2025: A year in review…

January

Bendigo’s 2025 Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year were announced as Glenda Serpell and Pollyanna Smith.

Thales Australia was contracted by the Federal Government to build more than 40 Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles in Bendigo in a deal worth over $100 million dollars that was set to underpin approximately 250 local jobs.

Joy and jubilation filled a standing-room-only Town Hall when 80 Bendigonians were officially sworn in by mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf as Australian citizens. The new citizens came from literally all over the world – Brazil, Myanmar, New Zealand, Mozambique, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Zimbabwe, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Canada, Taiwan, China, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Egypt, South Africa, Malaysia and Malta.

The annual RSL Australia Day Picnic in Heathcote was enjoyed by its biggest-ever crowd.

 

February

The City of Greater Bendigo and its local government counterparts were in celebration mode following the news that a World Heritage Listing for the Victorian Goldfields moved a step closer, and was on a tentative list.

La Trobe University co-signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with Melbourne, Monash, and Deakin universities’ University Departments of Rural Health (UDRH). Each university’s UDRH is funded by the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care and acts to facilitate education, research and rural health workforce development across the state of Victoria. Since entering into their first Memorandum of Understanding in 2019, the four institutions have been successful in lobbying the Government to expand grants for student placements in aged care and small towns in Victoria, which were previously excluded from funding.

The state-run Early Learning Victoria Nyernilang Lar childcare centre attached to Eaglehawk North Primary School opened its doors, providing long day care and both three-year-old and four-year-old kindergarten programs.

 

March

Bendigo Airport received $143,000 as part of Round 4 of the Federal Government’s Regional Airports Program. With an additional $143,000 contribution from the City of Greater Bendigo, the sum was for resurfacing the western end of the facility’s second runway, plus resurfacing and line marking of aprons, taxiways and taxi lanes within the General Aviation and Northern Hangars precincts. The works were designed to improve safety and access at the airport, supporting its ongoing use by aeromedical services including Victoria’s Air Ambulance, aerial firefighting and flight training.

A touching coming together of generations took place as former Bendigonian Angus Mackay returned to town to officially unveil a pavilion named in his honour. The 600-square-metre undercover pavilion at Girton Grammar’s MacKenzie Street Junior School campus was made possible by the donations he’s made to the school over many years.

 

The Bendigo Art Gallery’s blockbuster exhibition (and the last before it closed for a multimillion dollar upgrade), featuring one of Mexico’s most renowned artists, feminist icon Frida Kahlo, opened to great fanfare. More than a collection of her artworks, it featured Kahlo’s belongings, clothing, make-up, accessories and medical items, on loan from the Museo Frida Kahlo (aka La Casa Azul, her much-loved former home in Mexico City) for the first time in Australia.

Heathcote residents celebrated all things zucchini with competitions, displays, live music, food and fun at the inaugural Heathcote Zucchini Festival, and enjoyed food and wine at the Harvest Festival.

 

April

History was made with the demolition of the former John Lindell Rehabilitation Unit at Bendigo Health, with the campus’ old east and north wing towers stripped out ready for wrecking.

A $1.9 million investment from the State Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund delivered a number of improvements to the 210-kilometre-long Goldfields Track, including the installation of two new visitor ‘Rest and Recovery’ Hubs to give travelers a designated break point.

The Federal Coalition announced a $1 million commitment, if elected in May, to fund various upgrades to the Ironbark Gully Trail, a two-kilometre shared path running from Holmes Road to Nolan Street in North Bendigo. They also pledged $3 million towards a new roof at the Bendigo Livestock Exchange in Huntly.

 

A skatepark first proposed in 2017 on the Bendigo Creek Trail, between the Gurri Wanyarra Wellbeing Centre and Gateway Park, received Labor and Coalition Federal election commitments, as did a veterans’ and families’ hub.

The ALP pledged to upgrade Bendigo’s headspace centre in Pall Mall, committed almost $3 million to stage two of the Central Deborah Gold Mine Revitalisation Project, and $7 million to Bendigo Creek renewal.

A roster of sporting clubs who call North Bendigo home celebrated two major announcements that would transform the precinct with modernised facilities and extra changerooms. Firstly, the ALP pledged $3 million to demolish the old pavilion at North Bendigo Oval, built in 1970, and construct a new building, if re-elected on 3 May. Plans were revealed for a new soccer pavilion adjacent to the oval, which had already been funded.

Emergency services volunteers joined the Heathcote Fire Brigade, Heathcote Lions Club, Pizzeria Montana and individuals to raise money for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. Along with $11,068 raised by a fundraiser at Pizzeria Montana, the town raised a total of $24,744.

 

May

The Australian Labor Party won the Federal Election, and the Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters was returned to her seat after a close and long battle with The Nationals’ Andrew Lethlean in the vote count.

The new Strathfieldsaye Town Square was officially opened. The $1.5 million City of Greater Bendigo project – named Djayi balak garat, or Tread lightly you lot on Country in Dja Dja Wurrung language, was opened with a smoking ceremony and a community planting of native species. It was the first to be completed from start to finish under the Yilingga Marna (shake hands) agreement between the City and the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, known as DJAARA.

 

The grand Arch of Triumph – which commands attention at the front entrance of the Bendigo Botanic Gardens in White Hills – marked 100 years since its official unveiling on 23 March 1925.

In a major shake-up of the central business district economy, it was confirmed that the Bendigo Art Gallery would close for around two years as part of an approximate $43.35 million redevelopment. The works will deliver a new second-floor exhibition space, expand the gallery’s storage capacity, and add a learning centre, theatrette and Traditional Owner Place of Keeping for Dja Dja Wurrung cultural material.

Ikigai Community Care officially opened the doors to its brand-new community hub in Heathcote.

 

June

The completion of new crossing and traffic lights in Kangaroo Flat made access easier and safer for users of the Bendigo Special Developmental School, Kangaroo Flat Library and the Bendigo Creek Trail. Pedestrian-operated signals were installed near the intersection of Neil Street and Lockwood Road in Kangaroo Flat. A pedestrian crossing was also been created on Neil Street to provide a direct connection for students and families travelling across the new lights to Bendigo Special Developmental School.

Beloved Baarkindji woman, Elder and Bendigo resident Aunty Iris Bysouth was recognised for her work serving the First Nations community over many decades by being inducted into the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll.

 

July

Bendigo Health unveiled its new $700,000 da Vinci robotic surgery training console, which is used by locally based surgeons to learn to operate the world-class da Vinci robotic technology.

NAIDOC week was celebrated across the community, and thousands flocked to the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show.

A next-level campground just past Crusoe Reservoir in Kangaroo Flat, designed and built by the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation and its commercial enterprise DJANDAK opened. The Larni Yirrip (Home of the Ironbark) Campground features 12 campsites, toilet and picnic facilities, shelters, fire pits and frog ponds. The camping facility was built around existing tracks and previously disturbed land to minimise the need to remove trees, and was funded by $2 million courtesy of the State Government’s Victoria’s Great Outdoors program.

Bendigo Foodshare’s Annual Winter Drive got underway.

 

August

A world-class outfit that flies almost completely under the radar locally came up trumps at the 2025 Bendigo Bank and Be.Bendigo Bendigo Business Excellence Awards, not only winning the National/Global Footprint Award for the second consecutive year, but also accepting the Business of the Year accolade. Workplace safety, industrial rescue and equipment compliance services provider ISH24 – Safety and Rescue, founded in Perth in 2010, employs around 25 staff at its headquarters and purpose-built training facility in Trantara Court East Bendigo, plus approximately 300 nationally.

Bendigo Region Women’s Shed were progressing steadily towards building their own headquarters at Albert Roy Reserve in Eaglehawk. The organisation received a $9000 grant from the City of Greater Bendigo in May. The new shed aims for a safe and supportive space for women to gather, socialise, undertake activities, learn new skills and gain knowledge on subjects that impact their safety, health and wellbeing.

It was announced that the historic tourist trams would go under wraps from mid-to-late October until mid-to-late November for a 660-metre section of dual tracks between Short Street and Mundy Street to be removed and replaced. The section of tracks was nearly 100 years old and reached the end of its useful service life, with substantial buckling observed in some areas.

 

Qantas made the decision to retire its five-times-per-week 6.45am flight from Bendigo. According to a spokesperson, Qantas advised the City it amended the Bendigo-Sydney flight schedule to meet the needs of customers, based on the 24 per cent increase of passenger numbers along the route in 2024-2025. Be.Bendigo CEO Hayley Tibbett urged Australia’s largest airline to work with her organisation to “find a balance that supports both business and leisure travellers.”

La Trobe University’s state-of-the-art $21 million Rural Dentistry and Oral Health Clinical School officially opened in Arnold Street, featuring eighty-two simulation workstations. Inside are 16 dental chairs, new advanced radiology and digital denture-making equipment.

 

September

Construction of the multi-million dollar Bendigo Low Line shared walking and cycling path project got officially underway. The project will eventually complete the 4.4 kilometre missing link in the Bendigo Creek Trail between Golden Square and Lake Weeroona.

Bendigo Toyota handed over the results of its 2025 Winter Food Drive to Bendigo Foodshare, with this year’s tally coming in at an amazing 5180 kilograms worth of goods. In total, the collection included over 2000 litres of milk, with more than 700 litres donated by local sporting clubs as part of the dealership’s $500 Milk Collection Competition. Bendigo Toyota more than matched that effort by donating an entire pallet of milk (1100 litres) themselves. The collection also included $3000 worth of food from an anonymous donor, with the funds used to purchase supplies from local Champions IGA supermarkets.

 

Promised upgrades to Bendigo Stadium and the Bendigo Showgrounds originally planned as part of the cancelled Regional Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games commenced. Bendigo Stadium will receive two new multi-purpose courts, courts nine and 10 will be refurbished, with 200 lux lighting to be installed over the outdoor netball courts as well. Other improvements will include a new backup generator, solar panels, carparking and accessibility improvements. Upgrades to the Bendigo Showgrounds will include construction of a multipurpose pavilion with an additional event space, alterations to its grass arena, with enhancements also to be made to lighting, entrances and fencing. Works at the venues are expected to finish in late 2026, well after the Commonwealth Games were due to be held.

Community Bank Heathcote and District turned 20 years old, and Heathcote residents braved the cold to attend a farewell afternoon tea at the library. The former library will be redeveloped as part of the Heathcote Hub.

Volunteers, families and community leaders gathered at Reflections at Eppalock to celebrate its first birthday and the official opening of Costerfield House for respite accommodation.

 

October

The Bendigo Agricultural Show entertained people of all ages, and as the dust settled on another incredible Bendigo Cup Day, work began on the renovation of the racetrack at White Hills.

Bendigo Health completed the expansion and refurbishment of its Renal Service, including the installation of four new renal chairs within its Community Dialysis Unit.

Bendigo Special Developmental School’s new learning space, Mali Bu Djanip, opened. Backed by an $8.8 million investment from the State Government, Mali Bu Djanip, which means Mallee and Myall Country in the Dja Dja Wurrung language, was completed ahead of schedule and has a range of practical and accessible features. These include classrooms with movable walls to create break-out learning spaces and storage for equipment such as wheelchairs and walking frames.

 

The Golden Square community welcomed the opening of its new state-of-the-art fire station in Specimen Hill Road, replacing the Golden Square Fire Brigade’s previous facility in High Street, which it operated out of for more than 110 years. The new $5.66 million station features a four-bay drive-through motor room, a new turnout space and office, a training room as well as an external training yard, a change room and laundry, workshop facilities and a hose drying tower, plus a large three-bay storage shed.

Bendigo TAFE spruiced itself up to celebrate 50 fabulous years of hairdressing education, in partnership with Be.Bendigo.

Residents from Pyalong and the surrounding districts gathered for a CFA Open Day at the new fire station. The much-awaited building had been 20 years in the planning for the brigade which has been serving the community since 1937.

 

November

Haven Home Safe’s Sidney Myer Haven marked 10 years of work to prevent homelessness and provide safe, secure housing.

The City of Greater Bendigo councillors elected Cr Thomas Prince and Cr Karen Corr mayor and deputy respectively.

Construction on the new community and sport pavilion at the North Bendigo Recreation Reserve officially commenced.

It was gold for Greater Bendigo across two fronts at the 2025 Victorian Tourism Awards, with the City taking out the Local Government Award for Tourism and Bendigo Guided Tours finishing at the top of the podium in the New Tourism Business category. The win marked yet another milestone in the City’s tourism journey, representing its sixth consecutive year as a finalist in the Awards. During this time, the City has achieved an impressive four gold awards and two silvers.

Heathcote Show was enjoyed by young and old on Melbourne Cup Day.

 

December

Bendigo TAFE was awarded Australia’s Best Training Provider at the 2025 Australian Training Awards in Darwin.

Bendigo Bank locked in a long-term agreement with Google that it claimed will ensure its workforce and customers gain advantage from the global search giant’s latest artificial intelligence capabilities, digital skills and cybersecurity defences. The partnership will see the bank embed Google Cloud’s AI, security and training solutions as part of its 2030 strategic plan, a strategy it says is being implemented in part to “make life easy with digital.”

Bendigo Health announced the creation of its first-ever chair of clinical research role, a position that will be funded by Agnico Eagle Mines, the operator of Fosterville Gold Mine. The new chair will be recruited to drive high-quality, evidence-based clinical research at the hospital with the recruitment process beginning soon.