The City of Greater Bendigo is thrilled to unveil the program for the 2025 Bendigo Writers Festival, returning from Friday August 15 to Sunday August 17, with over 60 events and more than 80 writers and speakers.
This year’s festival celebrates the fusion of gastronomy and storytelling with an exciting lineup of food-themed sessions and culinary stars. Among the highlights is Benjamin Cooper, Executive Chef of the iconic Southeast Asian restaurant Chin Chin, hosting a restaurant take-over at Ms Batterhams, Mackenzie Quarters. Guests will savour Chin Chin’s signature dishes and enjoy an intimate Q&A inspired by the restaurant’s latest cookbook, Still Hungry.
The City of Greater Bendigo is proud to continue its partnership with La Trobe University, with acclaimed historian and Professor of Public Engagement Clare Wright returning to the curatorial team. The festival also welcomes new collaborations and programming streams for festival fans to enjoy.
Bendigo Venues & Events Manager Julie Amos said the festival offers something for everyone.
“Over one action-packed weekend in August, the festival brings together diverse voices through discussions that spark ideas, conversation, and inspiration,” Ms Amos said.
“With a strong focus on literacy, lifelong learning, and cultural diversity, the Bendigo Writers Festival is a must-attend event for book lovers and curious minds from Bendigo, Victoria, and beyond.”
Program highlights
Gastronomy-themed highlights include:
- Ben Shewry, internationally renowned chef and author of Uses for Obsession, brings a heartfelt and humorous perspective on the highs and lows of running Melbourne top fine dining restaurant Attica
- Helly Raichura, chef and owner of Enter Via Laundry, shares her journey from HR professional to trailblazing Indian fine-dining restaurateur. A former MasterChef guest judge, she also hosts SBS cooking series India Unplated
- Jennifer Wong, comedian and host of ABC’s Chopsticks or Fork? explores food, culture, and mental health through the lens of Australia’s regional Chinese restaurants
- Aunty Munya Andrews, author of the Ask Aunty children’s books and co-director of Evolve Communities, presents on First Nations knowledge, including the six-season calendar
Authors and speakers at the festival include:
- Grace Yee, winner of the 2024 Victorian Prize for Literature
- Emeritus Professor John Maynard, a Worimi Aboriginal man from the Port Stephens region of NSW and a Professor of Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Newcastle, and author of several books on Aboriginal people and sport
- Thomas Mayo, Jock Serong, Kelly Gardiner, Kate Mildenhall are returning festival favourites
- Robert Dessaix, recipient of the 2022 Australia Council Award for Lifetime Achievement in Literature
- Melanie Cheng, author of The Burrow, essayist and journalist
- Two-time Walkley Award winner Paul Daley
- Founder and Director of the Mountain Festival and author of Groomed Sonia Orchard
New and returning festival features include:
- To celebrate our UNESCO Creative City network, the festival’s Cities of Literature Book Club is a new series in partnership with the Melbourne UNESCO City of Literature Office, featuring global literary works and guest writers
- Local Stories Lounge: This new free event celebrates local talent, including Tara Muscatello (songwriting), Michael Leach (poetry), Juno Harvey (mystery/crime), Natalie Watson and Gayle Wilson (health and wellbeing), and Diane Dempsey and Grace Yee (local history)
- Creative Kids: A dedicated space for young readers and creators at The Engine Room featuring Alice Pung OAM, award-winning author of fiction and non-fiction works with co-creator of the Millie Mak the Maker series Sher Rill Ng
- Schools Day: A festival favourite on Friday, August 15, offers free sessions for students from primary to secondary levels
- Goldfields Library Sessions: Free daytime events in Heathcote, Kangaroo Flat, and Elmore, bringing the festival to more communities
- Foodshare Book Fair: A special pop-up edition at Dudley House with a focus on Australian authors, biographies, novels, children’s books and more to support Bendigo Foodshare’s work in the community with every book purchased
- The Festival Bookshop is operated by independent local outlet Bookish and offers titles from featured authors and more