The Return Soldiers Memorial Hall
& Military Museum
OPEN WEEKDAYS; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
also SUNDAY 10am to 4pm.
Location; 37 Pall Mall, Bendigo, Urban Map CBD
The Return Soldiers Memorial Hall & Military Museum is home to the Bendigo RSL. It was built in 1921 on the site of Hustlers Royal Reserve Mine by the citizens of Bendigo and serves as a permanent memorial to those Bendigonians who served during world war one. It continues to honor those who lost their lives in overseas military campaigns since 1914.
Architect: G D Gavin, from the architectural firm W. Beebe & G. Gavin.
It was opened by the Earl of Stradbroke who was the Governor of Victoria, in 1921.

THE RSL MEMORIAL HALL
Is the home of the Bendigo RSL's military museum and is dedicated to the memory of locals who served for Australia in the war.
Not only is it one of Bendigo's most magnificent buildings, it's open from 10AM til 4PM daily [not Saturday]. It houses 2 seperate museums within the one building. The RSL commitee should certainly pat themselves on the back as the displays are set out well, adding to the realism of a not so pleasant past. You could lose yourself all day looking at the original remnants of a bygone era.
Entry is by gold coin donation and featured as part of the main museum display is this life size replica of a soldier serving in Vietnam. He carries all the gear an average soldier would have worn & used in the jungles of Vietnam showing you just how fit our boys would have to of been. You will also find a wide variety of medals awarded to some of our bravest soldiers, ration books and lots more. All of the displays are accompanied by notes describing exactly what the item is and by whom it was donated.
When you have a bit of time to spare, we thoroughly recommend you drop by for a most informative visit to the RSL museum.
CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO SEE THEM FULL SIZE
CONTENTS OF THE RSL MEMORIAL LEAFLET
On the 13th September 1917, a public meeting was held, presided over by the Mayor Cr. R.H.S. Abbott, at which a resolution was moved by Sir John Quick, "That this meeting approves the establishment of a Soldier's Memorial Institute in Bendigo". The motion was carried unanimously.
Sir John said that he had visited Ballaarat to inspect an institute there at the request of the Returned Soldiers Association. (the Victorian branch of this association had been formed in 1916 and Bendigo was one of the earliest sub-branches. After several name changes it is now known as the Returned and Services Leage-RSL).
Quick recognised that 3,581 men from the Bendigo electoral district had enlisted up to that stage and in future large numbers of wounded were expected home.
Mr J. Sternberg MLC considered that the "Proposed memorial should take the form of an institute which would meet the wishes of the soldiers".
The citizens were asked for donations and 500 pounds (about $30,000 today) was subscribed that night.
The city of Bendigo gave approval for the building of a soldier's rest home, to be erected at its present site in Rosalind Park on 6th December 1918. (previously the site of the Hustlers Gold Mine).
An agreement was drawn up in March 1920 regarding "The Bendigo Soldier's and Sailor's Rest Home and Memorial Institute.
The hall was erected by the Citizens of Bendigo, to commemorate the deeds of the Bendigo Soldiers in the Great War.
The Governor, The Earle of Stradbroke officially opened the Bendigo Soldier's Memorial Hall on Tuesday the 15th November, 1921. On the day of the opening, the printed program gave this account for the reason to erect such a magnificent memorial.
Thousands of Bendigo boys enlisted; a large number of them making the supreme sacrifice, and to their sacred memory, as a constant reminder to those who have returned, of the gratitude of the citizens, this Hall has been dedicated. The Soldiers' Memorial Hall stands for something more than a meeting place for ex-soldiers, and architectural asset to the city.
It stands as a monument to the everlasting glory of the Bendigo boys who sacrificed everything to "Do and Die" to preserve that sense of justice, to enjoy that freedom which is the right of every Britisher, a monument expressing the gratitude and homage of their fellow citizens. Every Digger must feel that his efforts, no matter how small, are appreciated by his kinsman, who have erected something which will stand as a reminder to the prent and future generations of the great deeds accomplished, the sacrifices made thousands of miles away to make the world safe from tyranny and oppression. The Hall, situated right in the heart of the city, ranks with the best of its kind in Victoria, indeed it would be difficult to find its superior in any part of Australia, and was erected at a cost of over 5,000 pounds, the money being raised by public subscription.
The Bendigo City Council gave "permissive occupancy during its pleasure of necessary area of Rosalind Park facing Pall Mall", also that the period of occupancy would exist until termination of the Bendigo Association by resolution or there being less than 50 members. In December 1924, an appeal was launched to recognise by individual name the loyalty of those who had "answered the call of the Empire".
An interim honor roll had been erected on the street line in front of Memorial Hall, however the front wall of the hall had been provided with panelled spaces which could permanently list the names of the 2,000 Bendigonians in brass lettering. The cost would be 600 pounds.
Bendigo Council promised 150 pounds and Major (later Colonel) Sir George Lansell, president of the Bendigo Returned Soldiers Association, undertook the responsibility to raise the remainder by public subscription.
He recalled the commemoration book he had seen in Manchuria of the 100,000 Russian soldiers from the Russian-Japanes war of 1904-05 and initiated a Bendigo book of remembrance which recorded a soldier's name sponsored by a relative or friend.
This practical solution not only recorded names of soldiers and sponsors but provided the funding necessary for the project.
This book remains in a glass topped cabinet in the Memorial Hall foyer and each day a page is turned for public viewing.
The daunting task of making the massive brass Honor Rolls was tendered to Thomas Joseph Schofield, an artist who owned a small craft business, The Brilliant Sign Company at 189 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. His products ranged from printed signs, cast and pressed name plates (for example, Ballarat's Avenue of Honor), house name plaques, copper fireplace mantles and car number plates.
At the beginning of April 1926, the Honor Rolls were unveiled with due pomp and ceremony by the Federal President of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League, Captain Gilbert Dyett. Fittingly Captain Dyett (later to become Sir Gilbert) was Bendigo born.
There are 2,972 names on the Roll, 42 of whom were nursing sisters.
The original layout of the Hall consisted of an office, committee rooms, reading and writing rooms, and a billiard room. The rooms were furnished by various patriotic societies. The main hall has always been a place for entertainment, used mainly for dances, community singing and wedding breakfasts.
Of recent time the Hall has also been leased for fairs, meetings, etc..
The Hall will continue to be used for restricted functions with the memorabilia adding to the decor of the event.
There have been many changes to the interior of the Hall of recent years mainly due to the need to have a caretaker and for security reasons. The reading room was turned into living quarters and half the billiard room converted to a kitchen.
More recently the billiard room has been converted to a drop in centre, for which the building was first intended. Thanks to Department of Veterans' Affairs Joint Venture scheme, the committee was able to opbtain a grant and full use has been made of this room, with audio and video tape players. It was decided to refurbish the room and include more memorabilia which has snowballed to the extent that almost everyday another item is handed in. The room is used by various Branches of the Returned and Service League for mettings as well as a class room when schools visit.
More will be made of a computer now installed for gethering and storing of information and stories of deeds of Bendigo servicemen of all wars.
The display in the main hall has been provided by the Passchendaele Barracks Military Historical Society. Formed in 1978 by Officers and NCO's of the 15th Transport Squadron with the aim to regain and restore the history and heritage of all the past and present units that have occupied the Passchendaele Barracks, which over the years has been lost to Bendigo. Known to all as the Mollison Street Drill Hall this buidling saw the enlistment of troops to both World Wars. Where hundreds enlisted and were medically passed to serve their country. The home of the famous 38th Infantry Battalion.
With the influx of a considerable amount of memorabilia in 1986 it was agreed that a formal and legal Trust should be formed and Trustees be appointed to be responsible for the memorabilia. The Deed of Trust was written by a firm of solicitors and formally adopted in late 1987.
Included in this Trust document was the transfer of an amount of memorabilia which was Mess property.
The aims and objects of the Passchendaele Barracks Trust are briefly to:
A) provide for the proper and efficient ongoing of the Trust;
B) perpetuate the spirit and traditions of Units past, presnt & future occupying Passchendeale Barracks, Bendigo in the State of Victoria;
C) preserve, maintain and retain in Bendigo and its environs for posperity any Military Memorabilia relating to the Unit's past, present and future of Bendigo area and Passchendeale Barracks;
D) ensure that the property and assets of the Trust remains in Bendigo or the environs of Bendigo and to be available to the citizens of bendigo as a part of the history and heritage of the area.
The Society has 14 members who give generously of their time and expertise which is greatly appreciated. The display now located in the Memorial Hall, is alone a Memorial to those who served their country.
The museum is staffed by volunteer members of the Returned and Services Leage.
Donations will be graciously accepted toward the continuing restoration and display of memorabilia.