Golden Square, Victoria

Golden Square is a suburb of Bendigo in Victoria, Australia. Its local government area is the City of Greater Bendigo. At the 2016 Census, Golden Square had a population of 8,820.[1]

Golden Square
Bendigo, Victoria
Golden Square Hotel
Golden Square
Coordinates36°46′S 144°15′E
Population8,820 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)3555
Location
LGA(s)City of Greater Bendigo
Suburbs around Golden Square:
West Bendigo Ironbark Bendigo CBD
Maiden Gully Golden Square Quarry Hill
Kangaroo Flat Kangaroo Flat Golden Gully

History

Gold was discovered in the bed of the Bendigo Creek in the spring of 1851, about 200 metres from where the Golden Square Hotel now stands, sparking the gold rush that established the Australian city of Bendigo. Two women, Mrs Kennedy and Mrs Farrell, are commonly credited with having made the discovery.[2] The Post Office opened on 10 January 1863.[3] The local swimming pool was built in 1918 originally called the Golden Square Baths, later renamed to Golden Square Swimming Pool.

Today

Golden Square is home to The Bulldogs Football and Netball Team competing in the Bendigo Football League,[4] Golden Square Secondary College (which has since been closed), Golden Square Primary School, (Laurel Street Primary School) Maple Street Primary School and the Golden Square Shopping Centre.

The historic Golden Square Swimming Pool was originally proposed to be closed by the council in 2010, however it was saved and still runs today as a volunteer-run pool operated by the community itself with pool patronage increasing on a yearly basis.[5]

The new Bendigo Police station is located on the edge of Golden Square and was opened in March 2007.

The local railway station on the Melbourne to Bendigo railway opened with the line but was closed in 1981.[6]

Notable people

Golden Square Football Club has produced AFL stars such as Brownlow Medallist Greg Williams, Richmond stars Wayne Campbell and Nathan Brown, and former Fitzroy, Brisbane and Melbourne player Nick Carter.

Leading AFL player manager Ricky Nixon also started his playing career at Golden Square before playing VFL football with Carlton, St Kilda and Hawthorn.

Other former VFL players to hail from Golden Square include Des Dickson, Ray Byrne, Tony Southcombe and Peter McConville. The Golden Square Football Club has achieved 5 consecutive senior premierships in the Bendigo Football League (2009 to 2013), the first of its kind for the club.

References
  1. "2016 Census QuickStats Golden Square". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  2. Historical marker on west bank of the Bendigo Creek, Wade Street, Bendigo
  3. Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 11 April 2008
  4. Full Points Footy, Golden Square, retrieved 25 July 2008
  5. "Golden Square Recreation Reserve Master Plan". Greater City of Bendgio. Bendgio Council. p. 11. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  6. Scott Martin and Chris Banger (October 2006), "'New Deal' for County Passengers - 25 years on", Newsrail, Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division), p. 319.
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