Voices from Bendigo's East: Residents Sound Off on Proposed High-Street Retail Closures

The announcement that two anchor retailers plan to exit the Bendigo CBD by September has sparked genuine concern among residents who depend on these stores and the foot traffic they generate for the broader community.

The closures—affecting the Pall Mall precinct and the View Street retail corridor—represent a significant shift in how Bendigo's east-side residents access everyday goods. For pensioners, young families, and workers in the area, the implications are real and immediate.

"I've been shopping on View Street for thirty years," says one long-time resident of the adjacent North Bendigo neighbourhood. "These stores brought people into the city. Without them, you wonder what happens to the little shops nearby—the café, the newsagent, the pharmacy. They all rely on that foot traffic."

The concern extends beyond mere convenience. Local business owners worry about a domino effect. The Bendigo Chamber of Commerce recently surveyed 120 retailers in the CBD, finding that 67 per cent cited foot traffic decline as a primary threat to their viability. Rents in the Pall Mall area average $45–65 per square metre annually—competitive by regional standards—yet declining customer numbers have created an existential challenge.

For residents on the eastern side of Bendigo, alternative shopping options require travel. The nearest comparable retail hub is over 3 kilometres away, an obstacle for those without reliable transport. "My mum doesn't drive anymore," explains another community member. "The bus service gets her to View Street. If these stores go, I don't know how she manages."

The Bendigo City Council has flagged potential renewal funding to support struggling retailers, and community groups including the East Bendigo Residents Association are advocating for coordinated responses. Proposals include temporary rent relief, pop-up retail initiatives, and enhanced local marketing campaigns.

What remains clear from conversations across North Bendigo, Spring Gully, and surrounding neighbourhoods is that residents aren't passive observers. They recognise their city's vulnerability in an era of changing retail patterns, but they're also determined to shape solutions.

A community forum is scheduled for July 15 at the Bendigo Town Hall to discuss local recovery strategies. Residents are being encouraged to attend and voice concerns directly to council representatives and business leaders.

"We built this city together," one Spring Gully local reflected. "We're not about to watch it fade without a fight."

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