Bendigo Clubs Thrive and Build Community

Bendigo sports clubs recorded a 22 percent increase in registered members between January and June 2026, according to figures released by the City of Greater Bendigo recreation department on 11 July.

The growth arrives during a packed winter schedule that includes national league matches and local finals, giving clubs extra reason to expand their reach beyond the field.

Programs at Queen Elizabeth Oval and Hargreaves Street

At Queen Elizabeth Oval, the Bendigo Football Netball Club runs weekly junior clinics on Tuesday evenings that pair skill drills with free barbecue dinners for families from the adjacent Kennington neighbourhood. Further north, the Sandhurst Sports Club on Hargreaves Street hosts a monthly community walk-and-talk session that ends with coffee at the on-site café and has drawn 180 residents since its launch in March.

Both venues now list waiting lists for their under-12 teams, a direct result of targeted outreach to schools in Strathfieldsaye and White Hills.

Numbers and next steps

Club treasurers report average annual fees of $165 for seniors and $95 for juniors, with a new concession rate of $60 introduced in April for households holding a Centrelink health care card. The City of Greater Bendigo allocated $148,000 in small grants this year specifically for equipment and volunteer training across 14 clubs.

Residents interested in joining can visit the City of Greater Bendigo website or drop by the recreation office at 15 Hopetoun Street before the next registration round opens on 1 August.