Traditional Owners

The original inhabitants of the City of Greater Bendigo were the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung (Jaara) Aboriginal people.

Settlement history

European settlement dates from 1837 when sheep stations and farms were established. Significant growth occurred following the discovery of gold in 1851. The goldfields soon changed from small operations to major mines with deep shafts, with the early discoveries of alluvial gold giving way to quartz-based gold. By the end of the first gold rush in the 1860s, the township of Bendigo had established flour mills, woollen mills, tanneries, quarries, foundries, eucalyptus oil production, food production industries and timber-cutting. From 1860 through to the 1880s the township grew rapidly, aided by the opening of the Bendigo to Melbourne railway line in 1862 and a mining boom in the 1870s. Growth continued at a slower rate until the early 1900s, with mining continuing in some capacity until the last mine was closed in 1954. From the start of the 1900s the population began to decline, especially in the rural areas. Significant population growth occurred in the post-war years. Growth has continued since the 1980s, aided by local economic and employment growth. Recent growth has been most heavily concentrated in areas such as Epsom, Kangaroo Flat and Strathfieldsaye. Bendigo has consolidated its position as one of the fastest growing regional centres in Victoria, with growth expected to continue, especially in the new development areas of Huntly, Jackass Flat and Maiden Gully.

Land use

The City of Greater Bendigo includes Victoria's fourth largest city in Bendigo, as well as a significant rural hinterland. Smaller townships are located at Axedale, Elmore, Goornong, Heathcote, Marong and Redesdale. The City encompasses a total land area of about 3,000 square kilometres, of which a significant proportion is national park, regional park, reserve or bushland. Much of the rural land is used for agricultural purposes, including poultry and pig farming, sheep and cattle grazing and vineyards. Most of the City's retail space is in the Bendigo CBD or along the main roads. There is some industrial land use in the suburbs around the CBD.

Transport

The City of Greater Bendigo is served by the Calder Highway, the Loddon Valley Highway, the McIvor Highway, the Midland Highway, the Melbourne-Bendigo-Echuca railway line and Bendigo Airport.

Major features

• Major features of the City of Greater Bendigo include Greater Bendigo National Park,
• Heathcote-Graytown National Park,
• Bendigo Regional Park,
• Jackass Flat Nature Conservation Reserve,
• Shelbourne Nature Conservation Reserve,
• Lake Eppalock,
• Lake Weeroona,
• several state forests,
• Ironbark Lookout,
• One Tree Hill Lookout,
• The Bendigo CBD,
• Bendigo Marketplace Shopping Centre,
• Lansell Square Shopping Centre,
• Bendigo TAFE (Bendigo City,
• Bendigo Charleton Road and BTEC Campuses and Clinical Training Centre),
• Monash University School of Rural Health (Monash Rural Health Bendigo),
• La Trobe University (Bendigo Campus),
• Bendigo Hospital,
• Bendigo Art Gallery,
• Bendigo Exhibition Centre,
• Bendigo Stadium,
• Central Deborah Gold Mine,
• Discovery of Gold Monument,
• Campaspe Run Rural Discovery Centre,
• Discovery Science & Technology Centre,
• Bendigo Tramways Museum,
• Golden Dragon Museum,
• Bendigo Chinese Gardens,
• Bendigo Pottery,
• Sweenies Creek Pottery,
• Goldfields Mohair Farm,
• Hartlands Eucalyptus Distillery,
• Bendigo Botanic Gardens White Hills,
• Bendigo Racecourse,
• The Campaspe River and numerous wineries.

Included areas