Bendigo and Shepparton lure crowds with blockbuster art shows
Shepparton Art Museum tripled visitors to 100,000 after renovation; Bendigo's Elvis exhibition drew 219,000.
Regional Australian galleries are becoming tourism destinations in their own right. Shepparton Art Museum in Victoria nearly tripled visitor numbers to 100,000 a year after a $50 million renovation.
Shepparton Art Museum now hosts Facing Modernity: Degas To Picasso, an Australian exclusive. Bendigo Art Gallery's Elvis: Direct From Graceland exhibition in 2022 brought more than 219,000 visitors.
About 24,000 came from interstate. The economic impact for Bendigo reached eight figures.
Bundanon Art Museum on the NSW south coast and Queensland's HOTA are also drawing crowds with smart curation. Ambitious, distinctive shows can turn a gallery visit into a reason to spend a weekend in the regions.
- $50 million
- Shepparton renovation cost
- 100,000
- Shepparton annual visitors now
- 219,000
- Bendigo Elvis exhibition visitors
- 24,000
- Interstate visitors to Bendigo
Why it mattersRegional towns now compete with major cities for tourist dollars and visitors. This is changing how regional economies grow.
