Rosalind Park Poppet Head tower

The Poppet Head tower was closed to the general public in early 2024 following engineering inspections which identified significant rust issues on the upper levels of the tower.

Level 1 was reopened to the public in November 2024.  

The upper levels remain closed to the public. 

A condition assessment of the existing structure was conducted in late 2022 to inform the need for works to protect the tower. A further inspection identified some corroded (rusted) sections of the Poppet Head which are impacting the safety of the stairwell structure. We need to fix or replace these sections of steel to make the Poppet Head safe to access.

In early 2024 engineers discovered significant rust issues on the upper levels of the Poppet Head tower stairs. These upper levels have been closed to the general public to keep everyone safe.

We are planning two stages of works to complete this project:

1. The first stage is likely to involve demolition of the existing old, non-compliant staircase, followed by cleaning and painting the heritage listed Poppet Head structure. This will ensure its condition is maintained for generations to come.
2. The second stage is likely to involve construction of the new staircase and lookout platform.

We are working through the best way to do this work to ensure best value for money.

The works are complicated due to the location of the Poppet Head tower on the top of a hill within a heritage precinct, surrounded by formal gardens and trees and the potential need to scaffold the structure.

Importantly, we must also go through the heritage permit process before we can commence any works on the Poppet Head structure.

We cannot provide a confirmed timeframe for the works but we anticipate that the design and approvals process will continue throughout 2026 with the works to follow, subject to Council funding being available.

As a result, the upper levels of the Poppet head tower will remain closed for some time to come.

The Poppet Head structure is not in danger of falling down. There are some sections of the stairwell structure that we are concerned about and that is why we are restricting access to the upper levels to only authorized personnel.

The Rosalind Park Poppet Head lookout was the original poppet head from the Garden Gully United Mine, one of Bendigo's richest mines which operated from 1857 to 1921 so the structure is well over a hundred years old.  

In 1931 the Bendigo Amalgamated Goldfields Company gifted the mine’s steel poppet legs to the former City of Bendigo.  The poppet legs were erected in Rosalind Park to serve as the lookout tower you see to this day.  The Mayor of the day Cr W.H Taylor said at the time that the lookout was erected to perpetuate the name of Bendigo as a goldfield. 

The structure is approximately 20.8 metres high and has an area of 12.8 metres by 13.8 metres at its base. The main tower is supported by four tapered columns and has three floors for lookout purposes. An access stair with fully covered chain mesh balustrading provides vertical transportation from the ground to the top level.  

A Bendigo heritage mosaic, designed by artist Maery Gabriel and completed in 1987 is located at the foot of the poppet head.  

A cover to the ground floor stairway was constructed in approximately 2018 to prevent unauthorised access to the structure, particularly after hours.