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Greater Bendigo Council votes to retain Bendigo Cup Day as local public holiday

Council opts to keep divisive race-day holiday for another five years after community survey shows narrow support

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time3 min
Sources2 outlets
The City of Greater Bendigo council has voted 4-1 to retain Bendigo Cup Day as the local public holiday for another five years, backing a slim majority of survey respondents despite opposition from local businesses who favoured aligning with Melbourne Cup Day.

The City of Greater Bendigo council voted on Monday night to keep Bendigo Cup Day as the local public holiday for another five years. The 4-1 decision means part of the shire will observe a public holiday on Wednesday, October 28, a week prior to the Melbourne Cup, while residents east of the Campaspe River, including Heathcote, will continue to observe Melbourne Cup as their public holiday.

The decision followed a community survey that drew 2,672 responses, which Mayor Thomas Prince described as the council's "third most ever engaged survey." About 38 per cent of respondents wanted to keep Bendigo Cup Day, 36.5 per cent preferred Melbourne Cup Day, and 24.7 per cent preferred the Friday of the Bendigo Show. Just over half of businesses surveyed — representing 4 per cent of total responses — called for a switch to Melbourne Cup Day, citing business operation concerns and alignment with the rest of the state.

Mayor Prince told the meeting he was "challenged" by the survey results, noting that most contributors were likely connected to the racing industry, the jockey club, or the Bendigo Show. "What's best for Bendigo … is that we want our own holiday. We want a chance to celebrate who we are," he said.

Eppalock Ward councillor Aaron Spong was the sole vote against the motion, arguing business feedback deserved more weight. "Tradition does matter, but so does practicality," he said. "Local pride matters, but so does business certainty."

Councillor Andrea Metcalf, who moved the motion, cited analysis by consulting firm IER and council data putting the 2025 Bendigo Cup's local economic activity at between $2.9 million and $3.2 million, with more than 6,500 attendees. The Bendigo Show draws about 20,000 people across two days. "Both the show and the cup can be successful under the current arrangement," she said.

The Bendigo Jockey Club welcomed the vote. Chief executive Paul Scullie said the club had heard "the importance of ensuring our business community benefits from the public holiday" and wanted racegoers to "shop locally, stay locally, eat and drink locally."

The council will now apply to the state government, which makes the final decision on local public holiday arrangements.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The decision affects the holiday calendar for tens of thousands of residents and businesses in Greater Bendigo for the next five years, determining whether local businesses operate on Bendigo Cup Day or Melbourne Cup Day.
  • The narrow margin in the survey (38% vs 36.5%) highlights the deep community division between local identity and alignment with the rest of Victoria.
  • The outcome will be watched by other regional councils considering similar local holiday arrangements, as it tests how much weight should be given to business concerns versus community tradition.

Background

Bendigo Cup Day is a local public holiday in parts of the City of Greater Bendigo, held a week before the Melbourne Cup. The council reviews the arrangement every five years. This year's review was triggered by a community survey that revealed mixed preferences. The Bendigo Cup is a major regional race meeting, while the Bendigo Show is an annual agricultural show held five days earlier. The state government has final authority over local public holiday declarations.

Key Perspectives

Pro-holiday residents and the Bendigo Jockey Club: Argue the holiday is a unique local celebration that drives economic activity and community pride. Mayor Prince and Councillor Metcalf emphasised the cup's contribution of nearly $3 million and the importance of maintaining Bendigo's own identity.

Local businesses and Councillor Aaron Spong: Contend that operating on a different holiday from the rest of the state creates logistical problems, customer confusion, and lost trade. Spong argued business feedback deserved more weight given the practical impact on commerce.

Show Day supporters (24.7% of respondents): Prefer moving the holiday to the Friday of the Bendigo Show, which draws larger crowds. Mayor Prince noted this option would likely "squash" the Bendigo Cup.

What to Watch

  • The Victorian state government's decision on whether to approve the council's application for the next five years.
  • Whether the council revisits the holiday split between the eastern and western parts of the municipality, as the current arrangement treats residents differently.
  • Potential future surveys or council motions if business opposition persists or economic data shifts.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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