Bendigo, Historical gold mining city in Victoria, Australia.
Bendigo is a city in north-central Victoria, Australia, spreading across valleys and gentle hills. The urban core concentrates along wide streets with historic buildings, while residential neighborhoods blend into wooded areas around the Greater Bendigo National Park.
The discovery of gold in 1851 turned a pastoral station into a booming settlement that drew thousands of migrants from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Over the following decades, the place grew into a major economic center with deep-shaft mines that operated well into the 20th century.
Gold rush architecture still shapes the streetscape with elaborate Victorian facades and public buildings that show the wealth of that era. Chinese temples and traditional celebrations recall the large Cantonese community that settled here during the gold mining period.
The city is reached by direct train from Melbourne, with the journey taking just under two hours through open countryside. Once there, visitors move around easily by local buses or on foot in the compact center, where most attractions lie within walking distance of each other.
The city earned the UNESCO title of City of Gastronomy, which honors its role in local food production and culinary creativity. Some old mine shafts have been opened for tours and allow descent into underground passages that have not been used for over a century.
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