Our Story
Back in 2014, a few friends came across a vacant, under-utilised area of land in middle of the Bendigo CBD.
Hidden behind a row of shops, the space was only visible from the rear utility areas of surrounding shops. The idea soon came that this unused plot could be turned into a creative commercial space, providing live entertainment and a simple beverage offer in a relaxed garden setting. Essentially a casual garden bar with a focus on independent beer and regular free entertainment.
This concept was put to a group of locals who had the opportunity to invest and become co-founders and owners of their own bar. There were over thirty people who helped turn what was a dead space into what is now Handle Bar, Bendigo’s backyard.
Handle Bar continues to be one of Bendigo’s most unique venues with ever-changing décor, natural growth (and decay!) of the gardens, and the most consistent offer of free entertainment in Bendigo.

![24.10 - Handlebar Content May 2024  - 1 [LGI00083].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eccbed52d1b9b6068769965/1715750071891-6RT20PNLIE0CX2YXWTK4/24.10+-+Handlebar+Content+May+2024++-+1+%5BLGI00083%5D.jpg) 
            
          
          
        ![24.10 - Handlebar Content May 2024  - 253 [LGI00951].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eccbed52d1b9b6068769965/1715750169922-JS72NHRJ1IYTS9WWE7EQ/24.10+-+Handlebar+Content+May+2024++-+253+%5BLGI00951%5D.jpg) 
            
          
          
         
            
          
          
        ![24.10 - Handlebar Content May 2024  - 7 [LGI00103].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eccbed52d1b9b6068769965/1715750229695-SCVOXGDCUSJYVKKVJ796/24.10+-+Handlebar+Content+May+2024++-+7+%5BLGI00103%5D.jpg) 
            
          
          
         
            
          
          
         
             
             
             
              
             
              
             
              
             
            
          
          
        
        
      
        
        
          
            
               
            
          
          
        
        
      
        
        
          
            
               
            
          
          
        
        
      
        
        
          
            
               
            
          
          
        
        
      
        
        
          
            
               
            
          
          
        
        
      
        
        
          
            
               
            
          
          
        
        
      
        
        
          
            
               
            
          
          
        
        
      
        
        
          
            
               
            
          
          
        
        
      
        
        
          
            
               
            
          
          
        
        
      
        
        
          
            
               
            
          
          
        
        
      
        
        
          
            
               
            
          
          
        
        
      
        
        
          
            
               
            
          
          
        
        
      
        
        
          
            
              