BENDIGO (formerly Sandhurst), a city in Victoria (Aus tralia) situated on the flank of the Great Divide c. Ioo m. N.N.W. of Melbourne. In 1851 alluvial gold was discovered on a sheep run and the richness of the finds rapidly attracted population. In 1853 some three million pounds' worth of gold was obtained. Later the quartz reefs, which everywhere intersect the country as ridges and rises, were attacked. Characteristic of the Bendigo field, which is I 5 m. by 3 m., or 45 sq.m. in extent, are the saddle reefs, caused by the corrugation of the Ordovician slates and sandstones, in two opposite directions (north-south, east-west) and the filling in of the dome-shaped cavities with auriferous quartz. The "caps" of these reefs—i.e., the portions forming the saddle "seat" or "centre country"—are 29-5o ft. wide, may continue along the axis for 20 m. or more, and have a vertical thickness of 2o-3o ft. The "legs" on the reefs taper obliquely downwards for about ioo ft. and are ft. across. Saddles occur one under another, as many as 24 having been found in 2,200 ft. The ores are not high-grade, but the great bulk available, improved mining and milling technique and an assured and cheap supply of water, have made working continuous and it is now conducted at deep levels (S3 shafts over 2,000 ft.; several over 4,00o ft., one said to be the deepest gold mine in the world, 4,614 ft.). Some 20 million oz. (f8o mil lion) have been obtained (1925: 17,700 oz.=c. f7o,000). Ben digo, created a city in 1871, is a well-ordered and dignified town (Pop., Besides mining, foundries, potteries, tan neries and numerous smaller factories and railway works exist. The climate (mean ann. temps. 70°-45° F; average ann. rainfall 21.5 in., with marked dry period in Jan., Feb., March) is suitable for fruit, vegetable and vine-growing. Bendigo is, therefore, a flourishing market centre, and sends early fruit and vegetables to Melbourne (I01 m. by rail) . In early days mining was often hampered by lack of water, but large-scale conservation works (Coliban river and reservoirs at Malmesbury) have, since 187o, provided a plentiful supply.