Over the last 170 years, the City of Greater Bendigo has spent less time digging for gold and more time digging up inventive ways to keep locals on their toes. Some of these gems are still technically in force. Below are 10 of the most unusual laws discovered by The Bendigo Standard.
- Busking requires a hat with an adequate brim.
A 1927 regulation requires all street performers in the city centre to wear a hat with a brim at least three inches wide. This rule was introduced after a violinist suffered sunstroke while performing without a hat. - Shouting the word "gold!" in a crowded public space is prohibited.
This law was enacted in 1854 after a false gold claim near Bendigo Creek caused a stampede that injured 12 men and 1 slow goat. - Residents may not approach the mayor unless they are wearing a top hat.
This 1899 law was intended to encourage residents to consider their concerns carefully before approaching the mayor. A communal top hat has been available at the council chambers since 1954, although some describe it as "a bit musty" and "definitely haunted." - The Pall Mall Pedestrian Ordinance.
It is technically illegal to walk backwards along Pall Mall on Sundays unless carrying a loaf of bread. This regulation was introduced after several accidents occurred near the Alexandra Fountain involving individuals walking backwards. - Operating a penny-farthing in the central business district after 4 p.m. is prohibited.
This rule was established in 1891 and remains technically in effect. However, no fines have been issued since a pharmacist was penalised in 1903. - Parade routes may not be altered without written approval from the Premier of Victoria.
As a result of this regulation, the Easter Festival parade route is among the most strictly controlled in Australia. - Rolling a cheese wheel is technically considered an offence.
This rule dates to 1902, following an incident in which a horse was injured during the Easter Fair. - Infants were once required to consume no fewer than two cigarettes per day.
This rule was introduced in 1860 by a councillor who claimed that early exposure to cigarette smoke would "prepare the child's lungs for a life of work in the mines." - Operating a marionette puppet without a permit constitutes an offence.
This law was enacted after the Great Puppet Riots of 1912, which historians have described as "regrettable but surprisingly violent." - Only full-length swimsuits are permitted at public pools.
Swimming at any public pool is only permitted if wearing a swimsuit that covers from the neck to the knees.
Some laws were made to be broken, but in Bendigo, they're mostly made to be chuckled at.
