Sandhurst, now usually called Bendigo, from the district in which it is situated, stands on Bendigo Creek, 101 miles by rail NNW. of Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia, in the centre of a rich auriferous country. It owes its rise to the discovery of gold here in 1851. The mines give employment to 4600 persons, and yield about 144,500 oz. in the year. Pop. (1881) 28,662; (1891) 26,735. The chief public edifices are the government buildings in Rosalind Park, the banks, hospital, mechanics' institute, churches, and government offices. The town possesses fine botanical gardens, and is excellently supplied with water.
Besides gold-mining, the principal industries are brewing, iron-founding, coach-building, brick and tile making, and in the district farming and vine-growing. Sandhurst was proclaimed a municipality in 1855, a borough in 1863, and a city in 1871.