Dayo

I first moved to Bendigo about 20 years ago. At the time, it was a friendly, smallish country city with a population of about 80,000 people. Work was difficult to find, although no more so than anywhere else in Victoria.
Through various periods of employment elsewhere, we have retained our house around Bendigo, and have kept coming back.
However, things have changed.
These days, the population is well over 100,000, however it seems that the number of jobs available is still about the same as it was 20 years ago. So unless you are a brain surgeon or have some specialist skill which happens to be in high local demand, or you are prepared to shovel animal manure on slave wages, it is not unfair to say that meaningful employment is extremely difficult to obtain.
Because there is a lack of employment, it is not uncommon to see jobs advertisements making ridiculous demands together with rather low wages offered. Employers here obviously know that they can afford to be picky. This can make it very hard to obtain decent work unless you are already known to someone who can offer you a job. This, of course, affects quality of living severely.
Because of the increasing population, there has also been a marked increase in traffic. Unfortunately this has not been matched by an improvement in infrastructure to handle it. As in so many areas, some of the things that the council has done to the road system has actually served to impede traffic flow rather than improve it, and has created many localised nuisances.
While is fair to say that the bus system has improved over the years, is equally fair to say that it still leaves a great deal to be desired.
Many people think they're moving to Bendigo to enjoy the rural environment, however when you have been here for a while you cannot help but notice the pace at which the local bushland is being cut down to make way for new housing estates. This is effectively converting many of the leafy environments, that people are paying top dollar for, into nothing more then suburban estates.
Medical care can be difficult to obtain, with many of the local doctors full up and having closed their books. Several new ambulance stations have recently been built, but if you need an ambulance at short notice it still might depend on how lucky you are. Waiting times for treatment at the public hospital, as a public patient, are through the roof. Some time ago I had to wait 5 years for minor elective surgery, I don't know if that has improved or not - I somehow doubt it. A&E is the usual story of long waits, although there is a teaching clinic that has taken some of the pressure off the public system.
Like most other places in Victoria, the traffic police here are best described as parasites, as also are the local council traffic inspectors, all of whom seem to typify the usual process these days of viewing the motorist as being nothing more than a source of ready revenue.
At the same time it can be difficult to get assistance from the law if something should go wrong and you need it.
Night life leaves something to be desired. While there are nightclubs and the like available for the local youth (if they are into that sort of thing), there is little available for those kids who are not into "raging"; and if you are of more mature age and simply wanting to have a quiet cup of coffee after hours on a weeknight with the Missus, well, forget it, you probably won't find anywhere open. Even the McDonald's McCafe closes in the evenings. (Although you can still get a normal cup of coffee in Maccas in the evening). There is a cinema that presents a good program of films.
Bendigo has the usual assortment of schools, some having been heavily refurbished and renewed. However, all of the local state secondary schools only go to year 10. After that, all students go to the senior secondary school in Bendigo. Because of this, their enrollment is something like 2000. This can make it very difficult for students who tend to " get lost in a crowd". Bendigo does have a very good university, and several good post secondary / TAFE type colleges, although they do tend to be expensive.
As a long-term resident, particularly having spent several periods working away from Bendigo, I have been struck hard by the general increase in the cost of living here. Not only is the cost of living, food, clothing, general living costs etc. become rather high, but there is the added issue of not being able to do anything or go anywhere without using the car or otherwise being transported. This adds considerably to the weekly budgetory needs.
Another unfortunate trend that I have observed to have increased greatly over the years is the apparent care-free willingness of certain local businesses and services to tell customers that they won't serve them. This is an issue I have not encountered in any other place in the country in which I have lived, and it quite astounds me that organisations that are supposed to be working towards being profitable are so willing to turn profitable customers away when it suits them. From a customer's perspective, this can provide disappointments, not to mention unnecessary difficulties of living.
As for community spirit, well, I guess it depends on what you are looking for. There are plenty of clubs, groups and organisations to get involved with, everything from cricket clubs to SES and all the usuals in between. But I wouldn't say the spirit of "general neighbourliness" is anything special here compared to anywhere else; I have certainly lived in friendlier places. There are plenty of people here who will try to con you or push in frount of you at the checkout if they get the chance. Just like anywhere else.
I could continue, but I think the picture is taking shape here. Bendigo was once a great place to live. Once - but no longer. To come and live here is to invite unnecessary hardship and probable unemployment.
In good conscience, I can no longer recommend this city as a place to live.