Victoria · Attraction
Golden Dragon Museum and Yi Yuan Gardens
Heart of Chinese Australian heritage
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Built on the site of Bendigo's historic Bridge Street Chinatown, the Golden Dragon Museum is Australia's leading museum of Chinese Australian history and culture. Opened in 1991, it holds what are believed to be the oldest and longest imperial processional dragons in the world, alongside a sweeping collection of goldfields-era costumes, currency, ceramics, and community records.
The centrepiece of the collection is Loong, a heritage-listed imperial dragon imported from Foshan, China in 1901 and paraded through Bendigo's streets for more than 70 years. Alongside Loong is Sun Loong, stretching over 100 metres and regarded as the longest imperial dragon in existence. Both dragons speak to the deep roots of the Chinese community in the Victorian goldfields, where thousands of migrants from Guangdong province arrived during the gold rush of the 1850s.
Beyond the dragon galleries, the museum houses an exceptional collection of Qing dynasty furniture and jade carvings, elaborate silk processional regalia threaded with gold bullion, and what is claimed to be the largest display of Chinese currency in Australia. The adjacent Yi Yuan Gardens and Guan Yin Temple offer a quiet contrast to the museum's rich interiors.
The on-site restaurant serves lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday, making a meal here a natural extension of the visit. The museum extends to seven-day opening during Victorian school holidays.
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