The City of Greater Bendigo is a local government area in Victoria, Australia, located in the central part of the state. It covers an area of and, in August 2021, had a population of 121,470. It includes the city of Bendigo and the towns of Axedale, Elmore, Heathcote, Marong, Raywood and Strathfieldsaye. It is the state's third largest economy base and is considered a service and infrastructure centre for north central Victoria. The city is surrounded by 40,000 hectares of regional, state and national parkland.
The city is governed and administered by the Greater Bendigo City Council; its seat of local government and administrative centre is located at the council headquarters in Bendigo, it also has service centres located in Heathcote, Huntly, Marong and a couple of other locations within Bendigo. The city is named after the main urban settlement lying in the centre-west of the LGA, that is Bendigo, which is also the LGA's most populous urban area with a population of 99,122. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
History The City of Greater Bendigo was formed on 7 April 1994, initially from the amalgamation of the former City of Bendigo with the Borough of Eaglehawk, the Shire of Strathfieldsaye, the Shire of Huntly and the Rural City of Marong.
In November 1994, the city gained the Heathcote district and the Lake Eppalock hinterland from the Shire of McIvor. In January 1995, the rural western flank of the city (part of the former Rural City of Marong) was moved into the new Shire of Loddon, while the city gained the Redesdale district from the Shire of Metcalfe.
Council
Current composition The council is composed of nine single member wards. The most recent election was held in October 2024.
Lockwood Ward has been vacant since 17 November 2025 when John McIlrath, who was elected at the 2024 election, resigned. He was succeeded by current councillor Donna Nicholas after a by-election held in March 2026.{cite web|url=https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/current-elections/greater-bendigo-city-council-lockwood-ward-by-election|title=Greater Bendigo City Council, Lockwood Ward by-election|publisher=Victorian Electoral Commission|access-date=31 December 2025}
+The current council (elected in 2024)WardPartyCouncillorNotesAxedale Independent Liberal Shivali Chatley Eppalock IndependentAaron SpongEpsom IndependentAndrea MetcalfGolden Square Independent Karen Corr Deputy MayorKennington Independent Labor Abhishek AwasthiLake Weeroona Independent Thomas Prince MayorLockwood Independent Donna Nicholas Ravenswood Independent Labor Damien HurrellWhipstick Victorian Socialists Owen Cosgriff
List of mayors
Administration and governance The council meets in the council chambers at the council headquarters in the Bendigo Town Hall offices, which is also the location of the council's administrative activities. It also provides customer services at its administrative centre on Lyttleton Terrace in Bendigo and its service centres in Heathcote, Huntly and Marong and also on Hopetoun Street and St Andrews Avenue in Bendigo.
2023 council election review In the lead up to the 2024 Victorian local elections, The Victorian Electoral Commission conducted a review into the electoral structure of multiple Victorian councils, including the City of Greater Bendigo, The review found that the city should adopt nine single-councillor wards at the election, namely:
Axedale Ward Eppalock Ward Epsom Ward Golden Square Ward Kennington Ward Lake Weeroona Ward Lockwood Ward Ravenswood Ward Whipstick Ward
Towns, suburbs and localities At the 2021 census, the city had a population of 121,470 up from 110,477 in the 2016 census
Population Locality 2016 2021 215 272 Ascot 1,968 2,571 43 42 352 452 802 984 288 355 Bagshot North 30 39 17 12 Bendigo 5,512 5,652 Big Hill 261 281 4,363 4,476 75 70 Derrinal 49 99 38 42 5,691 5,538 5 13 2,092 2,246 776 847 359 376 Eppalock 685 746 4,325 5,014 3,955 3,989 63 57 211 213 8,820 9,220 654 718 ^ 265 291 2,793 2,962 44 23 2,379 3,585 43 46 1,095 1,163 1,141 1,907 3,201 3,862 ^ 92 89 10,394 11,328 5,649 5,880 73 96 160 168 Ladys Pass 111 118 ^ 125 167 754 806 ^ 961 1,052 3,383 3,420 506 570 4,992 5,407 Mandurang 641 753 247 280 ^ 1,416 2,005 ^ 178 213 106 136 459 545 ^ 67 68 290 379 4,059 4,277 2,339 2,365 ^ 436 443 ^ 318 329 ^ 68 67 ^ 240 299 711 743 ^ 217 251 546 614 ^ 452 423 3,000 3,092 5,663 5,756 5,428 6,850 ^ 182 221 126 144 375 378 Whipstick 10 18 3,219 3,620 Wilsons Hill 77 88 449 556 ^ – Territory divided with another LGA
See also List of places of worship in the City of Greater Bendigo List of localities in Victoria
References
External links
Greater Bendigo City Council official website Bendigo information and community site Metlink local public transport profile Link to Land Victoria interactive maps