# Bendigo

> regional city in Victoria, Australia

**Wikidata**: [Q497793](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q497793)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bendigo)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bendigo

## Summary
Bendigo is a regional city in Victoria, Australia, serving as the capital of the City of Greater Bendigo. With a population of 103,034 as of the 2021 census, it is recognized internationally as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy since 2019.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: Established in 1851.
- **Area**: 146 square kilometres.
- **Population**: 94,378 (2016 Census, Statistical Area Level 3); 103,034 (2021 Census, Statistical Area Level 3, preferred).
- **Coordinates**: Latitude -36.75°, Longitude 144.26666666667°.
- **Elevation**: 221 metres above sea level.
- **Timezone**: UTC+10:00 (standard time); UTC+11:00 (daylight saving time).
- **Postal Code**: 3550.
- **Country**: Australia.
- **Administrative Capital**: Of the City of Greater Bendigo.
- **UN/LOCODE**: AUBDG.
- **Membership**: Creative Cities Network (City of Gastronomy, since 2019).
- **Twin Cities**: Los Altos, Penzance, Tianshui.
- **Electoral Districts**: Covers the state districts of Bendigo East and Bendigo West, and the federal division of Bendigo.
- **Historical Alias**: Sandhurst.
- **Native Label**: Bendigo.
- **Official Name**: Bendigo.
- **Wikipedia Title**: Bendigo.
- **Wikidata Description**: Regional city in Victoria, Australia.
- **Instance Of**: City.
- **Wikipedia Languages**: Available in 69 language editions, including English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and Chinese.
- **Commons Gallery**: "Bendigo, Victoria".
- **Commons Category**: "Bendigo, Victoria".

## FAQs
**When was Bendigo founded?**  
Bendigo was established in 1851, during the Victorian gold rush era.

**What is the current population of Bendigo?**  
According to the 2021 Australian Census, the population of the Bendigo Statistical Area Level 3 was 103,034. The 2016 Census recorded 94,378 residents for the same area.

**What are Bendigo's time zones?**  
Bendigo operates on Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10:00) and observes daylight saving, shifting to Australian Eastern Daylight Time (UTC+11:00).

**Is Bendigo part of any international city networks?**  
Yes, Bendigo has been a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the "City of Gastronomy" category since 2019.

**Which electoral districts represent Bendigo?**  
Bendigo is covered by the state electoral districts of Bendigo East and Bendigo West, and the federal electoral division of Bendigo.

**What are Bendigo's twin or sister cities?**  
Bendigo is twinned with Los Altos (USA), Penzance (UK), and Tianshui (China).

**What is Bendigo's postal code?**  
The primary postal code for Bendigo is 3550.

**Why is Bendigo sometimes called Sandhurst?**  
Sandhurst is a historical alias for Bendigo, referenced in sources like The Nuttall Encyclopædia.

## Why It Matters
Bendigo is a major regional economic and administrative centre in Victoria, Australia. Its designation as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy highlights its cultural and culinary significance, contributing to tourism and local identity. Historically, its establishment in 1851 places it at the heart of the Australian gold rush, which shaped the nation's development. As the capital of the City of Greater Bendigo, it serves as a governance hub for the region. The city's steady population growth—from 94,378 in 2016 to 103,034 in 2021—reflects its ongoing vitality and appeal as a place to live and work. Its extensive documentation across global knowledge bases (e.g., Wikidata, Encyclopædia Britannica, national libraries) underscores its recognized importance in historical, geographical, and cultural contexts.

## Notable For
- **UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy** (member since 2019).
- **Historical significance** as a gold rush city founded in 1851, formerly known as Sandhurst.
- **Geographic precision** with defined coordinates (-36.75°S, 144.27°E) and area of 146 km².
- **Demographic growth** with a 9.1% population increase between the 2016 and 2021 censuses.
- **Administrative role** as capital of the City of Greater Bendigo.
- **International ties** through twinning with three cities across three continents.
- **Multilingual documentation** with Wikipedia entries in 69 languages.
- **Electoral complexity** being split across two state districts and one federal division.
- **High elevation** of 221 metres above sea level.
- **Distinct postal code** 3550 for the central city.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Bendigo is located in the state of Victoria, Australia, with precise coordinates at latitude -36.75 and longitude 144.26666666667. The city covers an area of 146 square kilometres. Its elevation is 221 metres above sea level. It falls under the postal code 3550 and the UN/LOCODE AUBDG. Administratively, Bendigo is the capital of the City of Greater Bendigo and is situated within the state of Victoria. The city observes two time zones: UTC+10:00 during standard time and UTC+11:00 during daylight saving periods.

### Demographics
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the population of the Bendigo Statistical Area Level 3 was 94,378 at the time of the 2016 Census (determination method: Australian Census 2016). By the 2021 Census, this figure had grown to 103,034, making the latter the preferred value. This represents a significant increase of 8,656 residents over five years.

### Governance and Political Representation
Bendigo serves as the capital of the local government area known as the City of Greater Bendigo. In terms of political representation, the city is divided among several electoral districts. The state electoral districts of Bendigo East and Bendigo West both cover parts of Bendigo. Federally, the city is part of the division of Bendigo in the Australian House of Representatives. Bendigo maintains international municipal relationships through twinning agreements with Los Altos (California, USA), Penzance (Cornwall, UK), and Tianshui (Gansu, China).

### Cultural and International Status
Bendigo is a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, having been designated a "City of Gastronomy" in 2019. This affiliation highlights the city's culinary culture and related creative industries. Historically, Bendigo has been documented in numerous authoritative reference works, including the *Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary*, *The Nuttall Encyclopædia* (which lists "Sandhurst" as an alias), the *Encyclopædia Britannica* 11th edition, the *Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947)*, and the *Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary*.

### Historical Context
The city's inception dates to 1851, coinciding with the Victorian gold rush. Historically, it was also known as Sandhurst, a name that persists in some archival references. This gold rush heritage is a cornerstone of Bendigo's identity and development narrative.

### Digital and Bibliographic Footprint
Bendigo has a extensive digital presence across global knowledge and library systems. Key identifiers include:
- **Wikidata**: Q199913 (primary item), with a sitelink count of 65.
- **GeoNames ID**: 2176187.
- **Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID**: 7001927.
- **GND ID**: 4308957-4.
- **VIAF ID**: 163961955.
- **Freebase ID**: /m/0gxbl.
- **Worldcat Entities ID**: E39PBJpYvk7hWMmR4J9r6D4cyd.
- **MusicBrainz Area ID**: 19b43421-7d37-4ab8-94a6-c8eb082fe6f4.
- **OpenStreetMap Node ID**: 30917754.
- **BBC Things ID**: a3a0e3b1-7073-4676-89e1-dde9e2b2141e.
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n81032554.
- **National Library of Israel J9U ID**: 987007555051005171.
- **Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID**: place/Bendigo-Victoria.
- **BabelNet ID**: 03467280n.
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code**: `Entity["City", {"Bendigo", "Victoria", "Australia"}]`.
- **AIATSIS Place Thesaurus ID**: 3954.
- **RKD Thesaurus ID**: 94243.
- **Vicnames Place ID**: 100334.
- **Who's on First ID**: 101932591.
- **Yale LUX ID**: place/328eabed-d9eb-45b5-a4c0-0811d17f62fd.
- **Archinform Location ID**: 51262.
- **OpenWeatherMap City ID**: 2176187.
- **Curlie ID**: Regional/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Localities/B/Bendigo/.
- **Australian Statistical Geography IDs**: 2011 (2004, UCL211003); 2016 (20201); 2021 (20201).
- **GNS Unique Feature ID**: -1558533.
- **Hrvatska Enciklopedija ID**: 6844.
- **Canadiana Name Authority ID**: ncf12012683.

The city's Wikipedia article is titled "Bendigo" and exists in 69 language editions, ranging from Arabic (ar) and German (de) to Japanese (ja) and Chinese (zh). Its Wikimedia Commons gallery and category are both named "Bendigo, Victoria". The official city website is https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/, published in Australian English. A subreddit dedicated to Bendigo (`r/bendigo`) was created on March 21, 2011, and is conducted in English. The city is maintained by **WikiProject Bendigo**.

### Categories for People
Bendigo is associated with several Wikimedia categories for biographical events:
- **Category:Births in Bendigo, Victoria** (for people born in the city).
- **Category:Deaths in Bendigo, Victoria** (for people who died in the city).
- **Category:People from Bendigo** (for people associated with the city).

### Distinction and Self-Reference
In some authority files, Bendigo is listed as "different_from: Bendigo," likely a mechanism to distinguish it from other places or entities with similar names. The native label and official name are both simply "Bendigo."

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. archINFORM
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. MusicBrainz
5. [Source](https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2016/20201)
6. [Source](https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/20201)
7. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
8. VICNAMES
9. GeoNames
10. BBC Things
11. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)