Hotels in Bendigo, Australia

A little about Bendigo...

Bendigo is a regional city in central Victoria, Australia, located in the City of Greater Bendigo. It has a steadily growing urban population of about 100,000 people which places it as the third largest regional centre in Victoria after Geelong and Melbourne. Residents of Bendigo are called Bendigonians.

Originally known as Sandhurst, the city grew quickly out of the Victorian gold rush and became established as a major provincial hub and minor financial centre, being home to Australia's only provincially headquartered retail bank, the Bendigo Bank and the Bendigo Stock Exchange (BSX).

The municipality covers an area of 3000 square kilometres and includes Bendigo, Quarry Hill, Golden Square, Kangaroo Flat, Eaglehawk, Epsom, White Hills, Marong, Lockwood, Lockwood South, Ravenswood, Sebastian, Elmore, Heathcote, Maiden Gully, Spring Gully, Strathfieldsaye, Lake Eppalock, Axedale, Goornong, Raywood and Huntly, which encompasses a total population of almost 140,000. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst, however, has around 220,000 inhabitants.

Bendigo is notable for its Victorian architectural heritage and Gold-Mining.

Parks and Gardens:
The central city is skirted by Rosalind Park, a Victorian style garden featuring statuary and a large blue stone viaduct. The main entrance corner of the park is on the intersection known as the Charing Cross, formerly the intersection of two main tram lines (now only one). It features a large statue of Queen Victoria. The Charing Cross road junction features the large ornate Alexandra fountain (1881) and is built on top of a wide bridge which spans the viaduct. The park elevates toward Camp Hill, which features a historic school and former mine poppet head.

Further from the city is Lake Weroona, a large ornamental lake, adjacent to the Bendigo Botanical Gardens.

Tourism: Tourism, based on the old gold industry, is important and includes prominent attractions such as the Central Deborah Goldmine, Discovery Science and Technology Centre and the Bendigo tramways (all three of which make up the Bendigo Trust, a council-intertwined organisation dedicated to preserving Bendigo's heritage). There have been several plans to enhance tourism in the area, including a theme park and extensions of the tourist tram around Lake Weeroona.

Education: Bendigo Senior Secondary College is the largest VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) provider in the State. Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE. Catholic College Bendigo follows close after, which ranges from years 7-9 at the first campus and 10-12 at the second campus. Girton Grammar School is Bendigo's only private school. The Bendigo campus of La Trobe University is also a large and growing educational institution.

Transport: Bendigo is about 150 km (93 miles) or less than two hours drive by car from Melbourne on the Calder Freeway. The residual dual carriageway roads (currently about 100 km) are progressively being replaced by freeway.

Regular rail services to Melbourne operate over the Bendigo railway line that was upgraded as part of the Regional Fast Rail project completed in 2006. There are also additional train services to and from Swan Hill, and Echuca.

Bendigo is serviced by Bendigo Airport, which is just north of the city.

As a regional city Bendigo also includes the following suburbs and localities: Ascot, Big Hill, California Gully, Deborah Triangle, Eaglehawk, Eaglehawk North, Epsom, Flora Hill, Golden Square, Ironbark, Jackass Flat, Junortoun, Kangaroo Flat, Kennington, Huntly, Maiden Gully, Mandurang, North Bendigo, Quarry Hill, Sailor's Gully, Spring Gully, Strathdale, Strathfieldsaye, West Bendigo and White Hills that are served by buses.

The Bendigo Easter Festival is held each year and attracts tens of thousands of tourists to the city over the Easter long weekend. Attractions include parades, exhibitions, and a street carnival.