How a go-er of a city got its name

AVID readers and local history enthusiasts have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the duo behind a book that’s a literal expression of when Sandhurst became known as Bendigo.

Author Lauren Mitchell and illustrator-historian Geoff Hocking will host a reading of their book, Go’Bendy’Go, which is based on the true story of William Abednego Thompson, at Bendigo Library on Saturday 17 August, 10.30am.

As Mitchell explained, the book’s narrative is one of those cases of “the truth being stranger than fiction”.

“Many local people have an idea that Bendigo was named after a boxer, but they don’t know the details,” she said.

“Bendigo Thompson was a heavyweight champion of England back in the mid 1800s – the same time that gold was being found in the Bendigo Creek.

“The story goes there was a shepherd camped down by the creek, and his nickname was Bendigo because he used to put on these sham boxing fights, and he had this unique southpaw stance that was the same as the famous heavyweight.

“When word got out that gold had been found, people started to ask, ‘Where did they find it?’ People started saying it was found near Bendigo’s Hut on Bendigo’s Creek.

“Despite the fact that the powers that be formally named it Sandhurst, people persisted in calling it Bendigo. It became the people’s name.”

Mitchell said the Bendigo Library event will be a “celebration of local history.”

“For Jeff and I, sharing stories from Bendigo is really (significant) in building a sense of community here,” she said.

“And for children especially, when you can see your place reflected in a book, it just goes to show that we’re all important. It doesn’t matter where we come from.”

Book sales and signings will be available on the day.