11:
  Community Day from 11am to 3pm.