Bendigo
Today's Bendigo is a thoroughly modern city with a growing population of more than 110,000 offering everything from modern apartment living, to stunning gold rush era architecture, contemporary new estates and attractive lifestyle properties.
The discovery of gold in 1851 saw the population of Bendigo explode as people from every corner of the globe flocked to the region in the hope of making their fortune. While the gold may have run out, the riches were retained in the form of striking public architecture, stunning stately homes and magnificent gardens.
Glimpses of the city's fascinating history can be seen everywhere, from the stunning Rosalind Park, to grand properties like Fortuna Villa, the elegant Capital Theatre and the equally striking Ulumbarra Theatre on the grounds of the heritage-listed Sandhurst Gaol. Vintage trams still rattle their way through the centre of town as they have since 1890. The city is home to the very first Myer store, which still operates from the same site today.
New buildings like the world class Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo Bank complex and Bendigo Library have become landmarks in their own right and a state of the art health precinct, which includes the Bendigo Hospital, the largest regional hospital development in Victoria's history, LaTrobe University's Rural Health School and Monash Rural Health has put the city at the forefront of health care, education and research.
Thriving retail precincts, successful industry and a strong small business community create a vibrant, progressive atmosphere while high calibre state and private primary, secondary and tertiary education, including top tier private schools like Girton Grammar and LaTrobe University, give students the very best start in life.
Active local sporting clubs and first class sporting venues like the Bendigo Stadium, Gurri Wanyarra Wellbeing Centre and Queen Elizabeth Oval keep the community active and foster the talents of some of the state's most promising sporting stars.
Bendigo is a city known for world-class art and a thriving local food and wine scene that includes award winning restaurants, relaxed pub dining, 50 + cellar doors, farmers' markets and authentic paddock to plate experiences. An impressive events calendar that includes the annual Bendigo Easter Festival, Bendigo Writers Festival and Summer in the Parks program; beautiful parks, formal gardens, playgrounds, lakes, reservoirs and reserves mean there's always something to do in this great, easy-living city.
Getting around
Accessibility and liveability is key. Forget gridlock, travel in and around Bendigo is easy by car, bus, by foot or even by tram. Cycling is extremely popular with more than 350km of tracks and trails crisscrossing the city. In fact in 2018 the Bendigo became the first Australian Bicycle Friendly Community*, joining a network of 430 other communities worldwide.
Bendigo is approximately 2 hours from Melbourne by car via the Calder Freeway, or train and roughly 30 minutes from Castlemaine and Maldon. Train services to Melbourne operate regularly with new weekly services and trains recently added to meet the growing demand of commuters.
Regular train and bus services from Bendigo can also take you to other great places such as Maryborough, Castlemaine, Mildura, Swan Hill, Echuca, Daylesford, Ballarat and Geelong.
Qantas flies direct from Bendigo to Sydney six days a week. Flights take approximately two hours one way.
Median house price
Median sale price for a house in Bendigo is $540,000**
Median rent for a house in Bendigo is $370 per week**
Property
Bendigo has shown consistently good growth over the last few years but still offers great affordability with homes costing, on average, half of Melbourne properties. Demand from both local buyers and people seeking a more relaxed life in the country continues to be strong. First home buyers, investors right through to high end lifestyle property buyers are well catered for.
Properties available include historic miners cottages, Victorian and Edwardian homes, workers cottages and California bungalows along with more modern dwellings. The opening of new housing estates has provided another option for those wanting to build a new home close to the centre of town. New medium density housing close to the city and services is proving very appealing to downsizers and retirees.
There is a strong rental market in Bendigo with properties available to suit both long and short term tenants.
** realestate.com.au updated 24th November 2021
