# Bendigo Creek

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River in Victoria, Australia

Bendigo Creek in August 1852 by the artist S.T. Gill. Gold was officially discovered at Bendigo Creek in October 1851.

**Bendigo Creek** is a seasonal [stream](/source/Stream), or [creek](/source/Stream), in [North Central Victoria](/source/North_Central_Victoria), [Australia](/source/Australia). The [city of Bendigo](/source/Bendigo) is named for the creek and [valley](/source/Bendigo_Valley) in which it was founded in 1851. [Gold](/source/Gold) was officially discovered on Bendigo Creek in late October 1851, transforming the area in less than a year from a secluded bushland to a scene which "beggared description"[1] as tens of thousands of men, women and children came to the area during the [gold rush](/source/Australian_gold_rushes#September_1851:_Bendigo,_Victoria) at Bendigo Creek in 1852.[2]

## Location and features

View of Bendigo Creek as it runs through [Rosalind Park](/source/Rosalind_Park)

The creek rises in the Big Hill range south-west of the [city of Bendigo](/source/Bendigo) near the Crusoe Reservoir. Starting at an elevation of 287 metres, the creek almost immediately flows through the Crusoe Reservoir at 286 metres and then forms a geographic spine through Bendigo's CBD either past or under many of the city's landmarks including the [Alexandra Fountain](/source/Alexandra_Fountain) at [Charing Cross](/source/Charing_Cross_(Bendigo)), [Rosalind Park](/source/Rosalind_Park), [Lake Weeroona](/source/Lake_Weeroona) and the Bendigo Botanic Gardens. The Bendigo Creek Trail, for walkers and cyclists, follows the creek's course north-east from the Crusoe Reservoir past natural bush and historic landmarks to the [Bendigo Pottery](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bendigo_Pottery&action=edit&redlink=1) in Epsom.[3]

The creek descends nearly 200 metres over its 153-kilometre course before joining Mount Hope Creek, northeast of [Mitiamo](/source/Mitiamo), at an elevation of 87.3 metres. Myers Creek, Reedy Creek and Piccaninny Creek flow into Bendigo Creek.[4]

Over many millennia, the flow of the Bendigo Creek formed the [Bendigo Valley](/source/Bendigo_Valley), the site of the present city of Bendigo.

## History

The first European settlers, who arrived in 1837 after the survey of the area in 1836 by Major Sir [Thomas Mitchell](/source/Thomas_Mitchell_(explorer)), used the [Bendigo Valley](/source/Bendigo_Valley) for their working [bullocks](/source/Ox) as the valley was "wide, gentle, well-grassed and secluded".[5] Later the settlers brought [sheep](/source/Sheep) to the creek valley, making it an outstation of the [Mount Alexander](/source/Mount_Alexander) North [pastoral run](/source/Pastoral_lease) and building a hut on the creek in the valley. The creek was just within the north-eastern boundary of the Mount Alexander North pastoral run.[6][7] The location on Bendigo Creek where gold was alleged to have been first discovered in October 1851 was a short distance from that shepherd's hut.[8]

A watercolour painting by an unknown 19th-century artist of Bendigo Creek as it flows near McPherson's Store in Bendigo in 1853, the present location of [Charing Cross](/source/Charing_Cross_(Bendigo)) and the [Alexandra Fountain](/source/Alexandra_Fountain).

## Etymology

The occupants of the Mount Alexander North run, later called the [Ravenswood](/source/Ravenswood%2C_Victoria) run,[9] named the creek "Bendigo' Creek", originally spelled "Bednego Creek" after a local bullock driver and employee of the Mount Alexander North run. Although the bullock driver's actual name remains unknown, he "was handy with his fists"[10] and was consequently nicknamed for the English bare-knuckle prizefighter [William Abednego "Bendigo" Thompson](/source/William_Thompson_(boxer)) (1811-1880) who was then at the height of his fame. The word "Bendigo" is a corruption of the name "Abednego" in its shortened form, "Bednego".[11] Bendigo Thompson was a famously agile boxer who initially earned the nickname "Bendy" because of his constant bobbing and weaving around the ring. His nickname evolved: "Bendy" in combination with his middle name, Abednego, became "Bendigo".[12]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Cusack, Frank (1973). Bendigo: a history (p. 35)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Cusack, Frank (1973). Bendigo: a history (pp. 23-35)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Bendigo Creek | City of Greater Bendigo"](https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/Things-To-Do/natural-reserves/bendigo-creek).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Map of Bendigo Creek in Victoria - Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia"](http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=207302&cmd=sp&c=1&x=144%2E478285&y=%2D36%2E497745&w=3172&mpsec=0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Cusack, Frank (1973). Bendigo: a history (p. 13)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_6-0)** ["The Bendigo Advertiser"](https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88546644). *[Bendigo Advertiser](/source/Bendigo_Advertiser)*. Vol. XXXV, no. 10, 156. Victoria, Australia. 21 March 1888. p. 2. Retrieved 26 June 2020 – via National Library of Australia.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Cusack, Frank (1973). Bendigo: a history (p. 13)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Cusack, Frank (1973). Bendigo: a history (p. 23)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["The Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918) - 10 Apr 1917 - p2"](https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page24429707). *Trove*. Retrieved 2020-06-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Cusack, Frank (1973). Bendigo: a history (p. 67)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Cusack, Frank (1973). Bendigo: a history (p. 67)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-WBT_12-0)** ["William "Bendigo" Thompson"](https://nottinghamhiddenhistoryteam.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/william-bendigo-thompson/). 9 February 2016.

[36°29′13″S 144°29′23″E / 36.486944°S 144.489722°E / -36.486944; 144.489722](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Bendigo_Creek&params=36.486944_S_144.489722_E_)

v t e Waterways of the North–Central catchment, Victoria, Australia Rivers Avoca Avon (Grampians) Campaspe Coliban Little Coliban Little Murray Loddon Murray Richardson Creeks Andersons (North Grampians) Axe Back (Bendigo) Barkers Barr Beckworth Bendigo Bet Bet Birch’s Box Bradford Bullabul Bullock Burnt (Central Goldfields) Campbell (North Grampians) Campbells (Mt Alexander) Creswick Cherry Tree Cochranes Dog Trap Fentons Five Mile (Macedon Ranges) Forest Glenlogie Greenhill Gunbower Homebush Jews Harp Jim Crow Joyces Kangaroo (Hepburn) Kangaroo (Macedon Ranges) McCallum McIvor Middle (Pyrenees) Middle (Hepburn) Mosquito (Gunnawarra) Mount Pleasant Muckleford Myers Myrtle Number Two Pipers Pohlman Pyramid Rutherford Sailors Sandy (North Grampians) Serpentine Sheepwash (Bendigo) Spring (Loddon) St Arnaud Tullaroop Wallaloo Lakes (natural) Lake Bael Bael Lake Buloke Kow Swamp Reservoirs Cairn Curran Eppalock Laanecoorie Lauriston Malsmbury Tullaroop Upper Coliban Other Garfield water wheel Rivers of Victoria Lakes of Victoria Reservoirs in Victoria North-Central catchment

v t e Rivers of Victoria Rivers that flow towards the coast Tasman Sea / Bass Strait East Gippsland catchment Ada (East Gippsland) Arte Back Lake Barracoota Bemm Bendoc Benedore Berrima Betka Big (Brodribb) Bonang Brodribb Buchan Cann Cann River East Combienbar Lake Corringle Crooked Lake Curlip Dargo Deddick Delegate Dry Errinundra Genoa Gippsland Lakes Lake King Lake Victoria (East Gippsland) Goolengook Hartland Humffray Ingeegoodbee Jack (East Gippsland) Little (Moroka) Little (Snowy River NP) Little (Sydenham Inlet) Little (Tambo) Little Arte Little Dargo Little Goolengook Little Yalmy McKenzie Mitchell Moroka Mueller Murrindal Nicholson Queensborough Red Rich Rocky Rodger Saint Patricks Snowy Suggan Buggan Tambo Thurra Timbarra Lake Tyers Wallagaraugh Wentworth Wingan Wongungarra Wonnangatta Yalmy Yeerung West Gippsland catchment Aberfeldy Ada (Baw Baw) Agnes Albert Avon (Wellington) Barkly Caledonia Carey Darby Dolodrook Franklin Gippsland Lakes Lake Coleman Lake Reeve Lake Wellington Lake Glenmaggie Jack (Wellington) Jordan Latrobe Little (Avon) Little Toorongo Loch Macalister Moe Morwell Perry Powlett Tanjil Tarra Tarwin Thomson Thomson Reservoir Tidal Toorongo Turton Tyers Wellington Melbourne Water catchment Bass Bunyip Dandenong Don Lang Lang Lerderderg Little (Greater Geelong) Little Bass Little Lang Lang Little Yarra Maribyrnong O'Shannassy Patterson Plenty Tarago The Old Watts Werribee Yarra Corangamite catchment Aire Anglesea Barham Barwon Calder Carlisle Lake Connewarre Lake Corangamite Cumberland Curdies Elliott Erskine Ford Geary Gellibrand Grey Johanna Kennet Leigh Little Aire Lake Martin Moorabool Parker St George Sherbrook Woady Yaloak Wye Yarrowee Great Australian Bight Glenelg Hopkins catchment Lake Bolac Lake Burrumbeet Chetwynd Crawford Dundas Eumeralla Fitzroy Glenelg Hopkins Merri Moyne Shaw Stokes Surrey Wando Wannon Rivers of the Murray–Darling basin North–East catchment Big (Mitta Mitta) Buckland Buffalo Bundara Catherine Cobungra Dandongadale Dart Lake Dartmouth Gibbo Lake Hume Kiewa King Mitta Mitta Murray Ovens Rose Victoria Goulburn Broken catchment Acheron Big (Goulburn) Black Broken Delatite Lake Eildon Goulburn Goulburn Weir Howqua Jamieson Little (Cathedral Range) Little Rubicon Murray Murrindindi Royston Rubicon Steavenson Taggerty Taponga Torbreck Yea North–Central catchment Avoca Campaspe Cairn Curran Reservoir Coliban Lake Eppalock Laanecoorie Reservoir Little Coliban Little Murray Loddon Murray Mallee catchment Lindsay Murray Rivers that drain inland North–Central catchment Avon (Grampians) Lake Buloke Richardson Wimmera catchment Lake Albacutya Lake Hindmarsh MacKenzie Wimmera

v t e Rivers of the Murray–Darling basin, Australia Catchments predominantly in Queensland Paroo / Warrego / Culgoa catchment Birrie Bokhara (QLD/NSW) Culgoa (QLD/NSW) Langlo Nive Paroo (QLD/NSW) Ward Warrego (QLD/NSW) Weir (QLD/NSW) Balonne / Macintyre catchment Balonne Beardy (NSW) Beardy Waters (NSW) Bluff (NSW) Condamine Deepwater (NSW) Dumaresq (NSW) Macintyre (NSW/QLD) Macintyre Brook Maranoa Merivale Mole (NSW/QLD) Narran (QLD/NSW) Severn - NSW (NSW) Severn - QLD (QLD/NSW) Pike Catchments predominantly in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory Murray catchment Edward Little Murray Murray Niemur Rufus Tooma Wakool Back (Edward) Back (Billabong 1) Back (Billabong 2) Billabong Box Cootnite Estuary Forest Four Mile Jerra Jerra Kangaroo Little Billabong Lunts Mahonga Mountain Nowranie Piccaninny Sawyers Sheep Wash Simmons Ten Mile Tumudgery Tuppal Yarra Yarra Darling catchment Bogan Darling Great Darling Anabranch Little (Parkes) Bulbodney Burrill Bywash Billabong Cookopie Coonalhugga Genaren Glue Pot Gundong Gunningbar Kellys Cowal Moonagee Cowal Mulla Mulla Cowal Nyangi Bogan Cowal Popiltah Redbank Sandy (Bogan) Stony (Darling Anabranch) Tomingley Barwon / Macquarie sub-catchment Barwon Bell Bokhara (QLD/NSW) Boomi Campbells Castlereagh Cobrabald Cockburn Coolaburragundy Crudine Cudgegong Duckmaloi Fish Gwydir Horton Little Weir Little (Dubbo) Macdonald Macquarie Manilla Mehi Meroo Mooki Moonie Namoi Peel Rocky Talbragar Turon Abington Attunga Bakers Bald Berrygil Boiling Down (Goonoo Goonoo) Bowman Brigalow Bundock Carole Cheshire Clay Coolibar Crossing Duncans Dungowan Emu Swamp Evans Plains Ewenmar Frazers (Coonamble) Goonoo Goonoo Halls (Gwydir) Halls (Mehi) Halls (Namoi) Horsearm Jamiesons Lambruk Limestone Menedebri Middlebrook (Goonoo Goonoo) Mountain (Sandy (Peel 2)) Moonbi Moore Moredun Mulla Mulla Oakey (Peel) Oakey (Jamiesons) Queen Charlottes Quegobla Quirindi Reedy (Peel) Sandy (Bogan) Sandy (Bohena) Sandy (Gwydir) Sandy (Jamiesons) Sandy (Peel 1) Sandy (Peel 2) Sandy (Talbragar) Spring (Goonoo Goonoo) Swamp Oak Tangaratta Timbumburi Tycannah Murrumbidgee catchment Big Badja Billabong (Junee) Bredbo Cotter (ACT) Goobarragandra Goodradigbee Goorudee Gudgenby (ACT) Kybeyan Lachlan Molonglo (NSW/ACT) Murrumbidgee (NSW/ACT) Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area Naas (ACT) Numeralla Orroral (ACT) Paddys (ACT) Peak Queanbeyan (NSW/ACT) Strike-a-Light Tidbinbilla (ACT) Tumut Yarrangobilly Yass Adelong Adjungbilly Back Balgalal Barmedman Berthong Betty Brook Birchams Blackfellows Black Joes Blakney Bland Blowering Blue Gum (ACT) Bogolong Bogong Bongongalong Booroomba (ACT) Boundary Bowning Bramina Bribbaree Brindabella Broken Cart Brooks Brothers Brungle Buddong Bull Flat Bulla Bungendore Bundidgerry Burkes Burra (Gundagai) Burra (Palerang) Burra Burra Burrangong Califat Cappanana Celeys Cohen Coleman Condor Cooks Vale Cooma Back Cooma Cowabbie Cowra Cowriga Cullinga Cunningham (Jugiong) Cutmore Derringullen Dinnertime Doubtful Dry (ACT) Emu Flat Feints Flea Flyers Frogs Hole Gibraltar (ACT) Gilmore Ginninderra (ACT) Graveyard Gudgenby (ACT) Half Moon (ACT) Hannans Happy Jacks Horse Hospital (ACT) Houlaghans Hut Illalong Ironbong Jeir Jerrabomberra (NSW/ACT) Jillimatong Jounama Jugiong Kangaroo Kindra Left Hand (ACT) Licking Hole Long (ACT) Long (Tumut) Lousy Gully McGregors McKeahnies Majors Mannus Maragle Micalong Mimosa Murrumbateman Mutmutbilly Muttama Myers Naas Narraburra Nursery (ACT) Paddys Peppers Pigeon Square Pinchgut Pinnacle Porcupine Punchbowl (ACT) Redbank Reedy (ACT) Rock Flat Rocky Ponds Rolling Grounds Rushy Sandy (Adjungbilly) Sandy (Bland) Sandy (Waterfall) Spring (Jugiong) Sugarloaf Sullivans (NSW/ACT) Tibeaudo Tuggeranong (ACT) Tumbarumba Turveys Falls Undoo Wee Jasper Weedallion Yammatree Lachlan sub–catchment Abercrombie Belubula Bolong Boorowa Crookwell Isabella Phils Retreat Billabong Bolaro Box Camp Breakfast Burra Burra Cadiangullong Coombing Copperhannia Crooked Goobang Gunningbland Jacks Jerrara Jerrawa Kildary Limestone Little Mirrool Magpie Mandamah Mandurama Meglo Mirrool Myall Native Dog Nyrang Panuara Peelwood Piesleys Pudman Ramsays Lagoon Sandy (Mirrool) Swallow Tuena Wah Wah No 9 Wheeo Yarranjerry Catchments predominantly in Victoria North East catchment Big (Mitta Mitta) Buckland Buffalo Bundara Catherine Cobungra Dandongadale Dart Gibbo Kiewa King Mitta Mitta Murray Ovens Rose Taponga Victoria Back (Little Snowy) Banimboola Barwidgee Benambra Billabong (Ovens) Black Range Boggy Boon Brandy Brown (Dart) Bucheen Buenba Buffalo Bullhead Burgoigee Butcher Camp Charlestown Chinaman Christmas Clear Dean (Snowy) Deep (Gibbo) Diggers Dingo Donnovan Dry Forest Eight Mile Evans Fairley Fifteen Mile Findlay First Fork Four Mile Front Garden Georges German Gill Glencoe Glen Wills Gray Harker Hollonds Honeysuckle Hurdle Japan Jarvis Jim and Jack Kangaroo King Kumbada Larsden Lightning Little Snowy Livingstone Long (Taponga) Long (Ovens) Long Corner Lord Mac McKay Meadow Middle (Big) Middle (Ovens) Mine Morass Morgan Morgan (Ovens) Morses Mt Leinster Mount Smythe Mount Tabor Mount Wills Murray (Buckland) Myrtle Nine Mile One Mile One Mile (Ovens) Pegleg Pheasant Raymond Reedy (Livingstone) Reedy (Ovens) Rodda Rogers Running (Kiewa) Running (Taponga) Sandy (Buffalo) Sandy (Gibbo) Sassafras Second (Taponga) Scrubby (Mitta Mitta) Shady Smoko Snowy (Mitta Mitta) Snowy (Ovens) Soldier Splitters Spring (Mitta Mitta) Stony (Gibbo) Stony (King) Stony (Ovens) Stony (Snowy) Straight Running Tallangatta Thilluna Toke Tomahawk Trappers Turnback Vincent Washaway Watchingorra Waterfall White (Taponga) Whorouly Wilson Wombat Wright Yarrarabula Yellow Goulburn Broken catchment Acheron Big (Goulburn) Black Broken Delatite Goulburn Howqua Jamieson Little (Cathedral Range) Little Rubicon Murray Murrindindi Royston Rubicon Steavenson Taggerty Yea Ault Beeac Back Boggy Brankeet Bull Burnt Captain Castle Cattanach Canal Cerberus Connelly Dabyminga Devil Plain Dip East Goulburn Main Channel Edwards Falls Flourbag Ford Gaffneys Grisdale Gutter Health Home Howes Hughes Jack Johnson Katy Keppel King Parrot Knowles Gap Lanky Lazarini Major Middle Station Mill Plain Pranjip Quartz Reedy (Goulburn) Rellimeiggam River Robbie Rocky S Sandy Scrubby Seven Snake Snobs Spring Stander Stony (Delatite) Stony (Goulburn) Stuart Murray Canal Sunday Ti Tree U T Williams Wilks Yellowdindi North Central catchment Avoca Campaspe Coliban Little Coliban Loddon Murray Axe Bannacher Bet Bet Birch Blind Boundary Gully Bradford Brenanah Brown Hill Bullabul Burke Burnt Campbell Caralulup Carmanuel Carr Cherry Tree Creswick Doctors Fentons Forest Glenlogie Homebush Hope Jews Harp Jim Crow Joyces Little (Loddon) Kangderaar Kingower McCallum McLachlan Middle (Avoca) Middle (Loddon) Middleton Moina Mosquito (Avoca) Mosquito (Campaspe) Mountain (Avoca) Mount Pleasant Muckleford Number Two Pennyroyal Pipers (Campaspe) Redbank Ryan Salt Sandy (Avoca 1) Sandy (Avoca 2) Sangus Serpentine Sheepwash Smoky Splitters Spring (Loddon) St Arnaud Stone Jug Strathfillan Tarilta Tarpaulin Timor Tullaroop Twelve Mile (Loddon) Waranga Western Channel Wehla Weston Yandoit Yeungroon Mallee catchment Little Murray Murray Catchments predominantly in South Australia Murray Category Commons

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bendigo Creek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bendigo_Creek) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bendigo_Creek?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.