Bridgewater On Loddon, Victoria

36°36′0″S 143°57′0″E / 36.60000°S 143.95000°E / -36.60000; 143.95000Population341 (SAL 2021)^[1][2]Postcode(s)3516Location

• 180 km (112 mi) from Melbourne
• 35 km (22 mi) from Bendigo
• 7 km (4 mi) from Inglewood

LGA(s)Shire of LoddonState electorate(s)RiponFederal division(s)Mallee

Bridgewater On Loddon is a town in north central Victoria, Australia. The town is located on the Calder Highway, north-west of Bendigo, astride the Loddon River. At the 2021 census, Bridgewater On Loddon had a population of 341.^[3] The rural area which surrounds Bridgewater on Loddon is named simply "Bridgewater".^[4]

The Loddon Shire covers an area of approximately 6,700 square kilometres, making it the seventh-largest municipality in Victoria by area. The Shire's population is approximately 8,600. The municipality is characterised by a number of small towns dispersed throughout the area.^[5]

The Post Office opened on 1 January 1868 as Bridgewater-on-Loddon and was renamed Bridgewater around 1941.^[6] The railway serving Bridgewater was opened from Eaglehawk in 1876. It was booked out of service in 2007.^[7]

Bridgewater has a new swimming pool, a swimming hole and the river is about two minutes walk from the Loddon Bridge Hotel, opposite the Post Office.

When reasonable water levels flow, the Mill Rapid downstream of the Calder Highway bridge provides technical whitewater kayaking of Grade 3 standard, featuring a short, fast run. It should only be attempted by kayakers with an appropriate level of experience and training, and equipped at the very least with spray covers, buoyancy vests and helmets. Access is usually via local roads on the west bank. If approaching on the water from upstream, beware of entering the flour mill race area on the right (east) bank. Upstream of the Calder Highway bridge, kayakers and canoeists will have a pleasant paddling experience but may have to share the river with swimmers, fishers, and waterskiers.

The town has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Loddon Valley Football League.

Golfers play at the Bridgewater-On-Loddon Golf Club on the Calder Highway.^[8]

Schools

In 2008, Bridgewater Primary School had around 32 students; four years earlier the enrolment had been 70. In 2017, the number of students had dropped to 23, due to parents working in Bendigo.^{[citation needed]}

In 2018, the Bridgewater Bakehouse was awarded first place for Australia's best vanilla slice.^{[citation needed]}

References

TownLocality