People & Places
Living in Bendigo
Once Brits flocked to Bendigo for the gold – now they are more likely to be attracted to the city because of its laid-back lifestyle.
Hanna Lindon discovers what it's really like to live in the 'centrepiece' of Victoria.
Bendigo first shot to fame in the 1900s as the richest goldfield in the world. Thousands flocked to the city from all over the globe, desperate to make their fortune in the place where the streets really did seem to be paved with gold. Now, nearly 200 years on, incomers still see Victoria's most central city as a goldmine – but now it is famous for the rich lifestyle it offers rather than for the riches buried underneath its foundations.
So what's so great about living in Bendigo? Well, for a start there's the climate. Bendigo residents can expect cloudless blue skies almost throughout the year, as well as pleasantly warm daytime temperatures and cool nights. Unsurprisingly, therefore, much of the entertainment available in the city and its surrounds is focused around the great outdoors. Sport is popular, especially horse, greyhound and harness racing, swimming, jogging, cycling and walking. There are some great outdoor dining locations, and a number of world-class wineries only a few minute's drive from the city centre.
Angela Bennett is a Brit who lives just outside the city and commutes into the centre five days a week. She and her family frequently head to Bendigo for day trips, and to sample what she refers to as "the great entertainment for all ages." "There is a great ice-skating rink," she enthuses. "There is also a fantastic place called Zone 3 where you can go roller skating, laser tagging and go-carting, and there's a huge arcade there too. Other entertainment spots in Bendigo include a cinema, a drive-in cinema, a water-slide park, swimming pools and horse-riding clubs. "There are some great fishing spots around Lake Eppalock, and there is also the Capital Theatre, that always has something going on to suit all tastes." She continues: "Bendigo City also holds a few festivals every year. The largest one is the Bendigo Easter Festival. It attracts tens of thousands of tourists to the city over the Easter weekend. Attractions include parades, exhibitions and a street carnival. "The City of Bendigo also hosts a national swap meet in early November, which is a must-do for all car enthusiasts. It's regarded as the biggest in the southern hemisphere and it attracts people from all over Australia and the world."
Located, as it is, in central Victoria, the one thing that Bendigo lacks is beaches. However, Andy Masterfield, who has lived in the city for three years, claims that this is a loss he has hardly missed. "Before moving to Bendigo due to my job, I lived in Melbourne," he says. "There's a strong surfing culture there – and it's great because you can nip down to the beach in your lunch hour to top up your tan! I wasn't sure when my company offered me a role working in a company in Bendigo, because I thought that I would miss the beach. "Funnily enough, though, I haven't missed it at all! My house here has an outdoor swimming pool (which I probably wouldn't have been able to afford in Melbourne) and I'm more than happy chilling out by the pool after work. There are also some things about living in Bendigo that are a massive improvement on Melbourne. I love that it's so quiet here for a start – there's virtually no noise pollution, and the air is clean." As Andy points out, house prices in Bendigo are far cheaper than they might be in an Australian coastal location. According to the Government of the City of Greater Bendigo, it's possible to build a brand new state of the art home in the city for the price of an 'average' house in outer Melbourne, and still have money left over for some new furniture! Angela confirms: "House prices in Bendigo are a lot cheaper compared to other parts of Australia. You can still buy a house in good condition there for under AUS$200,000." A recent growth in population indicates that many Australians are flocking to Bendigo to take advantage of these low prices. The current estimated population is 92,502, and has increased at an average of 1.4 per cent per annum for the past five years. This compares to a smaller growth of 1.2 per cent in Geelong and 1.1 per cent in Ballarat.
Many are migrating to the city to take up job opportunities within Bendigo's growing industries. Its economic output is estimated to be AUS$4.1 billion per annum, with wages totally around AUS$1.1 billion and gross business profits of more than AUS$937 million. The local business community amounts to over 4,000 enterprises, with the three dominant sectors being Wholesale and Retail Trade, Health and Community Services, and Manufacturing. "Very few people seem to be unemployed in Bendigo," says Andy. "And the city is becoming quite a hotbed of talent from people who come in from outside to take up the opportunities available."
It's a city that is easy to get in and out of. Melbourne is less than a two hours drive north along the Calder highway, while the international Tullmarine Airport is approximately 90 minutes away. Train services run regularly to Melbourne, as well as to other regional centres, and the leisure opportunities offered by the Murray region and the Victoria snowfields are only a short drive away. In spite of its small size, Bendigo also has remarkably good infrastructure. Wherever you live in the city you are unlikely to be more than a few minutes from schools, shops and medical facilities, and even those who live on the outskirts of Bendigo will still have only a short commute to work. For those who enjoy their shopping, most national brand retail outlets can also be found in the city. "When it comes to shopping Bendigo has all the same top high street stores as Melbourne," confirms Angela.
Neither are opportunities for cultural entertainment lacking, with a number of theatrical companies operating in the city, and some of regional Australia's best art galleries and museums. Particular focuses of interest include the Bendigo Pottery Museum, the Golden Dragon Museum, the Capital Theatre and some first-class libraries. There is also a selection a beautiful city parks.
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