Bendigo
Bendigo (/ˈbɛndɪɡoʊ/ BEN-dig-oh) is a city in Victoria, Australia, located in the Bendigo Valley near the geographical centre of the state and approximately 150 kilometres (93 mi) north-west of Melbourne, the state capital.
| Bendigo Victoria | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bendigo city centre | |||||||||
Bendigo | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 36°45′0″S 144°16′0″E | ||||||||
| Population | 103,034 (2021) (19th) | ||||||||
| • Density | 358.50/km2 (928.52/sq mi) | ||||||||
| Established | 1851 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3550 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 213 m (699 ft) | ||||||||
| Area | 287.4 km2 (111.0 sq mi) (2016 urban) | ||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10) | ||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | AEST (UTC+11) | ||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Greater Bendigo | ||||||||
| Region | Loddon Mallee | ||||||||
| County | Bendigo | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | |||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Bendigo | ||||||||
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As of 2022, Bendigo has a population of 103,818 making it Australia's 19th-largest city by population. Bendigo is the fourth-largest inland city in Australia and the fourth-most populous city in Victoria. Bendigo is administered by the City of Greater Bendigo. The council area encompasses roughly 3,000 square kilometres, the city is surrounded by smaller towns and cities like Castlemaine and Heathcote.
The traditional owners of the area are the Dja Dja Wurrung (Djaara) people. The discovery of gold on Bendigo Creek in 1851 transformed the area from a sheep station into one of colonial Australia's largest boomtowns. News of the finds intensified the Victorian gold rush, bringing an influx of migrants from around the world, particularly Europe and China. Bendigo became eastern Australia's largest 19th-century gold-mining economy and the wealth generated during this period is reflected today in the city's Victorian architectural heritage. From 1853 until 1891, Bendigo was officially named Sandhurst.
Bendigo's boom period lasted until the early 20th century and after a temporary decline in population and employment, renewed growth occurred from the 1930s as the city consolidated as a manufacturing and regional service centre. Although gold mining continues, recent population growth has been most heavily concentrated in suburban areas. With the completion of the Calder Freeway linking Melbourne and Bendigo in 2009, and the region's proximity to Melbourne, Bendigo has become one of the fastest-growing regional centres in Victoria.