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Posted: 2022-07-13 03:11:15

More than 200,000 people have travelled to Bendigo to visit the sold-out Elvis: Direct from Graceland exhibition.

Since it opened in March the exhibition at the Bendigo Art Gallery has attracted 219,000 people, outstripping the Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe exhibitions, which attracted 152,706 and 143,222 people respectively.

The exhibition is considered the gallery's most successful to date and will close to a sell-out crowd on Sunday.

More than 65,000 visitors to the exhibition were first-time visitors to the gallery and 24,000 of the Elvis fans travelled to Bendigo from interstate.

Crowds queue to enter a gallery.
Crowds queue to enter the Elvis: Direct from Graceland exhibition.(Supplied: Bendigo Art Gallery)

Can't help falling in love with Elvis

Gallery director Jessica Bridgfoot says the exhibition has injected a sense of excitement and energy back into the city.

She said 86 per cent of ticketholders were tourists who lived outside of Bendigo.

"We are thrilled with the way visitors, local businesses and the community at large embraced the exhibition," Ms Bridgfoot said.

People milling around an 'Elvis' sign in the Bendigo Art Gallery.
Most of the exhibition's ticket purchasers were from outside Bendigo.(Supplied: Bendigo Art Gallery)

She said the team at the gallery had a multitude of ideas about what was to follow Elvis.

The gallery's next exhibition season will feature historic and contemporary Chinese art and design.

Four people stand in front of the Bendigo Art Gallery
Victorian tourism minister Steve Dimopoulos visits the Bendigo Art Gallery to mark the success of the exhibition.(ABC Central Victoria: Emma D'Agostino)

Victorian Tourism Minister Steve Dimopoulos said Elvis had been a smash hit for Bendigo and for the state.

He said the government had expected the exhibition to be popular, but hadn't dreamed it would be such a success.

"Now, with the return of White Night Bendigo, another blockbuster event will deliver a massive drawcard for visitors to the region and to the state," Mr Dimopoulos said.

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Elvis exhibit travels from Graceland to Bendigo
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