Construction begins on Bendigo Foodshare’s long-awaited community food hub
- Bendigo Foodshare helps feed around 13,000 people weekly across central Victoria.
- The demand for food relief has increased significantly, with around a 60% increase in need
over the past 3 years. - Bendigo Foodshare has outgrown its current location in Long Gully, and the new
warehouse will increase capacity to meet the ever-increasing demand.
Construction of Bendigo Foodshare’s new warehouse has commenced, and is being celebrated today with an official sod turning event.
The Board of Bendigo Foodshare is delighted that Premier Jacinta Allan, Maree Edwards MP and City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Andrea Metcalf joined us as we turned the first sod at the site of our new home in Breen Street, Golden Square.
When completed in October 2024, the new $3.8 million facility will almost triple the storage capacity of Bendigo Foodshare’s current warehouse.
- The warehouse size will increase from 320 sq metres to 1,000 sq metres.
- The new warehouse will allow for the storage of 42 pallets of frozen food and 42 pallets of cool room food (in comparison to 16 pallets of each currently).
None of this could have happened without the generous financial support of our community; individuals, businesses, philanthropists, and state and local Government contributing funds, some small and some large, all make a difference.
Bendigo Foodshare CEO Michelle Murphy said our new warehouse is the first stage of implementing an integrated Food Hub, which will not just be about food relief.
“The long-term vision is for this to be a space where everyone can get involved in growing and accessing nutritious, affordable food and where new ideas in food security can flourish,” she said.
“Our new warehouse has been a dream for some time, so to be here today and to see us finally breaking ground and starting the build is a momentous occasion.”
Bendigo Foodshare Chair Sue Clarke said we are so grateful for the support and patience shown by our community as we’ve stepped through this process of building our new home over the past few years.
“In particular, we want to thank Y2 Architecture and our builder, Fairbrother Construction for supporting us every step of the way, your generosity is astounding,” she said.
“I also want to thank our 250 plus volunteers who give of their time and commitment each and every day, and the entire Board acknowledges that our new warehouse will provide the workspace they deserve; thank you all.”
It is impossible to acknowledge each and every donor, but the generosity of the following donors is what got us over the line financially: the Victorian Government, Hazeldene Family, Agnico Eagle Australia, the Yulgilbar Foundation, City of Greater Bendigo, Bendigo Sustainability Group and FRRR.
As the construction of Bendigo Foodshare’s new hub progresses, we’ll explore a vision for the remaining open space. We recognise these spaces are important to the community, and we are keen to get local input to guide the evolution and long-term vision for the land.
We envision, over time, the space becoming a space where the community can continue to access and connect but also immerse themselves in the joys of growing, sharing, and appreciating local food.
Quote attributable to Member for Bendigo East and Premier Jacinta Allan:
“We’ve invested in food security across the state because every Victorian deserves access to fresh and healthy food – ensuring organisations like Bendigo Foodshare can continue their critical work helping struggling families put food on the table.”
