A highlight of the LEGO Fan Expo calendar every year in Australia is Bendigo Bricks. The city of Bendigo is located around 90 minutes from Melbourne and is the home of the active and enthusiastic Bendigo LEGO User Group (aka BALD). Starting in 2016 with just 35 tables of exhibits and barely 500 visitors, the event now boasts over 150 display tables and around 5,000 visitors. It’s become a major event and attracts AFOLs from many parts of Australia.

Although the event is smaller than the very popular Brickvention, it has a friendly atmosphere and a community feel that is harder to achieve at larger events. It’s true that a number of the exhibits are the same as seen a few months prior at Brickvention, but the crowds are smaller so there is a greater opportunity to look at the fine detail of each of the builds. In addition, around 30% of the builds are unique to the event and it’s the only chance you have to see them.

The swag bag for Bendigo Bricks is always a delight. There is usually a t-shirt, an event brick, and a unique event set representing something to do with Bendigo. This year’s swag bag was no different with the very popular “Bendi-goat” t-shirt and the modification of LEGO set 40568 Paris Postcard to represent Bendigo and its gold mining past.

Just about every type of LEGO set and merchandise can be found among the vendors: lighting kits, secondhand and new sets, polybags, minifigs, loose parts, original art and craft, licensed merchandise, and jewelry, to name just a few of the items available. Many of the vendors save their special items just to have them available at Bendigo Bricks which ensures there is a wide selection and plenty of stock to peruse.

Saturday night of the event usually features an AFOL dinner at a local venue. It’s a relaxed gathering with great food and plenty of time for chatting and catching up with friends. It finishes early enough for those wanting a quiet night or for those wanting to continue socializing.

Bendigo Bricks does not award prizes or trophies for the the Best in Show. This was a committee decision as they wish to celebrate the efforts of all of the builders rather than just the ones who build the biggest or more popular builds. This doesn’t prevent people building and exhibiting outstanding creations.

If you ever find yourself in Australia on the weekend after Easter, you won’t regret making the effort to visit Bendigo Bricks.

Here are some of the MOC highlights of this year’s Bendigo Bricks:

the fall of fabuland and the rise of chima by richard jones

micropolis by sue ann barber and simon day

Photos courtesy of Richard Jones, Greg King, Michael Peebles, Caitlin O’Loughlin and Sue Ann Barber.

Have you ever been to Bendigo Bricks? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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