Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in Golden Square

Golden Square is an established residential suburb of Bendigo with a down-to-earth character. Mature trees and a mix of period weatherboard cottages and single-storey brick homes give the streets a settled feel, with some newer infill on modest blocks. Day-to-day life centres on a local shopping strip, community sporting clubs, parks and nearby schools and health services, and regular bus services and main roads make central Bendigo easy to reach while keeping a quieter, suburban pace.

Home to 9,220 people with a median age of 39 and a typical household income of $1,344 a week, Golden Square is largely family-based and more owner-occupied than rented (64.4% owned, 35.6% rented). Recent planning activity implements the Golden Square Structure Plan and Urban Design Framework, and there is a longer-term aspiration to reactivate the former railway station. Active-travel works such as the Bendigo Low Line pathway are under way, and local projects guided by the Recreation Reserve Master Plan include a $2.3 million pavilion redevelopment, the council purchase of Backhaus Oval for junior sport, and the completed Golden Oaks Nursing Home redevelopment.

Measured against the median total household income recorded at the most recent Census, housing costs in Golden Square look different for renters and buyers. A house renting for $500 a week would take about 37.2% of that weekly household income, and a unit at $440 a week would take about 32.7%, so both rents would be a sizeable share of a typical local household's income at the last Census. The median house price of $620,000 is about 8.9 times a typical local annual household income at the last Census, which places buying well above local incomes.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

The clearest movement in Golden Square over the past 12 months was in house values: median house values rose a strong 12.1%. Median unit values also increased, by a solid 6.8%. On the rental side, unit rents climbed 7.3% while house rents rose 5.3%. In other words, the house market delivered the bigger capital gain this year, while unit rents edged ahead of unit values and rose more than house rents. If capital growth is your priority, the house figures are the most relevant; if rental income matters, the unit rent movement is the number to watch — whether that balance suits your plans depends on your own goals and circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.