Bendigo’s Top Tourism Town Award with Frida Kahlo soon set to arrive

Bendigo’s Top Tourism Town Award with Frida Kahlo soon set to arrive

Bendigo and Heathcote are still celebrating medal wins at the 2024 TAC Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards at a ceremony in regional Victoria last week.

The City of Greater Bendigo celebrated gold with the Bendigo Easter Festival’s Year of the Dragon, the Paris exhibition at the Bendigo Art Gallery, and the successful Bonjour Bendigo marketing campaign.

The city is a highly regarded tourist destination and is best known for its heritage architecture, cultural attractions, beautiful parks and gardens, and food and beverage.

The City of Heathcote won bronze in the Top Small Tourism Town category for its stunning natural landscape, boutique wineries, and walking and cycling trails.

Both awards recognise Bendigo and Heathcote’s strong commitment to deliver the best experiences and high-quality customer service for visitors.

Greater Bendigo mayor, Cr Andrea Metcalf, said the awards acknowledged the city’s incredible offerings for visitors.

“I am absolutely delighted that people have found Bendigo and Heathcote to be such wonderful and memorable places to visit,” Metcalf said.

“It is such a fantastic endorsement for all those who contribute to Greater Bendigo’s strong reputation as a must-see destination and I thank everyone who voted for Bendigo and Heathcote.

“These awards are testament to our passionate and hard-working tourism industry, as well as City staff working in a variety of roles to ensure the region always looks its best.

“Our attractions, accommodation, retail, and hospitality providers welcome visitors wholeheartedly and they are proud to offer unique experiences and service for tourists of all ages and interests.

“The staff and volunteers at the Bendigo and Heathcote Visitor Centres also provide incredible customer service guiding visitors on what to see and do. No wonder visitors can’t wait to come back for more.

“Tourism is vital for our local economy because it supports a diverse range of businesses, generates job opportunities and keeps the spend local,” Cr Metcalf said.

This marks the fourth year that both Bendigo and Heathcote made the finals for the awards.

Bendigo Art Gallery

The city’s award-winning art gallery announced its next exhibition for 2025 with Frida Kahlo: In Her Own Image. The never-before-seen in Australia exhibition is an intimate portrayal of one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century.

It features the artist’s personal belongings, fashion collection, make up, accessories, and even medical items which were sealed for fifty years in a bathroom in Kahlo’s family home. It illuminates the personal, political, philosophical, and artistic influences that shaped Kahlo’s revolutionary creative style and distinctive worldview.

The exhibition considers the intricate connections between Kahlo’s clothing and styling, her home, her ground-breaking painting and drawing, and the iconic photographic images which immortalised her in the global collective imagination.

Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos, said: “We’re bringing more exclusive exhibitions just like this one to regional Victoria, with this exhibition set to marvel audiences from far and wide and boost jobs, businesses and the economy.”

Bendigo Art Gallery director, Jessica Bridgfoot, said it was an honour to have the opportunity to work with the Museo Frida Kahlo to tell the story of one of the world’s most mythologised artists.

“This remarkable collection rarely travels outside Mexico and has never before been seen in Australia. Kahlo’s much-loved home, Casa Azul, now the Museo Frida Kahlo, was the embodiment of her art, philosophies, and design influences,” Bridgfoot said.

Frida Kahlo Museum director, Perla Labarthe Alvarez, said: “‘Frida Kahlo: In her own image originates from the extensive investigation of Frida Kahlo’s personal objects, found in trunks, wardrobes, drawers, bathrooms and cellars of the Casa Azul. The exhibition is a unique opportunity to learn about the Kahlo’s life in a classical Mexican house which encompassed not only her personal world but so much of Mexican life and culture. These endearing objects help us understand the story of this complex artist with all her humanity, resilience and creative power.”

Highlights of the exhibition include

  • Traditional regional Mexican garments worn by Kahlo, including a spectacular resplandor, a
    pleated white headdress which frames the face, worn by Tehuana women of Oaxaca region.
  • A collection of Kahlo’s favourite Revlon cosmetics, including eyebrow pencil, blush, nail
    polishes and lipstick, used by the artist to dramatise and accentuate her features.
  • Medical corsets worn after spinal surgeries following a devastating traffic accident, which
    have been delicately hand-painted and embellished by Kahlo, including one painted with a
    broken Tuscan column representing her spine.
  • A self-portrait drawing titled Appearances Can be Deceiving, depicting an x-ray view through
    Kahlo’s clothing to her corset and injured body underneath.

Frida Kahlo: In Her Own Image is the latest instalment in Bendigo Art Gallery’s Bendigo International Collections exhibitions organised in partnership with the Victorian Government. It is exclusive to Bendigo Art Gallery from 15 March to 13 July, 2025.

Feature image: La Casa Azul. Photo: Sebastián Monsalve

Latest News

  • Attractions
  • Destinations

Travel advisors are invited to join Tokyo Tourism webinar

Travel advisors are invited to join Alison Roberts-Brown from Tokyo Tourism to explore the latest in Tokyo! Discover exciting new attractions, including teamLab Borderless, Immersive Fort Tokyo, Senkyaku Banrai, and Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter and much more. Learn about the hottest new hotels and upcoming projects, like the […]

  • Cruise
  • Cruise Lines

Uniworld rewards travel agents with gift cards just in time for Christmas

Travel agents will be rewarded with generous gift cards, just in time for Christmas, to say thank you for suggesting Uniworld to clients. Advisors can earn $1000 per Rivers of the World 2026 booking, in addition to your regular commission. They also earn $300 for every Suite booking in 2025. And earn $200 on every […]

  • Travel Agents

Wrap-up of Black Friday Sale from Insight Vacations, Trafalgar and Costsaver

Travel agents can take advantage of three great Black Friday campaigns with The Travel Corporation brands Trafalgar, Insight Vacations and Costsaver. Trafalgar’s Tour Differently in 2025 with 30% savings  This Black Friday, Trafalgar is turning up the savings and making it even easier to Tour Differently in 2025. From 1 November to 5 December, agents […]

  • Hotels

ME by Melia opens in Malta

Preferred destinations seem to happen in waves, and our pick is that Malta is on the crest of one.

  • Tour Operators
  • Tourism

La Collection launches LC DMC

If you put La in front of a word does it make it a more fancy option? Just asking?

  • Tourism

ATEC celebrates industry excellence with annual awards 

The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) has announced the winners of its prestigious annual awards, recognising exceptional contributions from across our tourism export industry. These awards, announced during ATEC’s annual Meeting Place event last Wednesday, highlight individuals, businesses, and partnerships which have shown outstanding leadership, dedication, and innovation in promoting Australian tourism. Captain Trevor Haworth […]

  • Hotels
  • Luxury

Accor announces the signing of Sofitel Sapa Hotel and residences

Accor has announced the signing of Sofitel Sapa Hotel & Residences, a landmark luxury development set to bring Sofitel’s French elegance to the highlands of Northern Vietnam. The project is a combination of 176 rooms and 436 branded residences. It is expected to open its doors in 2030, making another milestone in the expansion of […]

  • Events

ICC Sydney celebrates 100 events in record-breaking year

International Convention Centre Sydney, managed by ASM Global, is set to break the record for number of live events in a single year with 100 shows. The James Blunt concert taking place on 23 November marks the venue’s 100th live entertainment event in a single year. To celebrate this historic achievement, ICC Sydney is giving […]

  • Travel Agents

Last chance to win Globus family of brands’ $1K a Day Giveaway

Agents are reminded they can still enter an unmissable giveaway by making a deposited booking with Globus, Cosmos and Avalon Waterways for departures in 2025. The trade incentive will remain open to agents until 30 November. To take advantage of the offer, agents simply need to make a deposited booking with either Avalon Waterways, Globus […]

  • Events

Intrepid Travel champions responsible business at UN Global Compact Sustainability Event

Intrepid Travel championed the agenda for responsible business at the United Nations Global Compact’s UNiting Business Live Australia conference this week. During her visit to Australia, UN Global Compact assistant secretary-general, Sanda Ojiambo, met with Intrepid CEO James Thornton, where they discussed the future of sustainable practices in the travel industry. Thornton and Ojiambo discussed […]