Corner of Bellevue Road and Breen Streets, Golden Square.

The Golden Square site was identified as a suitable site for the Food Hub by the City of Greater Bendigo back in 2019, and a master plan of the site was developed for the project by Y2 Architecture in collaboration with key stakeholders.

The site was chosen as it is only 2km from the Bendigo CBD, which ensures the Food Hub is inclusive and accessible by car or public transport to the many volunteers, community members and organisations who will use it on a daily basis.

The food hub site is crown land, owned by the Victorian Government and is managed by The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and the local Traditional Owners, Dja Dja Wurrung.

Bendigo Foodshare’s warehouse operations is centred around receiving, storing, sorting and distributing food for food relief. Trucks deliver food several times a week to the warehouse and three vans operate to distribute food to partner organisations. Volunteers from our community help us to do this important work.

Our vision of a food hub is a centralised location where the community can come together to address food insecurity, share ideas, access locally grown produce and learn to cook, grow and share food. 

The food hub model is not new and has been replicated in many other countries.

Food hubs provide an integrated approach that achieves multiple and long-lasting benefits, including:

• Increased access to and affordability of healthy, fresh and local produce for vulnerable and low-income residents 
• Linking local producers to consumers and food businesses
• Training and employment opportunities for residents
• Business incubation opportunities for new entrepreneurs 
• Urban renewal and regeneration

Why is Central Victoria getting a Food Hub?

The increasing demand for food relief across Central Victoria has seen Bendigo Foodshare needing to find a bigger space that is more easily accessed by the community to store and distribute food to those in need.

In 2015, the City of Greater Bendigo undertook a feasibility study (link to study) to establish a regional food hub in Bendigo. 

Through the success of the Mission Possible funding campaign, Bendigo Foodshare has raised funds to build a new warehouse.

Bendigo Foodshare explored an opportunity to restore a dilapidated warehouse on Garsed Street. However, despite best endeavours from all parties involved, a suitable lease agreement could not be met.

The construction of the new build is being managed by Fairbrother; reputable and experienced builders, who are concurrently managing the City of Greater Bendigo’s GovHub project. Fairbrother will maintain a safe worksite and ensure they meet the City of Greater Bendigo’s building regulations. 

Bendigo Foodshare has been in need of a new home for a long time. In 2015 the City of Greater Bendigo  undertook community consultation which informed a feasibility study investigating the site as a potential Community Food Hub.

The City of Greater Bendigo are actively working with the Bendigo Pony Club to assist with their relocation to a suitable new site.

The Bendigo Community Farmers’ market is an important long-term partner of the Bendigo Community Food Hub and will continue to operate from the site.

The Bendigo Community Food Hub will be completed by early 2023.

Bendigo Foodshare’s current and expected operating hours are/will be 7am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 3pm on weekends.

During construction, Fairbrother will develop a traffic management plan to ensure that all traffic entering and exiting the premises will be done safely and with minimal disruption to other road users or local residents.

There will be no trucks or other vehicles operating outside of operating hours, being 7am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 3pm on weekends.

Trucks deliver food several times a week to the warehouse and three vans operate to distribute food to partner organisations.

Bendigo Foodshare is owned, run and loved by our community, relying on community involvement for everything we do. Visit our website to find out how you can get involved and help out now and when the new Bendigo Community Food Hub is in operation.