Bendigo Athletics Venues and Training Sites Anchor Local Running Infrastructure

More than 50 Bendigo schools send 20,000 students each year to the Lar Birpa Athletics Complex for carnivals and training sessions.

The steady use of these venues comes as secondary colleges maintain structured pathways that combine classroom work with on-site coaching in track and field. Local demand stays consistent because the same sites host both school events and club competitions through the warmer months.

Lar Birpa Complex and Athlete Development Program

The Lar Birpa Athletics Complex serves as the main venue for these activities. Secondary students in Years 7 to 12 from Bendigo South East College, Crusoe College, Eaglehawk Secondary College, Weeroona College Bendigo and Bendigo Senior Secondary College can apply for the Athlete Development Program. That program places selected participants into elite coaching sessions that run alongside their regular timetable. High school athletes aged 12 and over also enter Athletics Victoria competitions via Bendigo Harriers, whose season runs from October to March each year.

Regional Competition Pathways

Bendigo competitors move from school carnivals at Lar Birpa into the Sandhurst Division events and then to the Loddon Mallee Region finals. These steps rely on the same track and field infrastructure that schools book throughout the year. Families and clubs therefore treat the complex as the fixed point for both introductory fitness work and higher-level preparation. Residents seeking to take part can contact their school athletics coordinator or Bendigo Harriers directly for details on current training access and competition entry.