Loddon Mallee, Economic rural region in northwestern Victoria, Australia.
Loddon Mallee is a region in northwestern Victoria, Australia, stretching from the edges of Melbourne toward the borders with South Australia and New South Wales. It covers river valleys, dryland farming areas, irrigated vineyards near Mildura, and several towns, with Bendigo being the largest urban center.
The region grew through farming and the gold rush of the mid-1800s, which brought a wave of settlers and shaped towns like Bendigo. The wealth from gold left behind grand public buildings that still stand today.
The towns across this region each have their own character, shaped by farming traditions, gold rush history, and Aboriginal heritage. In Bendigo, you can walk past ornate 19th-century buildings and then step into a gallery showing contemporary Indigenous art.
A rental car is the most practical way to get around, as the towns and rural areas are spread far apart. Bendigo is a good starting point since it has the most services and sits roughly in the middle of the region.
Bendigo is home to the headquarters of Bendigo Bank, the only major Australian bank based outside a capital city. The bank originally started in the 1800s as a small building society to help local miners manage their savings.
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