How Bendigo's Schools Became Overcrowded: The Decade of Decisions That Led Us Here

Bendigo's education sector stands at a crossroads. With enrolments at La Trobe University's Bendigo campus up 34 per cent since 2016, and primary school waiting lists in the Kangaroo Flat and Strathdale neighbourhoods stretching into triple figures, the question echoes through staffrooms and parent committees: how did we get here?

The answer lies in a perfect storm of circumstance and choice. When the state government announced major employment initiatives in Bendigo's manufacturing precinct around Epsom Street back in 2015, planners projected modest growth. Instead, the city's population swelled by nearly 28,000 residents over the past decade—far exceeding forecasts. Young families, attracted by affordable housing relative to Melbourne and regional jobs, arrived faster than schools could accommodate them.

Educational infrastructure investment, however, moved at a different pace. Between 2016 and 2022, Bendigo received approximately $180 million in school funding from state and federal sources. While substantial, critics note that much went to maintenance and upgrades rather than new facilities. Only three new primary schools opened in greater Bendigo during this period, compared to six new residential estates developed in the same timeframe.

La Trobe University's aggressive expansion strategy accelerated the pressure. The Bendigo campus, nestled between Midland Highway and the CBD, became a drawcard for regional students seeking university education without relocation. Enrolments grew from 4,200 in 2016 to 5,630 by 2025, straining lecture theatres and laboratory facilities in Heritage precinct buildings designed for smaller cohorts.

Simultaneously, policy shifts at secondary level complicated matters further. The 2019 curriculum review reduced streaming in Years 7 and 8, requiring schools to accommodate broader ability ranges in classrooms—a pedagogically sound decision that nonetheless demands more teaching resources and smaller class sizes for effectiveness.

Bendigo Senior Secondary College on Forest Street has operated at or above 90 per cent capacity for three consecutive years. Similar pressure exists at nearby Bendigo Catholic Secondary College. Meanwhile, private institutions like Bendigo Grammar, occupying spacious grounds near the Botanical Gardens, have maintained waitlists, drawing fee-paying families away from public options.

Local education leaders acknowledge the historical context: Bendigo's teaching workforce shrank during the early 2010s as regional retention proved difficult. Rebuilding those numbers takes time. Currently, 47 teaching positions across Bendigo schools remain unfilled, with regional schools competing unsuccessfully against Melbourne's higher salaries and perceived career progression.

As the 2026 academic year progresses, the conversation has shifted from whether Bendigo faces an education crisis to how stakeholders—council, state government, universities, and schools—collaborate to resolve it. That story, unfolding now, will define Bendigo's future.

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