On April 17 1907 the Bendigo Continuation School opened, with 21 girls and 19 boys. It was one of the first four high schools established in regional Victoria. In 1912 the school became known as Bendigo High School. This name changed to Bendigo Senior High School in 1984 and in 1989 it became Bendigo Senior Secondary College.

The purpose of Bendigo Continuation School was to prepare students for entry into the public service, the teaching profession, university or senior technical school.

The foundation stone for Bendigo High School was laid in August 1913 and the buildings of the Quadrangle Block were finished in 1914. These incorporated the two original rooms (rooms G15 and G16) which had housed the Sandhurst Corporate High School (and later St Andrew's College) since January 1870. The James King Hall and Administration Block were added in 1930. The music / drama complex (the former Bendigo Supreme Court) was taken over from the Bendigo Girls' High School in 1959, the Alexander Wing was completed in 1967 and the Commonwealth Library in 1977.

Bendigo High School's last year with full secondary courses from Years 7 to 12 was in 1975. In 1976 it became Victoria's first Senior High School. A phasing-in period removed the lower forms year by year till 1979, when the present situation of only Years 11 and 12 operated for the first time. The College now caters for students at these levels from the whole of the Bendigo urban area and surrounding country districts.


In 1991 Stage 1 of a building program commenced. The three storey building for Science / Technology Studies / The Arts came into use in January 1993. A gymnasium, cafeteria and student common room were also included. This was followed by Stage 2, the upgrade of all existing buildings, which commenced in 1995. The Multimedia Centre and Staff Centre became operational in 1996.

1997 marked the 90th anniversary of the college and saw the launch of "Old Gold Bendigo Inc.", the ex-students association.

The Centenary of our school was celebrated in 2007 with The Hon John Brumby, Premier of Victoria officially opening the Celebrations. His wife, Rosemary McKenzie, launched the latest edition of “The School on the Hill”. Rosemary was dux of Bendigo High School in 1976.
Premier Brumby and Rosemary McKenzie unveiled 3 plaques formally naming the Old Gold Quadrangle, the Florence Anderson Building and the Ron Lake Building.

The college's badge shows a gold crowned lion over a blue scroll on which appears the Latin motto: 'Qui Patitur Vincit' - Whoever perseveres conquers.

The college's magazine Old Gold came into being in 1912 and is one of the longest running school magazines in the State.

The "Waverley Essay Prize" has the distinction of being the longest running award in any school in Victoria. It has been presented each year since 1871 at the Awards Ceremony of Bendigo Senior Secondary College (or its predecessors). It is provided as the result of a performance of "Rob Roy", a drama founded on the famous story written by Sir Walter Scott. The performance took place on September 1st, 1871, at the Lyceum Theatre which was in Pall Mall. It is presented to the writer of the most creative essay. The collection of all existing Waverley Essays has been produced and is available from the college. Copies of the Waverley Essay Collection are available by contacting:
oldgold@bssc.edu.au

For further reading on the people and events which have shaped the history of Bendigo High School and Bendigo Senior Secondary College, refer to
Bomford, Janette M. "The School on the Hill - Bendigo High School and Bendigo Senior Secondary College 1907 - 2007", Cambridge Press, revised edition 2007

Copies of this book are available by contacting:
oldgold@bssc.edu.au