A thriving regional city, the historical township of Bendigo is known for its rich history, arts and culture. Bendigo also boasts a variety of educational opportunities from primary and secondary schools to vocational training, and higher education. Located just 150 kilometres northwest of Melbourne, Bendigo is the third-most populous city in regional Victoria, and the ideal place to live and learn.
Types of Schools in Bendigo
Bendigo has a variety of educational facilities from primary and secondary, private and government schools, to higher education. The myriad of schools offer a wide range of learning experiences with some of the most sought after schools in the area. Bendigo has 17 primary schools, 13 secondary schools, 1 combined secondary and primary school, 2 TAFE facilities and 2 universities.
Primary Schools in Bendigo
Camp Hill Primary School
50 Gaol Rd, Bendigo
Camp Hill Primary School has been operating for 145 years, starting out with 1200 students on site. The primary school continues to serve the community with prep to grade six, and provides students with the opportunity to thrive through inquiry-based learning and a multitude of co-curricular activities.
St Kilian’s Primary School
2 Havelock St, Bendigo
St Kilian’s Primary School is a catholic primary school in Bendigo. It serves classes from prep to grade six. It opened in the early 1850s and now has about 294 children enrolled. St Kilian’s teachers are committed to providing a good and positive learning environment and maintaining a strong sense of community.
St Peter’s Primary School
23-45 Fenton St, Long Gully
St Peter’s Primary School is a small primary school that focuses on Catholic philosophy and faith. It has
the largest number of Indigenous Australian students. St Peter’s is proud to have maintained small class sizes with individualised learning programs for all students.
St Therese’s Primary School
27 Albion St, Kennington
St Therese’s Primary School was opened in 1956 and now has 456 students in prep to grade six. As part of the Kensington parish in Bendigo, St Therese’s Primary School prides itself on a strong faith base and celebrating their Catholic heritage.
Golden Square Primary School
19 -31 Maple Street, Golden Square
The Golden Square Primary School and the Maple Street Primary School merged in 2015 to become the Golden Square Primary School. Students at the Golden Square Primary School enjoy programs from prep to grade six with classes in visual arts, digital technology, and performing arts.
Bendigo Violet Street Primary School
91 Old Violet St, Ironbark
Bendigo Violet Street Primary School opened in 1866 as the German Common School. It continues to provide a wide ranging curriculum for classes from prep to grade six. The school has a variety of facilities including open classrooms, indoor and outdoor learning spaces, art and craft rooms.
Specimen Hill Primary School
Inglewood Street, Golden Square
Specimen Hill Primary School was established back in 1874 and thought to have been named because of the gold specimens found in the area. Currently Specimen Hill Primary School has 314 students in grades prep to six.
St Joseph’s School
Gladstone Street, Quarry Hill
St Joseph’s School is a catholic primary school for years prep to grade six. The school has 232 students and is a coeducational primary school. The school opened in 1907 and originally serviced miners families in the Bendigo district.
Kennington Primary School
60 Crook St, Kennington
Kennington Primary School is a coeducational primary school for students from prep to grade six. Opened in 1991, the school is set on an undulating 12.1 hectares. Currently there are 660 students attending the primary school which is close to native bushland.
Spring Gully Primary School
104 Spring Gully Rd, Spring Gully
Just five kilometres front the centre of Bendigo, Spring Gully Primary School has a current enrolment of 400 students. The primary school services classes from prep to grade six and is a coeducational school. The staff and teachers encourage parent participation at the primary school which has served the students well in their learning and growth.
Lightning Reef Primary School
74-88 Holmes Rd, North Bendigo
Lightning Reef Primary School is a coeducational primary school for years prep to grade six. The average number of students at Lightning Reef is 189. The school was established in 2022 as a merger between North Bendigo and Comet Hill primary schools.
Quarry Hill Primary School
25 Peel St, Quarry Hill
Close to the Bendigo CBD, Quarry Hill Primary School moved to its current site in 1910. The school has a traditional red brick building with access and interaction between classrooms. The Quarry Hill Primary School is a coeducational school that serves prep to year six and has a capped enrolment of 375 pupils.
Holy Rosary Primary School
556 Napier St, White Hills
The Holy Rosary Primary School opened in 1918 in the weatherboard building that doubled as the church. Today the primary school has grown to a thriving school that serves prep to grade six in brand new buildings. The coeducational primary school boasts a population in excess of 450 students.
White Hills Primary School
16 Plumridge St, White Hills
White Hills Primary School opened in 1887 in the original Napier street location. The school continues to cater to students in the area and services years prep to grade six. There are currently 643 students attending White Hills Primary School.
Primary and Secondary Combined
Girton Grammar School
83-119 MacKenzie St, Bendigo
Girton Grammar School is a coeducational school that services classes from grade prep all the way to year 12. For more than 140 years, Girton Grammar School has been teaching the children of Bendigo. The school is spread over 2 campuses- the junior school and senior school. The junior school is on the MacKenzie Street campus and the senior school is on Vine Street, Bendigo.
Creek Street Christian College
91 Creek St, Bendigo
Founded in 1981, Creek Street Christian College is a school for students from prep to year 12. The school has 360 students and aims to focus on building their Christian character and skills as future leaders. Creek Street Christian College is a christian school that is coeducational.
Victory Christian College
6 Kairn Rd, Strathdale
Victory Christian College is a christian school that caters for all age levels from prep to year 12. The school on the outskirts of Bendigo encourages all students to achieve their highest potential. It caters to about 447 students currently enrolled and is a coeducational christian school.
Marist College Bendigo
95 Golf Links Rd, Maiden Gully
Marist College is a prep to year 12 catholic school with about 1200 students. The school has been operating for about 13 years and specifically designed the program to suit challenges of the 21st century. The focus of the school is on helping young people develop skills needed to live in the world and become independent learners.
Kalianna School Bendigo
48-68 Prouses Rd, North Bendigo
Kalianna is a specialist school that was established in 1963 designed for students with an intellectual disability. It provides a learning environment for students between the ages of 5 and 18 or prep to year 12. It provides a nurturing environment for students and a support and inclusive community atmosphere for students and families.
Secondary Schools in Bendigo
Bendigo Senior Secondary College
40 Gaol Rd, Bendigo
Bendigo Senior Secondary College caters to year 11 and 12 students and is one of the largest VCE providers in the area with over 1700 students. The secondary college was established in 1907 and has provided an educational environment where students can work to their full potential when completing VCE.
Image credit: Bendigo Senior Secondary School
Bendigo South East College
56 Ellis St, Flora Hill
Bendigo South East College is a year 7 to 10 college that offers a learning environment where all students are encouraged to achieve excellence in all areas of community including citizenship, community, and service. The coeducational secondary school has about 1400 students on average.
Weeroona College Bendigo
383 Napier St, Bendigo
Weeroona College has a population of 780 students and offers classes from year seven to year ten. There is a small group of Year 11 and 12 students but the main focus of the school is for the students in years seven to ten.
Crusoe College
57-75 Olympic Parade, Kangaroo Flat
Crusoe College is specifically designed for years 7 to 10 and has about 820 students currently enrolled. The school has a gymnasium, performing arts hall, and music centre. The name “Crusoe” was chosen as a reference to Crusoe Reservoir and its significance to Bendigo’s water supply.
Eaglehawk Secondary College
Reserve Street, Eaglehawk
Eaglehawk Secondary College is a year 7 to 10 school first opened in 1964. Originally known as the Camp Hill State School, it changed its name to Eaglehawk Secondary College in 1981. It currently has about 650 students enrolled from Bendigo, Eaglehawk, and surrounding areas.
Catherine McAuley College
87/93 Barkly St, Bendigo
Catherine McAuley College is a catholic secondary school that caters to year 7 to 12. Established over 145 years ago, the college currently has a total of 1546 students enrolled. The college spans two different campuses, one for years 7 to 9, and the other for years 10 to 12.
Doxa School
118 Hargreaves St, Bendigo
The Doxa School is a catholic learning centre which opened because there was a need to help vulnerable youth in Bendigo. The school complements other alternate educational providers in the region and it is open to students from all sectors. Doxa school caters to students in years 7 to 12, and aims to reengage students who are at risk of not completing their education.
Vocational Education and Training
Bendigo TAFE
Serving students for over 150 years, Bendigo TAFE is a large vocational education and training provider with five campuses in Bendigo, Echuca, and Castlemaine. The institute offers a wide range of courses, from basic certificates to advanced diplomas, with a focus on practical, industry-relevant skills. The diverse course offerings prepare students for career pathways in a variety of industries.
Bendigo Tech School
The Bendigo Tech School is a supplementary learning facility that offers programs for students in years 7-10, as well as VCE and VCE Vocational Major (VM) levels. The purpose of the tech school is to prepare students for future work by providing hands-on experience in areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
University Programs
La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus
As one of the largest campuses in Victoria, La Trobe University Bendigo campus boasts over 4000 students and 400 staff members. It has courses in all fields of study including areas of allied health and nursing, science, engineering, education, arts, business and IT.
RMIT University’s Bendigo Aviation Academy
The aviation academy in Bendito is a flight training facility operated by RMIT University. It operates out of the Bendigo Airfield and offers flight training programs for students who wish to become pilots. The academy also provides a range of airspace and training routes access, including regional and rural airstrips.
Getting To School in Bendigo
It is quite easy to get to schools in Bendigo as most residents are in the local area so will walk, drive or cycle. There is also the Bendigo Transit public bus system, Vic Railways and the Victorian School Bus program. These are the methods students can get to school when they live in Bendigo
- Car: Many people will drive their children to school particularly those in primary schools. For those living in the Bendigo region, most primary and secondary schools are easy to access with a good infrastructure in the main centre of town and other main roads like the Midland Highway and Eaglehawk Road.
- Cycle/walk: For those who live close to schools, cycling and walking are excellent options.
- Public transport: There are several public transport options for school transportation in Bendigo. These include the public bus and train service. The train service is ideal for those wanting to attend secondary schools, university or TAFE in Bendigo. The bus service runs throughout Bendigo and surrounding areas on a regular basis.
- Private bus: Some schools offer private bus services for students. The Christians Bus Company and Whitmore Bus Group are two of the private bus companies that service secondary schools in the Bendigo area.
Bendigo is a great place to raise a family with a myriad of schools to choose from. From kindergarten and primary to tertiary education, each school offers a unique opportunity for education. If you are considering relocating or already live in Bendigo the team at Harlowe are there to help with all your questions about lifestyle and facilities in Bendigo.