{"id":7789,"date":"2012-03-26T08:41:13","date_gmt":"2012-03-25T22:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/?p=7789"},"modified":"2015-03-20T11:46:53","modified_gmt":"2015-03-20T01:46:53","slug":"bendigo-a-style-icon-of-its-own","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.co.nz\/vc\/blog\/bendigo-a-style-icon-of-its-own\/","title":{"rendered":"Bendigo: A Style Icon of its own"},"content":{"rendered":"
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VIC blogger Chantal travels to Bendigo to discover the hottest exhibition in Oz right now \u2013 Grace Kelly: Style Icon<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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\nWhen you think of Bendigo you might expect it to be no more than a little goldrush town. However, if it\u2019s current exhibition Grace Kelly: Style Icon<\/em><\/a> is anything to go by, Bendigo has the gold, the glitz and the glamour.
\nA two-hours drive from Melbourne will take you straight into the heart of one of Australia\u2019s oldest rural cities\u2014it even has it\u2019s own tram restaurant, \u2018Ninesevesix<\/a>\u2019.
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Bendigo’s old post office (now the visitor centre)<\/p><\/div>\n

Grace Kelly: Style Icon<\/em><\/strong>
\nTrue Hollywood royalty and a real-life princess, Grace Kelly set the standard for elegance and beauty. Grace Kelly: Style Icon<\/em> is a wonderful celebration of her \u2018style\u2019 and achievements.
\nThe exhibition features many of the Princess\u2019 most prominent gowns, including an exact replica of her stunning wedding gown originally made by MGM\u2019s Academy Award winning designer Helen Rose, alongside her precious Academy Award and breathtaking royal jewellery.<\/p>\n

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Grace Kelly here I come!<\/p><\/div>\n

Grace Kelly was one of Hollywood\u2019s leading ladies throughout the 1950s. Her roles in Rear Window, Dial M for Murder<\/em> and High Society<\/em> saw her work alongside household names like Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, James Stewart and Alfred Hitchcock.
\nKnown for her impeccable fashion sense, Grace lived up to her name and continued to set key trends for the remainder of her life. Top fashion houses such as Dior, Balenciaga, Givenchy and Yves Saint Laurent clamoured to design her wardrobe.
\nThe Bendigo Art Gallery<\/a> is also quite a triumph in itself, with some awe-inspiring art pieces on display, the Grace Kelly exhibition is a great one for the fashionistas, but art lovers would truly enjoy the whole gallery experience.
\nSetting the trends in Bendigo<\/strong>
\nInspired by Princess Grace\u2019s sense of fashion, we set out to see what couture-based gems were on offer locally.<\/p>\n

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Fit for a princess?<\/p><\/div>\n

Boutique shopping seems to one of Bendigo\u2019s hidden talents. With gorgeous little shops like Robe, Shop 12 and The Meadow, a girl can get lost with all the fashion choices.<\/p>\n

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Hello prince charming!<\/p><\/div>\n

To top it off, Bendigo features Victoria\u2019s largest range of hats at the Bendigo Hat Shop.
\nTo keep you covered head to toe, there are accessories galore with Tony Kean Jewellery, Ruffell Family Jewellers and Lu Lu\u2019s Shoes and Bags.
\nFine Dining\u2014Princess Style<\/strong>
\nDinner:<\/strong> The Dispensary Enoteca<\/a>, now has to be one of my favourite restaurants.
\nSpoilt for choice with over 100 whiskies, 80 sparkling wines, 50 beers, 40 cocktails and 150 assorted aperitifs; my husband tried out a bevvy of the beers, while I took on the challenge with the Le Figuier aperitif and a potent cocktail titled \u2018Aviation\u2019, which had me flying for hours.
\nKeeping us vegans happy, we were delighted to learn The Dispensary has it\u2019s own vegan menu featuring:
\nEntr\u00e9e:<\/strong> Beetroot carpaccio, confit heirloom tomatoes, fennel puree and roasted cauliflower.<\/p>\n

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Delish!<\/p><\/div>\n

Main:<\/strong> grain, seed, pulse and silverbeet stuffed chickpea pancake, eggplant puree, harissa and radish salad.
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Dessert:<\/strong> coconut sorbet with an assortment of mandarin, apple and mint.
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Breakfast:<\/strong> Bath Lane Caf\u00e9 is a gorgeous little place offering some fabulous menu options. We tellingly ordered the Veganfast breakfast comprising of grilled tomatoes, saut\u00e9ed spinach and mushrooms, thick crusty toast, mashed avocado and a side of bakes beans\u2014our stomachs were in agonised ecstasy.
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Lunch:<\/strong> After a stroll around Rosalind Park, including a wander through the beautiful fernery gardens, complete with its own native wildlife\u2014brush tail possums and fruit bats\u2014we found ourselves dining at La Piazza Wine Bar and Restaurant<\/a>, next door to Bendigo\u2019s famous Golden Dragon Restaurant.<\/p>\n

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Beautiful gardens<\/p><\/div>\n

Treated to a glass of Peter Lehmann shiraz and a tasty Verdure gourmet pizza, hold the cheese, we found ourselves soaking up the many delights Bendigo has to offer.
\nSleeping like a true Princess<\/strong>
\nWith food, fashion and some sightseeing under our belts, it was a pleasure to retreat to our modern and luxurious apartment at the Quest Bendigo Central<\/a>.
\nComplete with a modern kitchenette, outdoor plunge pool and a friendly and welcoming staff, the Quest made us feel like royalty ourselves.
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The royal wrap-up<\/strong>
\nThe Grace Kelly: Style Icon<\/em> exhibition is a must-see for those who love classic films and a touch of Hollywood glamour. However, for anyone who loves fashion and has a penchant for princesses, this is truly a fabulous experience.
\nWhilst the exhibition is a great reason to come to Bendigo, the shopping and delicious food on offer are themselves great reasons to stay.<\/p>\n

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