Just 200 metres from where the Golden Square Hotel currently stands, Mrs Kennedy and Mrs Farrell were the first to discover gold in the region, in the beds of the Bendigo creek in 1851. Within a few years, the city had swelled with people travelling from all over the globe to find their fortune in gold.

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The ‘village’ of Golden Square was first surveyed in 1854, one year after a Wesleyan church was opened. In January 1863 the post office opened and wealth from the surrounding mines provided a fairly well-paid workforce and several substantial civic buildings including the Methodist Church (1873) and the Anglican Church (1881). By 1911, once the hordes of gold hunters had moved on, but Golden Square had a census population of 2,570 and was continuing to grow.

With three reserves offering sporting ovals; a bowls club; and pony club, the Golden Square community has long enjoyed their sport. With the ‘Bulldogs’ including football, netball and cricket teams of all ages, the Golden Square football club officially entered the Bendigo Football League in 1935. They went on to win nine premierships over the next 50 years and won five consecutive senior premierships (2009 to 2013). The club produced AFL Brownlow Medallist, Greg Williams; Richmond players Wayne Campbell and Nathan Brown; and Nick Carter, who played at Fitzroy, Brisbane and Melbourne.

The local swimming pool was saved from demolition and reopened as a community facility in 2013, with continued community support ensuring its existence. Golden Square also enjoys two hotels: the recently re-opened Golden Square Hotel and Hibernian Hotel.

Houses in Golden Square range from cottages to Edwardian brick structures to modern designs. A notable home is Commersdale (1898) in Panton Street – designed by William Beebe and an excellent example of Federation-Victorian splendour.

Sitting on the fringe of the CBD (Bendigo’s tramlines extended into Golden Square until 1973), and also located on the Melbourne side of the city, Golden Square continues to prosper as a popular and practical area, long after the gold rush has ended.

Golden Square at a glance

Information based on 2021 Census Results

Population: 9,220

Male:46.9%

Female: 53.1%

Median Age: 39

Families: 2,417

Private dwellings: 4,183

Average people per household: 2.3

Median monthly mortgage repayments: $1,300

Median weekly rent: $295