Bendigo

One of Australia's most significant Victorian-era boomtowns, Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria. Situated close to Victoria's geographical centre, the city is located some 151 kilometres north-west of Melbourne, the state capital. Its estimated population of 91,713 residents over a 2,998.97-square-kilometre area makes it the fourth most populous and second largest inland city within the state.

Bendigo's name has a peculiar history. The area was originally named after Bendigo Creek, which itself was named after a local boxer fondly known as "Bendigo", which was a nickname inspired by William "Bendigo" Thompson, a British prize-fighter. The site's first official name was Castleton, after Castleton, England. In 1854, the settlement was officially designated as Sandhurst, after Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. However, the city was renamed as Bendigo following an 1891 plebiscite.

Bendigo, which was established in 1851, is the administrative centre for the Local Government Area of the City of Greater Bendigo. Part of the Bendigo County, the city is within the State Districts of Bendigo East and Bendigo West (in the Victorian Legislative Assembly) and the Federal Division of Bendigo (in the Australian House of Representatives). Today, its residents are known as "Bendigonians".

In 1851, gold was discovered along Bendigo Creek, which immediate led to a huge influx of speculators who then migrated to the locale, effectively contributing to the Victorian gold rush. Since its discovery in the area, over 22 million ounces of gold have been extracted from Bendigo's goldmines.

Bendigo has a wide selection of attractions, events, and locales that are of cultural, historical, and visual significance. Recommendations for a fuller experience of the city include the Bendigo Agricultural Show Society, Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo Easter Festival, Bendigo Marketplace, Bendigo Pottery, Bendigo Regional Park, Bendigo State Forests, Bendigo Tramways, Central Deborah Gold Mine, Golden Dragon Museum, RSL Military Museum, Strath Village Shopping Centre, and The Capital.