Bendigo and region is at the forefront of a trend toward provincial lifestyles, where regional cities are being seen to offer a better quality lifestyle than that which can be attained by living in a metropolitan centre.
Our region consists of the City of Greater Bendigo, Mt. Alexander Shire and Loddon Shire. Major communities in the region include Bendigo, Castlemaine and Wedderburn as well as many other smaller towns offering idyllic lifestyle opportunities along with affordable housing.
The region is proud of its heritage with beautiful and historical provincial cities and towns. Most of the area was built around the time of the gold rush in the 1850's and on a foundation of beautiful, richly detailed and historically significant Victorian architecture.
We enjoy fantastic employment and investment opportunities, short commute times, and a thriving cultural scene including art galleries featuring international exhibitions, theatres, cultural attractions and festivals.
Bendigo and region has an abundance of food and shopping, celebrated wineries, cosmopolitan restaurants, and informal cafes and eateries. With its close proximity to Melbourne, the Bendigo region is increasingly seen as a very attractive alternative to big city living, offering an enviable lifestyle in a relaxed, friendly and safe environment where many wonderful career and lifestyle opportunities await.
Location
Bendigo is located in the geographical centre of Victoria, less than two hours from Melbourne and just over one hour from the mighty Murray River to the north.
As the largest inland city in Victoria, Bendigo is well served by a network of transport solutions, including a modern and frequent fast train service to Melbourne and buses that link to other regional and rural centres.
Cost of Living
The Bendigo region is home to some of Australia's most affordable dreams and lifestyles. The cost of living in Bendigo is significantly less than in larger metropolitan cities, yet the range of quality lifestyle options, housing and educational facilities available is just as good or even better than those found in the larger centres.
Housing
Bendigo's population is growing at about two per cent each year, making it one of the fastest growing centres in inland Australia, and giving rise to many new and modern homes where families stake their claim and dare to dream.
While the average house price in Melbourne is well over $400,000, the average price in Bendigo is approximately $210,000 (December 2007), with a host of even more affordable homes available in other parts of the region.
Whether it's a block of land to build your dream home, something larger where there's wide open spaces and room for a pony, or maybe a family home in the suburbs, there's a range of housing options to meet every taste and dream.
Some of Australia's leading retailers, major department stores and brands compete with local businesses and outlets in shopping centres and on street corners across the Bendigo region.
The region's thriving retail industry offers some of regional Australia's best shopping experiences and bargains.
And shopping is only going to get better as our major shopping centres continue to expand and grow, as new shops and businesses open up to share in the region's boom times.
Transport Around Bendigo
No matter where you are in Bendigo, you are never far from where you want to be.
The region is well served by a quality rail link to Melbourne, with a regular fast train service between the two cities and towns in-between. The region's major highway is being upgraded to offer a freeway standard highway between Bendigo and Melbourne, which is also home to Tullamarine International Airport.
There are also many good quality bus services that link towns across the region as well as within the major towns themselves. There's also a great network of cycling and walking paths to enjoy, either as part of your daily commute or for recreational benefit.
Sport
There's plenty of outstanding recreational facilities and opportunities on offer in the Bendigo region. This not only demonstrates our love of the great outdoors, it also highlights the importance of sport and recreation to the local region.
Climate
Our region has been compared to the Mediterranean in terms of its climate. We enjoy four distinct seasons, including warm dry summers, cool winters, sunny springs and mild autumns.
Bendigo's average annual maximum temperature is a pleasant 20.4°C, with a mean of about 28°C during summer and 13°C in winter. The average annual minimum temperature is 9°C, with an average minimum of 12-14°C in summer and 4°C during winter, while the city's average rainfall is 550 mm.
Such a superb climate enables residents to enjoy so much of what the Australian outdoors has to offer, including outdoor dining in the warmer months or a roaring log fire in the winter, as well as year round sports and outdoor activities.
The Bendigo region has many quality golf courses, soccer and cricket grounds, athletics facilities, football ovals, international standard bike racing, first-rate tennis courts, and both indoor and outdoor swimming pools for the community to experience and enjoy.
There's also many outstanding parks, lakes and tranquil bush areas where you can walk, jog, fish, ride a bike or maybe even a horse.
Support and Integration
In Bendigo your neighbours quickly become your friends, and the easy access to so many social and sporting clubs and groups means you always have something to do and someone to share the good times with.
There are many local groups and organisations that support the Bendigo region's skilled migration program because they understand how skilled migrants can help boost our region's economy and how important it is to support and welcome new residents into the region.
Local industry and professional groups, such as the Bendigo Professional Services Group and the Bendigo Manufacturing Group have been set up to promote and support the economic sector as part of the region's bid to create an even better future for all its residents.
The Bendigo Regional Ethnic Communities Council is also keen to extend a helping hand to new residents.