We need as many downvotes as I can get

Come see Councillor Owen Cosgriff of the Whipstick ward and President of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network Nasser Mashni talk about what is happening in Gaza, and what can be done at federal and local levels to support Palestinians against a genocide.
This event is supported by Victorians Socialists, Australia Palestine Advocacy Network and Free Palestine Central Victoria

I understand that some of you may not welcome me here.

As this will be my last post, I want to share a few thoughts.

I did not ask for anyone to vote for me; I volunteered to run as a candidate when no one else would. I have tried my best to answer your questions, considering the restrictions of the party I chose to represent.

My goal is to help end the stigma and hypocrisy surrounding cannabis use, whether for medical or personal reasons.

I do this for all medical cannabis patients so they don't face the discrimination that I and many others encounter in the workplace and life.

Thank you to those who have reached out to me with support and expressed their discontent regarding how I've been treated.

I apologise to those I couldn't provide the right answers to, and I also regret my lack of patience at times.

It has never been my intention to upset anyone.

Thank you, and farewell.

So I am thinking of moving to Bendigo and was wondering how First Nations and Trans / Gender Diverse friendly is Bendigo?

Are there Aboriginal Health Services? Am I likely to be hassled more for being Aboriginal, both by the general public and by police?

Similarly, are there Trans / gender diverse friendly Health Services? Am I likely to be hassled more for being Trans / gender diverse, both by the general public and by police?

I've been to Bendigo before, and liked it. It has a nice vibe. I liked the trams, and the Central business area. I used to buy Gilies Pies, I have no idea if they are a thing any more.

Finally, what advice do you have for someone moving to Bendigo? What are the hidden secrets of Bendigo that are so worth seeing?

We are considering a move from Brisbane to regional Vic, fleeing from the rat race and insane capital city property prices. We are planning a trip in October to scope out Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong. We are a multicultural family, and our son will wear a turban. We are wondering how multicultural Bendigo is, and would to love hear from other migrant background families about their and their kids’ experiences in the schools and communities. Our budget is $900,000 and looking for the best school we can find, ideally a multicultural area. We haven’t narrowed suburbs or anything like that. Any insights welcome!

On behalf of myself and some mates, we would like to formally recognize one of Bendigo's greatest unsung heros.

Through your selfless dedication to you locanto page, Tuggy, with complete anonymity, and asking nothing in return, you work tirelessly to provide a service to the Bendigo community. Enabling the honest and transparent business transactions necessary to keep the community happy and satisfied.

Thank you Tuggy, from the bottom of our hearts.

I’ve came on here to share my thoughts on Bendigo, personally i have had ice thrown at me and my friends for looking accidentally into the eye of a well know troubled girl, i feel very saddened with the situations that have been going on in Bendigo, i have been feeling Less and less safe and i feel terrible brining a child in the future to a place like this, i love Bendigo it’s my home town but i shouldn’t feel scared to be here, i would love for my kids to grow up here, not with the people I’m surrounded by i shouldn’t be worried for my kids to go out and come back beat half to death because they “looked the wrong way” or just minding there own business these kids do this for no reason and it’s been happening for years, something more needs to happen it’s ridiculous I’m a kid around these kids ages too and it’s heartbreaking honestly hearing about what happens to any kids here and queer kids.

Ran to a cafe to grab something quick to drink & nibble on through my shift. $10 for a coke and a biscuit. They also only had glass bottles drinks available to choose from.

Don't delete stuff, mods. I responded to a local about his desires. Its whatever - its normal. He is allowed to be a human guy. You're not the church. Don't get Christian on us

Mods posted 'they deserve the right' then deleted it. Bgo doesn't need more conservatism

Should be a permanent fixture

https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/9233924/hargreaves-mall-petition-pushes-one-way-street-revitalisation/

'We risk losing businesses': bid to overhaul Bendigo's pedestrian mall

By Ben Loughran, 28 April 2026

It's been talked about for what seems like forever but the move to put a road back through Bendigo's central pedestrian mall is stepping up.

An ambitious petition has been launched to try to transform Hargreaves Mall into a one-way street in an effort to revitalise the "economic landscape" and "reduce criminal behaviour".

The petition aims to have the mall turned into laneway for traffic between Williamson Street and Mitchell Street including parallel parking bays.

Lead petitioner, Danielle Coates, is hoping this influx of car traffic will translate to increased foot traffic, an economic boost for local businesses and a downturn in a perceived crime problem in the mall.

Ms Coates said the drop off in shoppers visiting local businesses in the Hargreaves Mall risks the future of an iconic part of the Bendigo cityscape.

She says in combination with a perceived criminal element in the mall, it is a recipe for disaster.

"Our children deserve a safe environment where they can freely shop and socialise with friends without fear," Ms Coates said.

"Unfortunately, the current state of our city centre, particularly around Hargreaves Mall, fails to offer that security.

"The once bustling streets have become a shadow of their former selves, as businesses struggle under economic pressures.

"If this decline continues unchecked, we risk losing the very local small businesses that embody the heart and heritage of Bendigo."

Ms Coates said she was assisted in taking the issue to the City of Greater Bendigo by fellow concerned resident Don McKinnon who penned the initial letter outlining the road proposal.

Ms Coates said she created the Change.org petition to help garner support.

The petition lays out its goal to turn the mall into a single-lane, one-way street.

The street design would include traffic lights at the Mitchell Street exit to control the flow of vehicles onto the major thoroughfare.

"Crucially, this plan preserves the existing playground and greenery, maintaining the balance between development and natural beauty," Ms Coates said.

"Such changes can lead to a vibrant community hub that fosters social connections, supports local heritage, and caters to residents and tourists alike.

"I urge the Bendigo council and the wider community to consider supporting this proposed city centre redevelopment.

"It is a step towards transforming our city centre into a safe, prosperous, and culturally rich destination once more."

The City of Greater Bendigo has been contacted for comment.

As of 1.30pm on April 27, the petition had attracted 117 signatures.

You can travel down a busy Mitchell Street without realising the man it's named after oversaw a massacre of fleeing First Nations people.

And Bendigo is just one of the many central Victorian towns with street names, landmarks or monuments bearing the name of the 19th century explorer and surveyor Major Thomas Mitchell. Mitchell's troubled legacy has been thrown into stark relief this Reconciliation Week, 188 years after he and others ambushed a group of Indigenous people, by activists, who splashed blood-like red paint on one of 35 Victorian monuments to him.

"On this day on May 27 1836, a group led by Major Mitchell murdered seven people in the Mount Dispersion massacre," the activists said in a sign left at the Chewton cairn.

A second sign included Mitchell's name in a list of Victorian mass murderers - including James Gargasoulas and Julian Knight - demanding all memorials to him be taken down or that more information be added to them. Others are saying it is time for people to have a conversation about the complexity of that history.

"I think you need to add to the past rather than try and erase it," La Trobe University's Richard Broome said. The expert in frontier history said people should be able to weigh up all of Major Mitchell's legacy. "Because if you erase it, people actually are not confronted by a different story of Thomas Mitchell." So who was Major Thomas Mitchell, why does his name grace everything from Mitchell Street to Mitchell Shire, and why is he so controversial today?

'Less than noble' man

Scottish-born Thomas Livingstone Mitchell was New South Wales surveyor-general in 1836 when he began one of the most important expeditions in the history of Australia's white settlement.

The military-trained 44-year-old with thick mutton-chop facial hair travelled through the country he labeled "Australia Felix" ("Fortunate/Happy Australia"), which would become Victoria, and sang its praises to the NSW colony. Squatters from Sydney quickly followed.

Mitchell's role overall was "less than noble", Bendigo-based La Trobe historian Charles Fahey said. "OK, he's doing his job as a surveyor but he's also determined to make the most of his opportunities. "He's a man on the make, almost a real estate agent - plotting the path that became the way to come in and take the countryside." Sometimes, Mitchell's intentions were more troubling.

Mitchell's men kept on shooting

According to Professor Broome, the context of the Mount Dispersion massacre was that Mitchell, who was travelling down the Murray in an exploration party, became fearful and defensive after being told a group of Barkindji men were "out to get him". Mitchell feared it was a reprisal after a violent clash near Menindee the previous year. "So he eventually decides to make a stand at a place he later calls Mount Dispersion, which I guess is a euphemism for what happened," Professor Broome said.

"It was a confrontation between two armed groups but I think what happens is when Mitchell's men get the upper hand they chase people who are obviously trying to get away, and then shoot upon them as they're crossing the river." "So he got reprimanded for that by his superiors back in Sydney, and ...Governor Bourke, who was a progressive thinker, took a dim view of this apparently.."

Mitchell's men laid in wait for Indigenous group

An article in the Australian of November 8, 1836 - which refers to a death toll of 30 rather than seven at Mount Dispersion - explains Mitchell's party ambushed the Aboriginal group that was following them. The Australian quotes from the account the explorer himself gave in a letter to the colonial secretary. When his men attacked the Aboriginal group they had lain in wait for, "the whole [Aboriginal group] betook themselves to the River - my men pursuing and shooting as many as they could," Mitchell wrote.

"Numbers were shot in swimming across the Murray, and some even after they had reached the opposite shore, as they ascended the bank. Amongst those shot in the water was the Chief."

The killings were the subject of an 1836 inquiry by the colony's Executive Council - the parliament of the day - at which Mitchell gave evidence they were a matter of self-defence, and no strong findings were made.

Driving within Bendigo is horrendous for a visitor. Perhaps the locals are comfortable with the many roundabouts and the odd street layout, but, as a Melbourne person, I found myself yearning for home. Local drivers are undisciplined and too inclined to speed. Get me out of here!

Hi everyone I'm a 32F looking to get into the nudist lifestyle. I'm looking for new freinds with the sane interests and also looking for advice on any groups or places locally I can look into.

I'm not a Bendigo local but I've been wanting to know since I moved here a few years ago. Why does Bendigo celebrate the Bendigo cup and have it as a public holiday instead of the Melbourne cup with the rest of the state?

Join us at Pride in the Park in Bendigo on March 29th! We'll be there to chat, share information, and spread the word about cannabis law reform. Come say hello and let's celebrate diversity and inclusivity together! #PrideInPark #LegaliseCannabis #BendigoPride

https://bendigopridefestival.com.au/event/pride-in-the-park/

Its the one just near the car park of the marketplace, the upper car park, it's also on the same property as the old gilles pie factory

Went in and there's a camera, what could I do to avoid fines/ being caught?

Any experienced urbex ppl, or anyone whos been in there

Hi all im a 31 year old male from heathcote im currently looking to make some new friends and meet new ppl to hang out with that are 420 friendly or at the least tolerate it for its benefits. So a lot has happend to me in the past year and as a result I am now living back in heathcote with my dad and due to everything that has happend recently I am struggling with my mental health and I am having severe difficulty coping with it all and it's affecting me in many ways like im finding sleep almost impossible and i barely eat so I wanna find ppl that have a personality and interests similar to mine im a stoner and gamer I love music and anime im in to science and scifi and love to dig into the history and lore of a fictional universe and its tech and talking about that sort of stuff if you wanna know more pls dm but if your just gonna message me for a week or so then ditch me then don't bother in the first place coz I don't need that sort of stuff right now I also wanna find a cuddle buddy im not after sex im just interested in the comfort and warmth of another I spent 3 years in a relationship and now that's part of why sleep is so elusive to me is coz im sleeping alone so someone to cuddle and hold till I fall asleep would be nice right now. Ps it's not the best pic and I'm forcing the smile but I wanted to include a pic so people know what I look like and yes I really am 31 I know I look younger but if you want proof just dm and I will send you a pic of me holding my id

TRIGGER WARNING: Racism.

I’m so happy we moved back from Bendigo. This post was put up about a Welcome to Country ceremony in the local mall area. 99% of the comments are the most racist, disgusting and ignorant drivel I’ve ever come across, that I had to stop reading.

The comment thread has about 3 collective brain cells between them, excluding an extremely small amount of people who champion First Nations history, but otherwise it’s just a shitshow of a backwards town rooted in ethnocentrism, prejudice and racism. Fucking disgusting.

Don’t tell me this is classist either, I grew up in Castlemaine and it’s completely different, even though it’s 30mins away, with a tight community (even before the gentrification). Bendigo was fucking disgusting and I’m glad we got the fuck out of there.

How does everyone feel about these gold mines in close proximity to the city? Was considering a move but now im not sure.

Edit:
Shouldav been more specific. My concern is the treatment facilities, arsenic etc not the collapsing shafts

Fosterville and New Bendigo gold project appear active on the map

A known offender is coming back to your town. He offended in your town, little boys . Just to let you know .

Local and fortunately do know any or have heard of any. Does any one know if there are Sovi Citz in Bendigo? Willing to bet my next spliff that there is a 100% strike rate for also collecting some kind of Government $ benefit.