110 years ago it was a 40-acre dairy farm, but today Flora Hill is home to La Trobe University, Bendigo South East College and almost 4,000 residents.
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Just 3km southeast of Bendigo’s CBD, the area didn’t really take off as a residential zone until post-World War Two, despite its proximity to the city centre. The original farmhouse still stands (on Ellis Street, just down the road from Bendigo South East College) and after the first World War, the dairy farm was used to teach local boys, and those returning from war, agricultural skills.
By the mid-1950s, the area had been earmarked as a new location for the Bendigo Technical School, a plan which didn’t eventuate. However, in 1966 the reserved land was allocated to the Bendigo Institute of Technology and in 1970 the Flora Hill campus officially opened. The institute later integrated with La Trobe University and the site has greatly expanded over the years offering degrees in a number of fields including education, engineering, dental science, criminology, nursing, speech pathology and more.
Alongside extensive student accommodation, a boom of buildings in the area during the 1960s resulted in a number of yellow brick bungalows. Spacious and solid, these homes often sat on a half-acre allotment and with appealing features such as good-sized rooms, excellent storage and quality timber flooring, and they are still very much sought after today.
One of the earliest buildings in the area was a timber Holy Trinity Anglican Church, which was replaced in 1972 by a brick structure.
The suburb enjoys a public swimming pool, athletics centre, butcher, bakery, hairdresser and a large playground, and the Bendigo Creek Trail separates Flora Hill from Quarry Hill and joins it to both Spring Gully and the city centre. To the north of Flora Hill is Strath Village, ensuring the location is incredibly convenient and ideally serviced by amenities.
Flora Hill At A Glance
Information based on 2021 Census Results
Population: 3,989
Male: 46.1%
Female: 53.9%
Median age: 32
Families: 919
Private dwellings: 1,840
Average people per household: 2.3
Median monthly mortgage repayments: $1,347
Median weekly rent: $290