Pall Mall is Bendigo's grandest boulevard, lined with elaborate Victorian-era civic and commercial buildings that make it one of the most intact goldfields streetscapes in Australia. The wealth extracted from the goldfields in the second half of the nineteenth century funded an extraordinary building program, and unlike many boom towns, Bendigo survived the post-gold downturn with its centre largely intact.
The Alexandra Fountain at Charing Cross marks the junction of several main streets and is the symbolic heart of the city. The Shamrock Hotel on the corner and the post office nearby are among the most photographed buildings. View Street, running off the main strip toward the Bendigo Art Gallery, has a more arts-and-cafe character, with galleries and independent shops in beautifully maintained Victorian-era shopfronts.
The whole precinct is best explored on foot. A self-guided heritage walk taking in the main buildings takes about 90 minutes; maps are available from the visitor centre on Pall Mall.